Introduction
A
Scientific papers of Christopher and Richard Towneley,
17th-18th cent.
A.1 Richard Towneley's notebooks containing mathematical
notes and experiments in natural philosophy, 17th
cent.
A.2 Notebooks on astronomy, mainly of Christopher
Towneley, 17th-18th cent.
A.3 Papers on natural philosophy, mathematics and
astronomy, 17th-18th cent.
A.4 Land survey records,
17th cent.
A.5
Trade and manufacturing records, late 17th
cent.
B
Antiquarian papers of Christopher Towneley,
17th-18th cent.
B.1
Philosophical works, 17th cent.
B.2 Roman Catholic records, 17th-18th
cent.
B.3 Miscellaneous papers, 17th-18th
cent.
| Abstract: Scientific papers of Christopher and Richard Towneley relating to their work in physics, geometry and astronomy and the antiquarian papers of Christopher Towneley relating to English Roman Catholics, 17th-18th cent. |
Christopher Towneley (1604-74) and his nephew Richard Towneley (1629-1707) were members of a Catholic gentry family from Towneley in Lancashire. Christopher Towneley is known as an antiquary but these papers also reflect his interest in scientific research, particularly astronomy. He befriended a number of the northern astronomers, Jeremiah Horrocks, William Crabtree, William Gascoigne and John Stephenson, and collected their papers. His nephew, Richard Towneley, working with other local collaborators, conducted experiments into the relationship between air pressure and volume which became known as Boyle's Law. He also perfected the micrometer and was a pioneer of meteorology. For further details of Christopher Towneley see Dictionary of National Biography and for further details of Richard Towneley see Dictionary of Scientific Biography (New York, 1970-80). See also C. Webster, 'Richard Towneley, 1629-1707, and the Towneley Group', Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, vol. 118, 1966.
The collection reflects the wide ranging interests of Christopher and Richard Towneley. There are scientific papers, which include Richard Towneley's records of experiments in air pressure and volume and his mathematical notes; correspondence and working papers relating to astronomy collected by Christopher Towneley, and notes and extracts from scientific reference works. There are also antiquarian papers, which include notes and extracts from philosophical works, transcriptions of records relating to English Roman Catholics and some family papers.
Oxford, Bodleian Library [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Eng. c. 7031, fols. 1-2].
| Unsewn gatherings, numbered 3, 4, 5 and 9,
containing part of books 1-3 and 6 of Elementorum Euclidis
(London, 1620), in Latin. Endorsed 'Euclides Elements and a new foshion'd
Logique manuscripts', 17th cent. Shelfmark: MS. Lat. misc. d. 100 Extent: 28 leaves |
| Notebook containing rules for calculating the
area and volume of solid shapes and other rules of geometry, 17th
cent. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3387 Extent: v + 57 pages Binding: Vellum wrappers, containing part of the will of Richard Trigge of Lancashire, husbandman, 1639 |
| One unsewn gathering, containing part of
'El[e]m[en]ta Phy[si]ca', in Latin, 8 Nov.
1657 Shelfmark: MS. Lat. misc. e. 133 Extent: 8 leaves |
| 'Algebraicall Resolutions', notebook containing
algebra problems and records of experiments, in English and Latin,
1666-9 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3537 Extent: 23 leaves Binding: Sewn, not bound Scope and Content: Includes
|
| 'Miscellanea', notebook containing mathematical
problems, records of experiments and scientific discourses, in English and
Latin, 1669-72 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3538 Extent: 94 pages Binding: Sewn, not bound Scope and Content: Includes
|
| Notebook, 17th
cent. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3388 Extent: 38 leaves Binding: Sewn, not bound Scope and Content: Comprises
|
| 'Astrologia Mathematica. Containing Ephemerides
of the Sunne for five years. Delivering Compendious & easie Rules
for Erecting the Figures of Heaven, for any Latitude, by the Doctrine of
Triangles, And also by certaine Tables which may serve in generall the
Realme of England. And also The art of Directions; Trigonometrically
delivered By John
Stephenson Philomath', [1648? - see fol.
4] Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3389 Extent: 65 leaves Binding: Sewn, not bound Scope and Content: Dedicated 'To his worthie and worshipfull friend Christopher Towneley Esq' (fol. 2). |
| Papers, 17th-18th
cent. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7031 Extent: 49 leaves Scope and Content: Comprises
|
| Surveyor's notebook, in French,
[1628? - see fol. 1v] Shelfmark: MS. French e. 41 Extent: 40 leaves Binding: Sewn, not bound Scope and Content: Comprises
|
| Notebook of survey data,
[1681? - see p. 1] Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3390 Extent: i + 151 pages Binding: Vellum wallet binding, with brass clasps Scope and Content: Comprises
|
| 'Tables of Interest', containing tables for
calculating interest, with notes on the method, construction and use of each
table, 9 Dec. 1667 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3539 Extent: 17 leaves Binding: Paper wrappers Scope and Content: Inscribed (fol. 3v) 'Thy well wishing freend JH: Carr Hall neare Colne in the County of Lancaster'. Christopher Towneley lived at Carr Hall from 1640-57 but moved to Moorhiles in Pendle Forest on the death of his wife in 1657. |
| 'The History of Malteing or the Method
of Makeing Malt Practised att Derby described for Richard Towneley Esq. By
John
Flamsted Derbiensis January 1672/3',
1673 Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3391 Extent: 8 leaves Binding: Sewn, not bound Related Material: A volume of letters from John Flamsteed to Richard Towneley, is held by the Royal Society, ref. no. MSG 243. |
| Extracts from An essay upon the probable
methods of making a people gainers in the ballance of trade
(London, 1698) and Discourses on the publick revenues, and on the
trade of England (London, 1699), by Charles
Davenant, [c.1700] Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3392 Extent: i + 21 leaves Binding: Sewn, unbound, and (fols. 16-21) folded sheet Scope and Content: Comprises
|
| Notebook containing extracts from philosophical
texts in Latin and partial record of an experiment in English, [c.1660] Shelfmark: MS. Lat. misc. e. 134 Extent: 6 leaves Binding: Paper wrappers Scope and Content: Includes
|
|
Catholic almanac of readings for Sundays and Holydays,
17th cent. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3393 Extent: 10 leaves, 6-10 blank Binding: Paper wrappers |
| 'Index to Gallia Christiana' containing a place
name index for volumes 1-13 of Gallia Christiana (Paris,
1715-1865), late 18th cent. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. d. 3540 Extent: 13 leaves, 8-13 blank Binding: Vellum wrappers |
| Papers, 17th-18th
cent. Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7032 Extent: 90 leaves Scope and Content: Comprises
|