Cann Hughes was born in Chester in 1860, the son of Thomas Hughes, Sheriff of Chester from 1872-1873. Cann Hughes was admitted to Pembroke College in 1879 and received his B.A. in 1883 and his M.A. in 1890. He became a solicitor and practised at Lancaster. He was Assistant Solicitor to Manchester Corporation, 1887-1896, and Town Clerk of Lancaster, 1896-1922. He was a keen antiquary, especially qualified in all matters concerning the Lancaster district. He was President of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1917, Vice-President of the British Archaeological Association, 1906, and Vice-Chairman of the Ancient Monuments Committee for Lancashire. He died in May 1948.