Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Ibbetson – 27 Aug 1779

To Jno Ibbetson Esqr                                   			Farnacres 27th August 1779



Sir

      Our Engagements on Account of the General Letting, Divisions of Commons &c have prevented our sooner sending you the inclosed Advertisement for Letting several Farms &c in the Derwentwater Estate which you are desired to get inserted in the Gazette the very first opportunity for as the year is so much advanced no time is to be lost. You'll observe that Newlands Park Farm, which is Lett to Thomas and George Rennison, under the Advertisement for the General Letting for the Term of Nine Years, is one of the Farms 

included in the Advertisement now sent, they having refused to execute the Heads for a Lease of that Farm declaring they are not able to pay the Rent. Indeed it is believed the Rent is too high; and as on a more particular Enquiry than there was time to make before putting them into possession the 12th of May last, there is reason to think them not sufficient as to ability the sooner the Hospital is clear of them the better

      John Green the Person to whom, along with John Summerbell, Fairle Farm is Granted for Nine Years, having desired to give up his Moiety of the Farm to John Summerbell upon the 12th of May next, you will be pleased to acquaint the Board that there does not appear any objection to John Summerbell having the whole Farm.

      The Lessees of Scremerston Limestone Quarries and Kilns having agreed to assign their Interest in the Limestone Quarries and Kilns at Salt Pan How at Scremerston together with their Appurtenances to Messrs Robert Ancrum and George Smith who are good Men as to Character and Circumstances it is recommended that the Commissioners and Governors of Greenwich Hospital agree thereto

      Messrs Walton and Smeaton in their Letter of 20th November 1777, to which we beg leave to refer, fully Stated an application which they had made to them by Messrs Boreham and Douglas respecting a Parcel of Land called Link Close which it was recommended might be granted to them at the Expiration of Mr Romers Lease 12th May 1779 as being a necessary convenience to the carrying on the Salt Pan How Quarry, the Rent to be fixed by two indifferent Persons and the Term to be the same as they had in the Limestone Quarries and Kilns and this parcel of Ground together with a Cottage and two Garths at Scremerston has accordingly been applyed to that purpose and the Valuation put thereon is £25.- p annum including the Cottage and Garths. Mr Smith who has been in possession of Scremerston Mill and Ground for a few years past and is non Tenant thereof for One Year at the Rent of £25.- is desirous to continue the Mill and Ground the Situation being very convenient for his attendance upon the Limestone Quarries and Kilns at Salt Pan How. He therefore has made application to take a Lease of the Mill and Ground for the same Term he and Mr Ancrum are to have in those Quarries and Kilns being 8 1/2 Years from the 12th of May next, and he offers the annual Rent of £30. Having the pleasure to see the Salt Pan How Lime Trade increasing by the Great care and assiduity of the Tenants, it certainly will be proper for the Hospital to give Encouragement to the establishing of it by Granting Mr Smith a Lease on the Terms above mentioned for tho' he does not offer so much as was bid for Scremerston Mill and Ground by Mr House and John Foreman yet £30.- p annum is a fair Rent, and it is to be observed that Mr House whose bidding was £40 p annum gave up his Proposal and John Foreman who bid £36.- p annum was not in circumstances and only offered a Common Labourer as Surety which was the occasion of our Letting the Mill to Mr Smith for a single Year at £25.-.- 

      The Corbridge Division it is expected will be finaly compleated on the 13th of next Month but as it will not be proper for the Hospital to Advertise the Letting of the Allotment

of Common 'til the necessary Buildings and Fencing are in some forwardness, the Advertising must of course be deferred 'til that time. A considerable progress has been made with the external Fencing and no time shall be lost in proceeding with the internal so as to have the whole prepared for Letting against another year and in the mean time we will get Estimates made for the necessary Buildings for those Allotments. As soon after the Award is

executed for Corbridge Division as possible we will send you a Copy thereof as also of the Plans of the Division.

      We inclose you Six Lead Mining Proposals which you are desired to lay before the Board and are

      Sir Yours &c

            	W & T



                                      			Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich

                                      			11 September 1779



      The Commissioners and Governors of the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich in the County of Kent hereby give Notice That at Salters Hall in London on Wednesday the 15th Day of March next, or as soon after as may be, the following Estates will be let on Lease to commence upon the 12th Day of May One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty - That is to East Deanraw Farm containing by Estimation 92 Acres 2 Roods and 13 Perches Wood Land exclusive; Middle Deanraw Farm, with Lees Fell Allotment adjoining thereto containing by Estimation in the whole 125 Acres 3 Roods and 39 Perches; Tedcastle Farm with Lees Fell Allotment adjoining thereto containing by Estimation in the whole 33 Acres 2 Roods and 35 Perches Woodland exclusive; Plankey Pasture Farm with Lees Fell Allotments on the North and South Sides of Plankey Road containing by Estimation in the whole 40 Acres and 2 Roods Woodland exclusive; and Newlands Park Farm containing by Estimation 158 Acres 1 Rood and 20 Perches Wood Land Exclusive; all which Farms are in the County of Northumberland: And Two Farms at Tynehead containing by Estimation 270 Acres and 35 Perches including the Hospitals Share of Windy brow Pasture; A Water Corn Mill at Keswick with a small Close or Parcel of Ground containing by Estimation 1 Acre 3 Roods and 20 Perches; and a Water Corn Mill at Wanthwaite; all in the County of Cumberland. 

      All Persons willing to take the said Estates are desired to give in their Proposals in Writing to Mr Ibbetson at the Admiralty Office in London; and for Particulars of all or any of the said Estates to be Let as aforesaid apply to Messrs Walton and Turner Receivers to the said Hospital or to the Bailiffs in their respective Districts.



NOTE Plankey Pasture and Tedcastle Farms will be Let for Five Years; Newland Park Farm for Eight  Years; and the other Farms and the Mills for Twenty One Years or under, and all Wood Grounds as now Inclosed or marked off for the Growing of Wood or Underwood are excepted and reserved and no Allowance  will be made on account of Damage by the Smoke of Langley Lead Mill.