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To Mr Richd. Horne Ravensworth Castle Novemr. 17th 1752
Sir
We send you herein [see below] the Terms proposed for a Division of Hexham Commons given us by the Managers some time ago upon which we have had several meetings with them; and yesterday with Sir Walter Blackett who is Lord of the Manor of Hexham. In order to give you a full state of this matter it is necessary to observe that adjoining the Town of Hexham and Lands adjacent are two large and extensive Commons. The one called Hexham East Common containing by Estimation about 6000 Acres and the other called Hexham West Common containing by Estimation about 2000 Acres upon which the Inhabitants of the Town of Hexham and Proprietors of the adjacent Lands claim a Right of Depasturing their Cattle in proportion to their respective Interests. The Inhabitants of the Town of Hexham say the Derwentwater Farms have a right only upon the West Common, but the Managers for them have proposed to allow us a share through the whole provided we agree to share with the Houses in Hexham as three is to four that is for every Acre allotted the Lands the Houses to have ¾ of an acre, or they will give us 2 Acres for one admitting us into a share of the West Common only. To this we say the Hospital Farms have a right through the whole, That it does not appear clear that the Houses have any right at all, but if it shall appear they have a right then the Division ought to be made through both Commons as one is to two, That is for every acre allotted the Lands the Houses to have only half an Acre. Upon the whole we think it is in the Interest of the Hospital to divide provided the Division is made so as their Farms have a Share through the whole as one Acre is to half an Acre as before mentioned but should it appear that the Derwentwater Farms have a right only upon the West Common it cannot be in the Interest of the Hospital to divide. The Total amount of Lands and Houses, as near as we can get the value stands thus vizt:
In Houses and Lands mixed in the Towns[hi]p of Hexham £3289
In lands belonging the Hospital computed an advance in
Bagraw which will be out next year £30 £228
Other Lands amounting to about £204
£3721
We likewise send herein a Copy of a Petition intended to be presented to Parliament the next Sessions for a Division of Shildon Common in the Manor of Bywell of which William Fenwick Esqr. the present High Sheriff for the County of Northumberland is Lord of the Manor. There are in this Common many Proprietors interested, several of whom whose names are put to the inclosed Copy have signed the Petition and have agreed to divide; others there are who have not signed or agreed to the Division. Newtonhall Estate being £140 per Annum joins upon this Common and has a right thereon and as it lies convenient for turning off the Tenants Cattle upon the Common we think the Tenants of the Hospital have an advantage of others interested in the Common as it now is nevertheless we think it an advantage to the Hospital to agree to this Division. Inclosed we send you our Bank Account for last Month upon which there remains a Balance of Three Thousand Two Hundred and seventy three Pounds Six Shillings and eight Pence farthing in favour of the Hospital. There were no Receipts or Payments in the Month of September last for which reason you have no Cash Account for that Month. As we had like to have suffered by the miscarriage of a Bill for four Hundred Pounds last June, we have determined to remit the Money we receive for the Hospital in future into the Hands of Lord Ravensworth’s Agent in London, who will have orders to pay the same in such manner as the Board shall be pleased to direct. We before had their Commands to make our Remittances to Mr Wood, but as this alteration of method makes it necessary as we apprehend to have their fresh Commands we beg to know their pleasure therein as soon as convenient. We have already in London Bills for £3000 which will very soon be in Cash. We are
Sir yours etc N. W. & Hugh Boag
Terms prepared for a Division of Hexham Common
1st That Sir Walter Blackett Bart. Lord of the Manor have a Sixteenth part for his Consent to divide
2ndly That the 16th part and also his share for the Demesne Lands shall be laid contiguous to Yarridge
3rdly That all the Commons be Copyhold according to the Custom of the Manor and to pay £4 a year Rent for the whole to be proportioned according to the direction of the Commissioners amongst the several Tenants exclusive of Sir Walters Shares of the Division
4thly That all the Commons pay Corn Tythe after 12 years are expired from the time of making the Division
5thly That there be an Act of Parliament for this Division. That the expence of the said Act, the paying the Surveyors and Commissioners and other expences relating the Division be paid proportionally to each Persons Share.
6thly That the Royalties be reserved to the Lord of the Manor as before the Division, but upon working them to make reasonable satisfaction for the damage of Ground.
