“Now I am open for questioning, but I would ask you to identify yourselves and say where you live when you put your question. I have asked Mrs. Whittington to make a note of your name and question, so that if we have any more information to pass on to you later, we will know which of you was interested.”

“My name is Squire Higgenbottom and I have a farm at Low Hey. Why should Lord Howard want to be rid of these properties anyway?”

“I have been told that he is very interested in selling the properties that he owns, while keeping overall control of the land through it being leased to the buyer on a 99 year contract. My sources tell me he is putting much money into building a Catholic Cathedral in Norwich.”

“Are you working for him?” asked another man.

“No, I am not. But you didn’t tell us your name.”

“John Lively from Lane Ends.”

“What other costs are involved in owning our own house? I am Lawrence Howells from the Lane Ends Pub as I’m sure you all know.”

“Well, there will be rates to pay - for the services such as street lighting, drains, and so on.”

“Will they be putting street lights out here, then? I am William Goodwin from Low Hey.”

“Well, Mr. Goodwin, I’m sure I couldn’t say about that, but eventually it is bound to come.”

“What sort of prices do you think our smaller houses would cost to buy? I’m Charles Oldfield and I run a farm off Lane Ends.”

“Just guessing of course, I would think a two bedroomed terraced house might be as inexpensive as £120. Of course those of you with large acreages would expect to have to pay more.”

“What benefit is it to us to do this with you rather than on our own? I’m Jack Salt from the Stirrup.”

“Well, I am offering my services as a money lender, along with my friend, Robert Taylor. And of course it is always easier for a group to do things together and save on solicitor’s fees, things like that.”

“How much do the solicitors and others like them take?” piped up another man.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch your name?”

“Henry Steward from Stanley Terrace. I am your next door neighbour but one, but perhaps you were not aware of that.”

“I thought I recognised you from somewhere Mr. Steward, I just couldn’t remember where. Well, to answer your question, it is usually a fraction of the selling price, one percent perhaps, but these things can often be negotiated.”

“Have you actually talked to Lord Howard? I am Mrs. Harrison from Bench Wells.

“Not personally, no, Mrs. Harrison, and may I say how pleased I am that a woman is taking part in this discussion. I hope you have an interest in buying your house.”

“Well, I am not sure,” she said.

“What will happen if we don’t choose to buy our houses? I am Mrs. Thornley and also live at Bench Wells. ”

It amused me that she must have been made bold by her neighbour’s comments and didn’t want her singled out as the only woman who was willing to speak.

“Well, somebody else may choose to buy them and then they might or might not let you continue as tenant in them.”

“Would you be buying our houses off us? And you know very well who I am.”

“Yes, Mr. Dawson, I do know who you are and that you come from Ivy Cottage. That is not likely as I am just happy to be buying my own home at the moment.”

“I’m Harry Oldfield and I farm with my father at Lane Ends. I am more interested in the coins and such. When you say there are likely to be some of these, have you found some already?” 

“I found a coin and a dagger head in my garden. I have had them evaluated and they are worth a considered amount of money.”

“How much is that when it is at home?” asked Herbert Steward.

“I don’t really wish to discuss those details at this time.”

“What makes you think this is a place where they stopped? What makes you think that Mellor Church was a place where the Romans had a fort anyway? I’m Joseph Jackson and I farm at Stirrup.”

“Well, I have been doing my research. In 1861 there was a man called Mr. Bateman and he investigated what are called Barrow Burials, those which were done by the Angles in very ancient times. He investigated the barrows on Mellor Moor and amongst his finds there was a 6th Century square hooked broach, some spear heads, a circular copper alloy pendant, and a Celtic head.

“Also the area was combed by a vicar from Disley. In around 1810, the Reverend Marriott, Vicar of Disley and local Antiquarian, excavated two Bronze Age barrows at Brown Low and Ludworth Intakes on the hill across the valley to the north. Unfortunately, as he acknowledged at the time, his excavations were poorly managed and did considerable damage to the site. Nobody knows what he found or where it got too, but I have my suspicions that he sold it for a considerable amount of money.

"Marriott wrote a book 'The Antiquities of Lyme' in which he also mentioned a ditch found previously in the Mellor Church yard. I have a copy of it here and will quote it to you.

“How much English money would a Roman or Celtic coin be worth?” asked Harry Oldfield, so far the one who seemed keenest.

“Well it depends of course on how old it is, what condition it is in, and how much the valuer is prepared to pay. If several are interested, then the price goes up. I would think there would be nothing that you could find that would be less than 10 shillings.”

“When you say a cut to yourself, how much do you mean?” persisted Harry.

“I mean that I would expect to get 25% of the realised value of the item. After all I would be doing all the work for you. If you preferred, I could just give you a certain sum of money to buy it off you - and then I would take the risk as to whether I would make more or less money when I sell it on.”

“What would happen if we decided to buy the property and then couldn’t make the payments to the money lender?” again, this was from Hannah Harrison.

I was so pleased that she seemed interested.

“I’m afraid that if you undertake a contract and then are unable to keep up the payments, that the property would be taken from you. But surely anyone with a bit of foresight will be able to manage his affairs and include budgeting for a mortgage repayment.”

“If we choose to not buy, will somebody else be offered our house and we will have to move out?” she persisted.

“That would be a matter for law. I think tenants do have some rights when the property is sold from under them, but perhaps they would be asked to move within a certain reasonable length of time.”

Another hand was raised. “My name is Willie and can I have some more cake?”

There was a titter from the group.

“No, my son, you cannot, because it has all been eaten. But I think I have given you all something to chew on, if you will excuse my pun.

“Well, I think I will let you go now, to think these things over. As I say, I will give each family one of my business cards, and I will hope to hear from you over the next month. If you have any more questions, you can either drop me a line or make an appointment to come to see me on a weekend or evening,” I said, as an ending of this part of our party.

So slowly the group dispersed, back to their own homes to discuss to them what might seem more like a threat than an opportunity. But I hope not. I held Hannah’s hand just a shade longer than necessary as we said goodbye. She had appeared quite interested. Perhaps we can get together in the future to discuss these things in detail.