From medieval monk to Ph.D. thesis: Changing approaches to the history of Cheshire

A study of the takeover by professional historians of the Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire in the mid twentieth century, and the roles played by F. T. Wainwright and J. J. Bagley in bringing this about. The resulting barrier erected between professional and amateur researchers in history is explored, as is the patronage network that has to be cultivated by those who are competing for university posts. Finally, the deleterious effects of the misnarned 'Research Assessment Exercise' are enumerated.