Ruskington and the Recorship of the Revd. Arthur Myers, M. A.
1880 – 1893

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Charles A. Myers

[This entire document consists of about 15 solidly typed pages of the memories of Charles A. Myers. His stories tell the history of his town, schools, neighbors, businesses and details of every day life. It is fascinating reading. Only portions of this document pertaining to the Pickering family has been transcribed here.]

"My Grandfather on my Mother’s [Edith Paulina Pickering] side was Charles William [Harrison] Pickering of Montebello, New Brighton, Cheshire, and also of 4 Rumford Place (his business address), Liverpool.

He was a Merchant and also a Banker and was a Director of the Midland Bank, Liverpool, Dale Street Branch. His wife was a Miss Walker of Chester, whose parents owned the property whereon the Railway Station now stands, and was, I have heard a Snipe Swamp. He was also very well off and executed Trust Funds for his children whereby my Mother received some £8,010 in trust for her lifetime. He had a numerous family (12 I believe) of which 4 boys emigrated to America and became American Citizens.

He employed Messrs Simpson, Harley & North, Solicitors of 1 Water Street, Liverpool as his lawyers and Mr. North (whom I knew personally) drew up his Will whereby he created a trust fund for all his children and wife, also during his life he made trusts for several of his married children, whereby he created the trust for my Mother’s marriage settlement. Personally I am the sole Trustee for the Pickering Trust which is not yet completed.

Cliff Cottage interior showing portrait of Paulina's
father, CWH Pickering hanging on the wall.

"As my Mother Edith Paulina Myers died at The Cottage, Beacon Hill, Milltimber, Aberdeenshire (the home of my sister Freda Elizabeth who married a Dr. Bruce of Aberdeenshire) when she was aged 100 years and 10 months, she, at the instigation and action of my sister, was buried in the churchyard at Inverurie near my sister’s husband (she was a Widow) arranged aparently to evade the trouble of a journey to Ruskington where is situated the Family Vault, containing my father’s remains. The foregoing information regarding my Parents is given as it has a very direct bearing on my Father’s Rectorship of Ruskington.

"My Father who was inducted as Rector [of Ruskington] at the age of 24 agreed with Mr. Scarr to take full charge of the Parish on the South side of the "Beck", a stream that runs due west and east through the whole of the Village, leaving the North side to Mr. Scarr’s ministrations and this maintained until his death. At Mr. Scarr’s death Mr. [CWH] Pickering apparently bought the Vicarage holding and presented it to my father thus consolidating the two Mediaties, of which there is no official record.

The Rectory at Ruskington

"The Church faced due East, the chancel facing the main village street and the Tower was at the West end. The entrance to the Tower was through a Roman arch, showing that the site was originally a Roman Temple. There are Dog Toothed Pillars to support the roof of considerable interest to Archaeologists, the entrance to the Chancel is apparently in Gothic Style probably erected when the church was restored by my father largely out of his own pocket.

"My Mother [Edith Paulina Pickering Myers, 1852-1953], was responsible and actually made and designed all the kneeling mats for the Communion Rails and the Sedilia, and I can remember her making a magnificent Altar frontal for the Communion Talbe, which was covered with a dark red cloth and frontal, for use at Easter Tide and such High Festival occations.

"The East End window and the Reredos were installed before I was born, but as far as I know they were given by my Grandfather Mr. C.W. H. Pickering to whose memory, I know not.

"The Organ which originally stood in front of the window facing East on the North side of the body of the Church, was originally chosen by Mr. Best the organist of the Liverpool Town Hall organ and also fo the "Albert Hall" in London. He was a friend of C.W.H.Pickering in New Brighton.

"The Rectory was buit by my Father with the help of Queen Anne’s Bounty in what was known as the Rectory Field. The Field stands at the corner of the Sleaford and Station Road junction. . . . The garden was designed by Frederick Myers, my Father’s Brother. The Architects were Messrs Teite (?spelling) of Liverpool, who designed and built "Montebello" the home of my Grandfather Pickering in New Brighton."