Salford Mayoral Visitors’ Book from the 1930s including the signatures of visiting industrialists, foreign officials including the Consuls for Norway, China (the Chinese Kuomintang government officially appointed its first consular representative to Manchester in February 1933), Finland etc and numerous Mancunian dignitaries and power-brokers.
Serving as the guest ledger for the new Mayor of the City of Salford, Arthur Millwood and signed by c275 Salford residents and visitors the volume provides an unedited window into a year in Greater Manchester’s history capturing a city caught between the grim realities of the Great Depression and WW2.
Deputy Mayor (former Mayor until Nov 9th 1937) of the City of Salford, Peter Ashcroft, signs on the very first page, and on several other occasions throughout the volume. When you see his signature you are looking at the mark of a man who rose from child labour in Lancashire's textile mills to the peak of the city's political and commercial elite. Occasional headings within the volume include many municipal events: 'Mayorial Garden Party', 'Old Age Pension Committee', 'Cleansing Comm', 'East Lancashire Territorial Association', 'Visit of Manchester Consular Association' (including signatures of the consuls of the United States, Norway, the Netherlands, France, China, 'Roumania', Poland, Japan, Siam), 'Opening of New Showrooms of H. E. Nunn & Co, Ltd, Luncheon'.
Signatories include: Peter Greene, Rector of St Philip's Salford; Charles A. Somerscales, Minister, Irwell Methodist Hall, Salford; Arthur Davies, JP, Chairman of Salford Insurance Committee; M. Kearns, Manager, Ministry of Labour Employment Exchange, Salford; R. Martin of the Salford Savings Committee; Edward F. Pilkington, Salford Royal Hospital; W. Peer Groves, President of the Manchester Consular Association, 'Salford (and sometimes London)'; W. Albert Walker, City Engineer; Thomas Clarke, Highways Committee; Major General K. G. Buchanan, Commander 42nd. East Lancashire Division.
DESCRIPTION: Very good condition large quarto bound in tooled red morocco leather with ornately gilt edges and coat of arms to upper. Sturdy, square and entirely sound throughout. Marbled endpapers unmarked. 46pp lined leaves written to versos only; blank leaves to rear. Entries commence 9th Nov 1937 and cease 13th Oct 1938.
