Letter – Nicholas Walton to Richard Horne – 27 Jun 1755

Fee Farm Rents due to the Earl of Northumberland out of the Derwentwater Estate Annually



For Middleton Hall    Taxable   £ 1. 4. 3

For Spindleston       Do.          .16. - 

For Throckley         Do.         2.15. 7 1/2

For Birkside                       . 6. - 

For Midridge                       . 5. 4

For Corbridge                      . 9. 6

For Buteland          Taxable      .13. 8

For Do. Cornage                    .  . 8

For Whittle                        . 4. 6

For part of Dilston   Taxable      .13. 8

For Alnwick House and Close        . 4. 2

                                £ 7.13. 0 1/2



To Richard Horne Esq.                      			Ravensworth Castle  June 27th  1755



Sir     

      Last Saturday we waited upon the Agents of the Earl of Northumberland in pursuance of the Boards order desired to know the Nature of his Lordships Claim in the North Tyne Dale, which we apprehended might interfere with the Property of the Hospital in the Manor of Wark in order that we might lay the same before the Directors.  In answer to which they say the Earl of Northumberland is Lord of the Manor of Tyne Dale, that they Claim several Fee Farm Rents as Due from several Freeholders within the same and the Royalties also therein & that this is a distinct Manor and not within, or part of the Manor of Wark.  And to this they add that Lord Northumberland would be ready to Shew his Title to the Manor of Tynedale, if the Directors would Shew theirs to the Manor of Wark in order that this affair might be amicably Settled; upon which we beg Leave to observe that it is a received opinion in the Country, that his Lordships claim is a very Stale one & that he has little or nothing of Consequence to Shew, & that consequently the shewing a good title to the Manor of Wark would be unequal, & We have reason to think Lord Northumberland’s Agents apprehend, it would Lead to a discovery in his Lordships favour, but that we Submit to the Board’s determination.

 [Entered in margin a different hand: ‘See Letter etc of 5th October 1753 Page 135 [of this office copy volume] as also the preceding Page ‘]

      Inclosed we send you an Acco’t of such Fee Farm Rents as are due from the Hospital to the Earl of Northumberland upon which his Lordships Agents refuse to allow Land Tax, till we Shew whether these Rents are Crown Rents, or Reserved Rents.  This distinction they make, and say as Crown Rents we are intitled to Land Tax at 2, 3 or 4 Shillings in the Pound, as the same is rated; but as reserved Rents we are only intitled to Land Tax in proportion to the Land Tax pay’d by the Estate out of which those reservations are made and this in both Cases only to allowed on Such Sums as amount to, or exceed 10s per Annum.  You will be pleased to lay this before the Board in order that we may receive their Instructions how to act therein.  We are

      Sir Yours etc  Walton and Boag