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1897 Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway Accounts & Parliamentary Notice
Description:A pair of scarce original 1897 printed documents from the Manchester, Sheffield, & Lincolnshire Railway Company (MS&LR) dating from the pivotal year of its corporate transformation:
- Report of the Directors and Statement of Accounts: Large four-page foliate report for the half-year ending 30th June 1897, presented to proprietors at London Road Station, Manchester, on 28th July 1897 under Chairman The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Wharncliffe. Includes comprehensive balance sheets, receipts, details of capital expenditure (notably detailing ongoing work on the London Extension), and a full return of working locomotives and rolling stock.
- Parliamentary Meeting Notice & Proxy Form: A four-page bifolium circular dated 16th January 1897, giving notice of an Extraordinary Meeting pursuant to Standing Orders of Parliament. It recites several pending Parliamentary Bills, most notably seeking statutory authority to officially change the name of the company to \"The Central Railway\" (soon enacted as the Great Central Railway), construct new connections (including the Banbury branch line), and build the Nottingham Joint Station. Includes the uncompleted blank \"Form of Proxy\" sheet to the right.
Background Information:The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway was one of Victorian Britain\'s most ambitious cross-country railway operators. Under the chairmanship of Sir Edward Watkin (who remained on the board as a director in 1897), the company secured parliamentary approval to build its direct main line into London Marylebone. The year 1897 represented a crucial turning point: these documents reflect the exact moment the company restructured its share capital and sought formal Parliamentary sanction to abandon the provincial MS&LR identity, rebranding as the Great Central Railway (GCR) in August 1897 ahead of opening the London Extension in 1899.
Condition Report:Both items are in clean, well-preserved antique condition with light age-toning and original horizontal and vertical mailing fold lines. A few isolated foxing spots, gentle edge creasing, and minor handling marks along borders. The parliamentary notice contains a clean, uncompleted proxy form intact. All printed text and tabular accounts remain bright, crisp, and fully legible throughout. See Photos for Condition.
Shipping Information:Carefully packaged in an archival-safe protective sleeve and supported with stiff board. Shipped securely in a rigid, bend-resistant mailer to ensure safe transit.
This description has been prepared with the assistance of AI. Please rely on the photos to judge condition and details before offerding, as errors can occur. I’m happy to answer any questions if needed.