7thly That the Parties divide and raise the Money for Payment of the Expences by the Poor Rate which is charged at 3/- per £ for all Houses and 4/- per £ for all Lands. The same having been duly regulated through the whole Town several years ago, and kept in a regular manner ever since And which will at the time of the Division save a great many Disputes among the Freeholders & Copyholders as to the valuing their Estates.
8thly That there be a reasonable quantity of Ground sett out for the Brick Kilns and Freestone Quarries at proper places for the benefit of the Lord and Tenants to be wrought as usual.
9thly That there be a part of the Common vested in the Commissioners to be sold towards the payment of the Charges of the Division.
[Shildon Common petition]
To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament assembled
The Humble Petition of William Fenwick Esqr. Lord of the Manor and Barony of Bywell, Sir Walter Blackett Bart., Edward Blackett Esqr., William Bigge Esqr. and others whose names are hereunto subscribed being Owners and Proprietors of Lands and Grounds and Common Right in the Common Fields, Common Grounds and commonable Places of Shildon within the several Parishes of Bywell St. Peter, Corbridge and Ovingham in the County of Northumberland.,
Sheweth That there is a large Common or Tract of Land situate within the Manor and Barony of Bywell and within the Parishes aforesaid in the said County of Northumberland commonly called or known by the name of Shildon Common or Shildon Moor containing by Estimation 2000 Acres of thereabouts.
That the said William Fenwick is Lord of the Manor and Barony of Bywell within which the said Common or Moor called Shildon Common or Shildon Moor lies. And the Revd. Robert Symons is Vicar of the Parish Church of Bywell St Peter but the Dean and Chapter of Durham are the Impropriators of the great and small Tithes arising and renewing within the said Parish and intitled thereto That the Revd. Mr. John Walton is Vicar of the parish Church of Corbridge and intitled to the small Tythes and the Dean and Chapter of Carlisle are the Impropriators of the Great Tythes arising and renewing within the said Parish.
That William Bigge Esqr. is Rector Impropriate of the Great and small Tythes arising and renewing within the Parish of Ovingham and intitled to the same.
That the said William Fenwick Esqr. Sir Walter Blackett Bart. Edward Blackett Esqr. William Bigge Esqr. and those whose Names are hereunto subscribed and other owners and Proprietors of divers in-grounds situate and being within the said Manor and Barony and Parishes aforesaid, have in respect of or as appendant appurtenant or belonging to the same claimed and enjoyed for Time immemorial an exclusive right liberty and priviledge to turn and depasture their Beasts Sheep and Commonable Cattle upon the said Common called Shildon Moor or Shildon Common at certain Times in the year by an accustomed Stint or proportion.
That your petitioners are desirous that the said Common may be taken in and inclosed by Commissioners on that behalf to be appointed and that a specific part and share thereof may be assigned and allowed to each proprietor in proportion and according to their several and respective Shares interests and Common rights in over and upon the said Common as the same are now undivided.
But altho’ such Inclosure and Division will be a manifest advantage to the Persons interested in the Premises and tend greatly to the improvement of their several Estates in the said Lands Grounds and Common Yet the same cannot be established or rendered effectual to answer the Intention of the Parties without the aid and authority of Parliament.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that a Bill may be brought in for the purposes aforesaid.
Wm. Fenwick Jas. Atkinson Robt R (his mark) Simpson
Wm. Bigge Oswald Hind
Geo. Surtees Hen. Winship Will Hynter
Robt. Smith Thos. Forster Jas. X (mark) Moffits
Robt. Surtees Hen. Herison Will Bell
Geo. Coulson
We whose Names are hereunto subscribed being Owners of Lands lying within the Township of Newton, Newtonhall, Acomb, Bearl, Stelling, Bywell, Welton, Weltonhall, Ovington, Haltonshields and Clarewood, having a Right of Common upon Shildon Common or Shildon Moor within the Manor & Barony of Bywell lying within the several Parishes of Bywell St. Peter, Corbridge and Ovingham in the County of Northumberland being of opinion it will be a great advantage to have the said Common or Moor Inclosed and divided do hereby consent and agree that an Application be made to Parliament the next Sessions in order to obtain and Act of Parliament for inclosing and dividing the said Common called Shildon Common or Shildon Moor and that the said Land to be so inclosed shall be divided and allotted to each Proprietor according to their respective Shares Interests and Common Right therein And we do hereby appoint Mr. Edward Bigge of Lincoln’s Inn our Solicitor for that purpose
Dated the 14th day of October 1752
