Letter – Richard Clark to Mark Skelton – 4 Nov 1793

Sir/

      I have made a Valuation of Mr Beaumonts Estate at Wibsey & have Calculated the Buildings as you’ll see by the Acct. at 20 Years purchased & the Land from 20 to 33 Years purchase, but on Acct. of the Coal being Sold off it will very much Injure the Estate in selling as its an Object to no person but the Lords of the Manor & that they will be well aware of otherwise its a very great [word obscured] to them but I cannot see a Chance of any purchase likely to [word obscured] with them, if you was to offer one lot only on the South Side beginning with Jolly Hall & continue on that side down to the Bottom of Thos. Holdsworths farm this would be a Considerable Lot & is almost all bad Land but lays Compact to theirs & brings them up to the Common. I begun the Book there & it goes regularly on the Side to Holdsworths leaving out no Inclosures but 3 of Jno. Tordoffs was this part sold off the Remainder would take a Market much better either in Lots or any way you think proper; if the Parcels about the Town shd. be Sold in small Lots they will sell for much more than I have Valued them at, but I think nothing ought to be sold off until the South side is disposed of as that is the Outcast there are many Buildings upon it & in bad Repair & the Farms small & the Tenants poor & the Land bad & in general ill managed so that there is nothing to tempt a purchase but the Contiguity to the Lords Estate, the Fields tho’ small are an object for Inclosing & would improve very much & I see no difficulty in getting it forward if it was properly promoted. I made no Report or Remarks in the Book on a supposition that you might have proposed to show it to some intending purchaser – when you have perused it if any further Remarks or information is Wanted I will Readily send all the assistance in my Power & when any other business offers shall always be happy to serve you & am Sir your most Obedt.  

Hble Servt

Richd. Clark



Rothwell Haigh 4th Novr. 1793



[on verso:] Mark Skelton Esqr