Hale Parish Council have successfully bid £3.800 for the historical document, Papa Bull at Sotherby’s Auction House.  After a 70 year absence the document has now been returned back to Hale Village.

The document once hung in Hale Hall, the home of the Ireland Blackburnes, for whom moved to France in the late 1930’s after selling the estate of Hale.

The document dates back to 1412 and it was issued in Rome for John Leyot, founder of a Chantry in the chapel of Hale-St Mary’s Church.  A copy of the document will be on display in various locations around the village, but the real document will be stored in a special volt by Chester County Council.

The Freemen of Hale amongst other village groups and organisations pledged various amounts of donations and funds to pay for the Papa Bull.