How CPRE Cheshire began

When our Volunteer Coordinator was in our Cheshire office recently, she found our very first Annual Report from 1931.

In this article we take a trip down memory lane, to commemorate the start of CPRE Cheshire.

Formation

Cheshire CPRE’s inaugural meeting was held in 1930, following the foundation of the national organisation in 1926. The charity was launched amid fears the unregulated building boom of the mid-twenties would destroy the countryside that represented the England so many had fought for in the trenches of the First World War.

Back then we were known as ‘Council For The Preservation Of Rural England’ and a meeting was held for the ‘Cheshire Branch’ of this council. This branch was initially formed of three committees; City of Chester, The Wirral Hundred and East-Cheshire sub-branch.

The minutes explain that the president of the Cheshire Branch was the Duchess of Westminster, and that Honorary Treasurer, Chairman and Joint Secretaries were present.

Membership conditions

Membership conditions in 1931 stated that a subscription of not less than one guinea (one pound, one shilling – £1.05) per annum qualified for membership.

Later in the documents it states that a “leaflet had been issued, explaining the work of the branch to the residents of Cheshire” alongside a membership form.

Inaugural meeting

The notes state that the inaugural meeting was on 2nd December 1930 in Chester Town Hall, whilst the first general meeting was held in the same place on 24th April 1931. The Duchess of Westminster was present, alongside Brigadier-General Sir William Bromley-Davenport (Lord Lieutenant of England) as President and Chair respectively.

Conditions

Within the ‘organisation of the branch’ section, it stipulates that the branch must be managed “…For the purpose of keeping in touch with all parts of the county, it must be served by a network of members watching over every district”.

Sub-branches

In order to maintain communication effectively between all areas, the area the group served was divided into eight sub-branches. These being; Chester, Wirral, East-Cheshire, Broxton, Bucklow, Eddisbury, Northwich and Nantwich. The notes state that at the time of writing in 1931, the first three of these branches had been set up, with the “others to follow”.

Colin Watson (right) with CPRE Cheshire volunteers and staff at the Royal Cheshire Show

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Advertising the work of the branch was to be done in multiple ways:

• The issuing of a quarterly report to members and affiliated organisations “to keep them in touch with the branch”
• Fifty “propaganda” cards are stated as being ordered to be placed in hotels around Cheshire, highlighting our work
• Posters were issued for display in schools, Guide and Scout groups
• Notes state “The branch hopes to bring out a small pamphlet on rural building… If possible it will give illustrations of good and bad development in the county”

‘Issues of address’ and other work

Main issues of address raised include tree felling and planting, litter and petrol stations.

The report states “By kind permission of the Dean of Chester” a photography exhibition, highlighting CPRE Cheshire’s interests and aims, ran for a few months and attracted “considerable numbers of visitors”. It also thanks the Women’s Institutes for “the very considerable help” of finding places where meetings could take place.

CPRE Cheshire AGM 2025

Whilst the countryside has seen lots of changes in the last ninety-five years, the need to protect the environment is greater than ever. Membership costs may have risen a little since 1930, but every penny still works towards our shared vision of protecting the countryside for years to come.

Become a member of CPRE Cheshire today!

More information

CPRE formation 

CPRE’s impact, from formation to the present day