Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 23 Dec 1737

To William Corbett Esqr

                                                                       Ravensworth Castle  Decer 23d 1737

Sir

	We would not have been so late in Actioning the Boards Minutes of the 29th June last relating the Sale of a part of the Derwentwater Estate, but that the valuing the Extensive Woods took up so much time that we could not doe it Sooner, & besides, till the boreing at Newlands and Whittonstall was finished we could not give our opinions of the Values of that Estate

	That Boreing was Compleated the 30th November last the particulars whereof we Send you Inclosed by which you will there is only two workable Seames of Coale and these far from Valuable ones So that there is no hope of that Colliery every letting at a higher Rt than it now letts at or at least cannot be advanced for many years and Consequently that Estate will be of less Value than we Apprehended.

	It is most certain that Such Estates <…> most remote from the bulk there of and that are least Capabell of Improvemt are the most fitt to be Sold and this Estate at Newlands and Whittonstall being at least 8 Miles from Lime will require a very great Expence to make any Tollerable Improvement which we Apprehend is a thing the Hospital will not think prudent for them to Engage in and Consequently the present Rents or that about is All that can be Expected from it.  A purchaser may have other Views and Should it be Sold to a Gentlemn Inclined to Improve the Extensive moore will be an Inducement to give a better price then its Real worth to the Hospital, besides as there is an Improvg wood upon it we realy think it will Sell well.

	Keswick Als Castleridge Derwentwater & Thornthwaite Manors Lying near 50 Miles from the bulk of the Estate cannot possably be Improved for which Reason it is we humbly think proper to be Sold there is in this Estate Wood worth near £5000 and the Tenure being a very odd one Vizt Lands calld Demain Lands, Lands which pay a Customary Rt with finds certain, Lands which pay a Customary Rt with fine Arbitary, And lands which pay A free Rt & Services.  None of which Customary Rts etc can be reced by the present possesors without having one admitt Ld.  We humbly conceive the Sale of that above any of the other parts of the Estate most Ellegable.

	Inclosed is an Accot Shewing what we Compute will be Saved by Selling these parts of the Estate & as much wood as will make up Such A Sum as will pay off the Incumberances, as is also An Accot of the leasing at Newlands and Whittonstall and an Abstract of the Valuation of all the Woods the particulars of all the wood Valuation & A Rental of the Estate as lett at Mayday last is Sent This day by Geo Liddell Esqr filled up, and we hope they will be with you on the 2d or 3d of Next Month.

	Inclosed is our Cash Accot Ending the 14th of Novr last & also the 30th of the Same when there remained a ballance in our hands of £347.8.5

                       We are Sr Yor Hble Servts                    W & B







An Abstract of the Value of the Woods over the Derwentwater Estates fit for Cutting as Valued the Months of August, September, October and November in the Year 1737

[Table available in the PDF of this document transcript]

We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed do Certifye that the Above is a true Valuation According to the best of our Judgments of All the Woods on the Derwentwater Estate Amounting in the Whole to thirteen thousand and Fifty Eight Pounds Seven Shillings, that such part thereof as is fitt for Cutting Amounts to the Sum of Nine Thousand Nine Hundred pounds and Fifty three Pounds Five Shillings the Greatest part whereof is at its full Growth and will Suffer by Standing  Witness our hands the 20 December 1737



Wm Ramsey    Ambrose Hopper    Robert Johnson    Edwd Oxley his Mark [E]  Hugh Boag     Nichos Walton



Witnesses  Richard Morrison   James Dewer



Memorandm That a true Copy of the Above Valuation Signed by the respective persons Above named was Sent to the Board on the  1737





An Abstract of the Value of the Woods over the Derwentwater Estates as Valued the Months of August, September, October and November in the Year 1737

[Table available in the PDF of this document transcript]

We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed Do Certifyed that the Above is a true Valuation According to the best of our Judgements of All the woods on the Derwentwater Estate Amounting in the whole to thirteen thousand & Fifty eight Pounds & Seven Shillings.  That such part thereof as is fitt for Cutting Amounts to the Sum of Nine thousand Nine hundred and Fifty three Pounds five Shillings, the greater part of whereof is at its full Growth and will Suffer by Standing  Witness our hands the 20th of December 1737



Wm Ramsey    Ambrose Hopper    Robert Johnson    Edwd EO Oxley his Mark    Hugh Boag       Nichos Walton



Witnesses Richard Morrison   James Dewer



Memorandm That a true Copy of the Above Valuation was Sent to the Board on the      23d December 1737



A Coppy of the Above Abstract (The Underwriting & Signing Excepted) Annexed to the Affadavit Sent the Board the 10th day of August 1739





An Account of the Severall Tryalls made for Coales in the Manours of Newlands and Wittonstall from the 19th May 1737 to 30th November 1737 Vizt



The following being in 5 places from Numbers 1 to 5 in the <…> Shew the Depth to which Tryalls have been made <to my own> <D……..ing> here such having <…> at the Depth where the <preceeding> one was bored to for <strong> expence being in all 56 Fathoms 1 Yard 2 Feet and 9 Inches

[Table available in the PDF of this document transcript]





An Accot of what parts of the Derwentwater Estate is most proper to be Sold to pay off the Incumbrances and what will be Saved thereby in One Year Vizt



Estates proper to be Sold and there Computed Value



Keswick Including Wood and Lead Mines we 

Compute will Sell for                      £15000



Newlands and Whittingstall we also Compute 

may Sell for 25 Years purchase after more 

housing is built upon It which as It is now 

Lett Amounts to £11,150 and the wood £1000 

so that the whole may Sell for              12000



May Sell wood to the balance of £1900 and the 

Remaining part may be Applyd towards repairs 

of the Estate if it is thought proper        1900 00 0 1/2 £28900



Annuall Savings by Paying off the Incumbrances

There is now paid out of the Profitts of the Estate Annually



Interest on £20000 to lord Peter at 5 pCent  £1000

Interest on £3000 to Doctor Chamberlands Heirs 150		

Interest on £5900 to Mr Constable at 6 pCent   354         £1504



The Annuall Rents of the Estates to be Sold are



For Keswick and Appurtenances                  £287 15  1/2		

For Newlands and Whittingstall                  446  - 2      733 15  2 1/2



                                           Saved in One Year £770  4 19 ½