The John Thornhill Collection of Shropshire History

Dominic Winter Auctioneers are pleased to announce the sale by auction of the remarkable collection of books and manuscripts relating to the history, topography and notable families of Shropshire belonging to the late John Thornhill of Poynton Manor, Shropshire, which will be sold on Wednesday 13 May 2026.

The largest private collection to be offered at auction, the Thornhill Collection of Shropshire History includes rare and important county histories, many extra-illustrated with engravings and autograph letters, important manuscripts and documents of the major estates in the county, fine manuscript diaries, albums and account books, as well as watercolour views, postcards, photographs and vellum deeds, all relating to the history, topography and people of this important county.

Formed by the late John Thornhill (1932-2016) of Poynton Manor, Shropshire, a farmer who bred Pedigree Herefords on his 260-acre farm, he was also for many years the proprietor of Candle Lane Bookshop in Shrewsbury. This remarkable private library was assembled over a period of more than seventy-five years, and has never previously appeared on the market. A collector long before he opened his bookshop, John acquired his first book The Book of the Farm, aged just 8 years old. Much later, Candle Lane Books was established as a natural outlet for his burgeoning book collection. ‘I’d bought so many books,’ he said, ‘that I thought I’d better start a shop’.  He then filled it with books from country house sales, often whole tea-chests full at a time.

‘It’s a good job we’re farmers too,’ said Edward, ‘otherwise we wouldn’t have the space to keep all Dad’s books.’ ‘We always say no collection too large, no parcel too small,’ added John. ‘Once we purchased 10,000 books in one day. The staff on the farm became good at handling books.’

To read the full entertaining interview with John and his son Edward about the business in 2013, see https://mytonightfromshrewsbury.blogspot.com/2013/12/candle-lane-books.html

Image: John Thornhill in 1988

Highlights from the Thornhill collection include:

Lot 121 -  Shropshire. Baugh (Robert), To the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Powis Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the Counties of Salop and Montgomery, This Map of Shropshire is humbly and respectfully dedicated by His Lordship's obliged and obedient Servant..., Robert Baugh, Llanymynech, Shropshire, sold by William Faden, [1st August 1808]

Cowling 331, 'A magnificent map'. The first and only edition of this scarce map of Shropshire.

Lot 101 - Manuscript Estate Survey. Survey of several Estates in the Parishes of Fitz and Baschurch, in the County of Salop belonging to Benjm. Bather Esqr.,1796

The survey includes a folding map of the Mytton Estate in the Parish of Fitz, Shropshire, a map of the Mytton Demesne, a folding map of Mytton Farm in the Parish of Fitz, a map of farm and lands in the Parish of Baschurch, a map of a farm & lands in the Parish's of Baschurch and Fitz, and map of the Mill Tenement in the Parish of Baschurch.

 Lot 104 - John Bickerton of Shrewsbury. Mr. John Bickerton the Miser [so titled on spine], a folio album of manuscript documents, 1833

John Bickerton was born on 26th April, 1755 near Shrewsbury, and matriculated at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford in 1793, graduating as Bachelor of Arts in 1799. In 1804, he became a student member of the Middle Temple in London, though he was never called up to the Bar. In 1808, he was in correspondence with the Duke of Porland, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Prime Minister, who offered Bickerton the Principalship of Hertford College, Oxford. By the time of his return to Oxford, however, Bickerton's behavior had become increasingly odd and erratic. James Shurgold Boone, author of The Oxford Spy, noted that 'Mr Bickerton is an original character, which, in most places, is of itself sufficient to cast upon a man the imputation of insanity'. By 1820, much of Hertford College had been pulled down, causing Bickerton to return to London where he eventually ended up, emaciated and confused, at a tenement and former plague hospital on the Vauxhall Bridge Road called Five Chimneys, at which point he was prey to a number of low-life Londoners who attemped to defraud him of his property and estate.

An account of Bickerton's life by Dr. Stephen Haddelsey, entitled Poor Bickerton: The Life and Death of an Oxford Eccentric was recently published by the Kilgobbin Press (2021). The present album of important original documents relating to his demise sheds new light on this remarkable story.

For all pre-sale enquiries please contact the auction offices at:

info@dominicwinter.co.uk or our topographical specialist Colin Meays colin@dominicwinter.co.uk