A PEEK into early Quaker lifestyle has been gained by the transcription of a Yorkshire title deed from 1689 of the Farfield Friends Meeting House near Addingham.

The title deed for the historic Quaker Meeting House,and the land, which also includes a burial ground, was for a yeoman farmer of the time, Anthony Myers.

The deed has now been transcribed for 'contemporary readability' by the Friends of the Farfield Meeting House.

According to information provided by local Quaker David Hickson: "That title deed in the beautiful flowing hand and ponderously repetitive legalisms of the day, had lain undisturbed in the Quaker Archives of the Brotherton Library of the University of Leeds until it was photographed for transcription."

John Cockshott, 56, of Grove Road, Ilkley, a Friends of the Farfield Meeting House member, helped transcribe the deed, using his training as a solicitor.

"I'm familiar with that style of writing," said Mr Cockshott, who added that it was still quite difficult to interpret.

He said: "It took a high level of concentration to read it."

Mr Hickson, 74, of St James Road, Ilkley, added: "Months of scrutiny were required to elucidate the handwriting, left to us by many ill paid, perhaps candle lit hours of artistic calligraphy by an anonymous lawyer's clerk. Yet it is his handiwork which survives to take us back to Quaker origins."

When the Act of Toleration was passed in 1689, which among other things allowed nonconformists to build place of worship, Mr Myers granted his land for the Quakers to do so.

In his lifetime, Mr Myers tried to ensure that the Meeting House and burial ground should not be misappropriated, not even if the term 'Quaker' disappeared.

His title deed specified not only that his successors should 'permit and suffer the people of God called Quakers... to meet and assemble together' but also that 'such people shall profess and maintain the same principles and doctrines'.

Mr Hickson explained that Mr Myers realised there was religious instability at the time and that as long as Quakers followed the same principles and doctrines retaining the name Quaker was not as important.

In the deed, Mr Myers also specified that the Meeting House and burial ground must stay in the control of Quakers or 'such people' .

And so it did for three centuries, eventually coming under the auspices of Friends Trusts. It was then given to the Historic Chapels Trust in 1993 by three Quakers who had acquired it to protect it.

Mr Hickson outlined the importance of the deed, saying: "It verifies the age of the building of when the farmer gave the land and the erected building to the Quakers."

He added that Mr Myers most likely became a Quaker around 1652 when the founder of the Quakers, George Fox, journeyed through Wharfedale and stayed at a farm in the Dales.

It was typical of the times for a particular family to lead the founding of a Meeting House, and the part played by the Myers family at Farfield is shown in the burial ground by their six prominent chest tombs.

These tombs are unique in Quaker burial grounds, as they bear the names of Mr Myers, his wife, their son and his wife, and their grandchildren, a rare ostentation in burial that would soon be disallowed.

Mr Hickson said: "It is heresy for Quakers. It exhibited family pride and pomp. They're the only known ones in Britain."

But he added that Mr Myers' contribution of the Meeting House and land allowed him to not have to follow the Quaker tradition of being buried in an unmarked grave.

Mr Hickson said: "He paid the piper, he can call the tune."

l The Friends of Farfield Meeting House will open up the building and burial grounds to the public from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday, September 10, and Sunday, September 11. Volunteer guides, like Mr Hickson, will be available on the day.

He added: "A framed copy of the old deed will be on display alongside a complete transcription with contemporary wording."