THE OWNERS OK SHALLCROSS. 12 1 



present Hall at Shallcross, as represented in the last Journal, 

 though the first and last of his ancient line to reside there. A 

 pretty story of a practical joke which Mr. Legh, of Lyme, 

 indulged in at his expense, in connection therewith, is told in 

 the Ford Hall papers : — 



Mr. Legh,* of Lyme, and Mr. Shallcross, of Shallcross, met in London, 

 and agreed to return to the country together. On the way Mr. Legh 

 observed that his friend several times put his hand to his pocket, as if to 

 assure himself that something was safe. At last Mr. Legh said, " May 

 I ask what you have got there, that you seem so anxious about?" 

 Mr. Shallcross replied, " To say the truth, it is a ;^r,ooo note, with which 

 I am intending to rebuild my house at Shallcross." Some hours after- 

 wards they arrived at a wayside inn, and Mr. Legh suggested that they 

 should take a walk, whilst the horses baited. " But," said he, " as it is 

 rather a lonely neighbourhood and highwaymen are not unknown, I should 

 recommend you to hide that note until we come back." So they looked 

 round the room into which they had been shown, for a place of security, 

 and Mr. Legh finding a ledge just out of sight at the bottom of the 

 chimney, persuaded Mr. Shallcross to put his treasure there. They then 

 sallied forth, but Mr. Legh professing to have forgotten something, 

 returned by himself to the house for a moment, took) the note from the 

 chimney, and told the waiter to have a good fire made whilst they were 

 out. On coming back from their stroll, the horror of Mr. Shallcross at 

 the sight which presented itself was as great as Mr. Legh's amusement. 

 Eventually taking compassion upon his friend's distress, Mr. Legh pro- 

 duced the note. Whether they continued their journey together the story 

 does not say, but Shallcross Hall was rebuilt. 



We find two references to John Shallcross of great interest in 

 a letter written by Mr. Bagshawe, of Ford, in 1727, to Miss 

 Wingfield, of Hazleborough Hall, shortly before their marriage : 

 " Your will shall be obeyed, though I am afraid we shall be 

 laughed at for it, because Mr. Shallcross, who is reckoned to 

 have _;^i,5oo a year had never but one, and Mr. Jodrell, who has 

 a better estate than ever I pretended to, I have heard ridiculed 

 for this," etc. Miss Wingfield appears to have expressed a wish 

 that their men servants might have a state liver)' as well as the 

 ordinary one. 



He married, by licence, at Stockport, October 28th, 1686, 



* Peter Legh, of Lyme, 1669- 1744. A relative of Mrs. John Shallcioss, 

 infra, under his son Legh. 



