Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Ibbetson – 22 May 1779

To John Ibbetson Esqr .                                			Farnacres 22d May 1779



Sir 

      We inclose you herewith an Account shewing the Names of the several Farms &c in the Derwentwater Estate lately Advertised together with the Names of the Persons who it will be proper to confirm Tenants and for what Term and the Rent p Annum at which each Tenant

will stand upon the new Letting: and we have the pleasure to acquaint you that the Tenants are all in Quiet Possession except Mr Bullock the Tenant of Midford Tythes and Glebe who tho' in possession of the Hospitals part of the Glebe (which was many years ago divided one Moiety Quantity and Quality being held in Severalty by the Derwentwater Family or their Tenants and the other Moiety Quantity and Quality considered being held in Severalty by Sir Benjamin Rawling or his Tenants) he is disturbed by the Tenant of the Moiety of thos Tythes and Glebe which belong to Sir Benjamin Rawlings Repres's who denies any such Division having taken place and puts his Cattle upon the Hospitals part of the Glebe declaring that the whole Glebe shall be enjoyed in Common. We are endeavouring to make ourselves Master of the Evidence relative to this Division which as soon as it can be collected we will send to the Board and in the mean time, as the maintaining the possession on the part of the Hospital will be material we have given directions to have the Cattle Impounded in Case the Tenant of Sir Benjamin Represent's should again put his Cattle upon the Hospitals part of the Glebe.  It is certain that it would be an advantage to Greenwich Hospital to establish the Division as the Hospitals part is of considerable more value than the other part owing to a Flood having changed the Course of the River and not only damaged a considerable Quantity of Ground but detatched apart about 5 1/2 Acres which have been taken possession of by Mr. Midford Owner of the adjoining Estate so that the Tenant of Sir Benjamins Representatives wants to have Greenwich Hospital to join in the Expence of compelling Mr Midford to give up possession of the detatched parcel of Ground and on this Account principaly is desirous to set aside the Divisions.

      Some difficulties having arose in the Letting of the Keswick and Wanthwate Mills and Scremerston Mill we cannot at present make any report respecting them but shall we hope be enabled to do that in a few days.

      We have the utmost pleasure in acquainting the Board that the Revenue of Greenwich Hospital will be increased upwards of £4000 p Annum by the new Letting and that the Arangement which has necessarily taken place upon it has been attended with much less inconvenience than we could possibly have imagined for we had the greatest reason to expect that several of the Tenants would have held over and not parted with the Possession of their Farms without putting the Hospital to the expence of Ejectments the Issue of which might have been doubtfull and therefore we have most anxiously attended to this and flatter our selves the New Letting will not occasion the least alteration except what is above mentioned respecting Midford Glebe.

      In going thro' the whole of this busyness we have great satisfaction in saying that we have been assisted by the several Bailiffs upon the Estate in the most active and spirited manner and indeed all of them have by their Conduct diserved the Hospitals utmost encouragement but especialy Mr Thornton Mr Jobling and Mr Bell.

      It will be necessary to make additional Conveniences and Repairs upon several of the Farms as now laid out for which we shall send Estimates with the Utmost dispatch and as some of the Buildings will be immediately wanted we shall be proceeding with such without loss of time which we doubt not will  meet with the Boards approbation. We are

      Sir Yrs &c

            	N W J'r	J.C.T.



P.S. We have an Account from Mr Mulcaster that a Fire Broke out at Langley Mill on Sunday Morning last and as we cannot give a more distinct detail than Mr Mulcaster

himself has done we take the liberty of inclosing you his Letter We are very happy the Loss has proved so trifling for we cannot Estimate it at more than about Six Pounds. We have on this occasion found the having of a Cottage at the Mill of great use as in all probability the whole might have been burnt down if Forster who lives in the Cottage had not discovered

the Fire when he did.