The correspondence relates almost entirely to Cheshire (parochial history, manors, topography, genealogies and kindred matters). It is contained in two boxes, as follows:
- I (Eng MS 916): Letters from William Nicholls (nos 1-11) and letters to him (nos 12-111, alphabetical sequence from Armitstead to Litler);
- II (Eng MS 917): Letters to William Nicholls (nos 112-211, alphabetical sequence from Lyon to end) and miscellaneous letters (nos 212-225).