Letter – Nicholas Walton to Richard Horne – 9 Feb 1753

To Mr Horne                              			Ravensworth Castle  Feb. 9th 1753



Sir            

      As Mr Boag expected to have been in London about this time, we have not troubled you with any thing relating the Divisions of several Commons which the Commissioners of the Hospital are Interested in.  But as he waits Lord Ravensworths orders which may not be so early as he expected, we think proper to acquaint you that application is intended to be made to Parliament this Session, for Dividing Hexham, Shildon & Corbridge Commons the last of which we were acquainted with only Yesterday, as you will see by the Letter inclosed. In regard to the two former divisions we wrote you fully before, and have now only to add that a Bill has been prepared for Hexham in which is a Clause Impowering the Commissioners who are to be Authorized to Divide, to settle the property where any dispute arises in the regard to the right Claimed which we think very unreasonable.  This Clause is calculated to exclude us as we apprehend from having a share upon the East Common, which we say we have a right to; and without which it is not the Interest of the Hospital to Divide.  There are several other things which we think are liable to Exception in the Bill; but we presume to mention the above Clause only till Mr Boag comes to Town, and hope the Board will be pleased to wave giving that matter a Consideration in Case any application is made to them before.  And we begg leave to intimate that it is possible those Bills may be thrown into and hurried thro’ the House without any application to the Board at all; They will therefore be pleased to Consider whether it may not be proper to apprize their Friends in Parliament, that they may be ready to give the necessary opposition in case it should so happen.  We do not see any objection to the Division of Shildon of which Mr Fenwick is Lord of the Manor; but think the Gentlemen concerned in pushing it should Settle with the Board the Clauses in the Bill

      We are etc  W & B  





At a Meeting, pursuant to the Advertisements in the Newcastle Courants the 23rd Decemr. 1752 

The Terms proposed for a Division of Hexham Commons

      1st  That Sir Walter Blackett Bart. Lord of the Manor have a Sixteenth part for his Consent to Divide.

      2nd That the said Sixteenth part and also his Share for his Demesne and other Lands be laid contiguous to Yarridge

      3rd That all the Commons be Copyhold according to the custom of the Manor of Hexham and to pay 4d a year Rent for the whole to be proportioned according to the Discretion of the Commissioners amongst the several Tennants exclusive of Sir Walters Share of the Division

      N.B. The Sense of the Meeting was to request it from Sir Walter that they should be Freehold

      4th That all the Commons pay Corn and Hay Tithes after 12 years are expired from the time of making the Division

      5th That there be an Act of Parliament for this Division. That Kingshaw Green and Lambsheel Lane be vested in the Commissioners to be sold towards payment of the Debt contracted in defending the right of the said Commons and after payment thereof towards defraying the Expenses of the Act of Parliament and Division and That what shall be further necessary for the purposes aforesaid shall be paid proportionally by all the Parties in proportion to their several Allotments of the said Commons.

      6th That the Royalties be reservefd to the Lord of the Manor as before the Division but upon working them to make reasonable satisfaction for Damage of Ground

      7th That the Commissioners do have power and do inquire into the Real Rack Rent of the several Lands and Houses having a Right of Common upon either of the said Commons in the Year 1752.   And that they do make the several Allotments of the said Commons respectively according to the full real Annual Rent of the Lands and according to one half of the real Annual Rent of the Houses in the said Year.

      8th That there be a reasonable Quantity of Ground set out for the Brick Kilns and Freestone Quarries at proper places for the Benefit of the Lord & Tenants to be wrought as usual.

      9th That the Tyne Green and Miln Islands be excepted out of this Division