I have purposely avoided all dry details of parochial management, &c., as being foreign to the nature of the work and rendered now unnecessary in consequence of the voluminous Annual Vestry Reports, which may easily be obtained. My object has rather been to make the volume interesting, as far as possible, without being guilty of “book-making.”
The work embodies all the essential and interesting information that could be obtained, with a great amount of original matter, and should the volume not appear so bulky as some might have expected, it is simply owing to the rejection of extraneous subjects.
That the intelligent working-man, and persons of limited means, might possess the work, I published a certain number of copies at a very great sacrifice, trusting that the motive would be rather an inducement than otherwise for others to purchase the volume. Local histories, unlike other works, can only have a small circulation, and the price charged for them must be necessarily regulated by the probable number that will be sold.
In conclusion, I beg to offer my grateful acknowledgments for the kindness and assistance which I have received from several gentlemen, and now submit the result of my labours to the favourable criticism, and I trust remunerative patronage of the inhabitants and others interested in a parish which, in many points of view is unusually interesting and instructive.
August, 1869.
INDEX.
(The figures at the end of each line denote the page. Notices of Distinguished Residents are interspersed throughout the volume.)
Alston House, [92]
Aston, the Misses, [152]
Ashburnham House, [55]