Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 24 Feb 1749

To Willm. Corbett Esqr.                         Ravensworth Castle  February 24th  1748/49



Sir                

      We rece’d yours with the Boards Minutes of the 15th Inst. which we duly observe.

      The Tenants of that part of the Derwentwater Estate joining upon Hexham Common have a right of Herbage, in such proportion as these Estates bear to other Gentleman’s Estates joining thereupon; and this they enjoy without limitation.  It is apprehended every Person interested in this Common will be a gainer by the intended Division so that we apprehend it will be an advantage to the Tenants of the Hospital during the Continuance of their present Leases and at the expiration thereof an advantage to the Hospital by an advance of Rent.  We will endeavour to get a Map of this Common and send you with such Observations as we are able to make for the Boards information as soon as possible but it is a thing will require some time.

      We will take care to Hedge off such Part of the Lands for springing where the Timber has been & shall be cut down as will not answer for Tillage and this shall be done with as little Expence as possible to the Hospital.  All we meant to plant was only on such parts as shall be hedged off, where there is void Spaces, and on some steep Ground near Dilston hall which by cutting down the Ash and Elm is become very naked.  But in this we will pursue the Boards Directions and we only beg leave farther to offer it as our opinion that a little planting as above will not only be ornamental but in the end profitable.   In regard to what we said of the Allowances to be made the Tenants by way of abatement of Rent for such parts as should be hedged off their Farms for Sprining [sic] we meant that in such parts Tenants should be allowed Damages according to the covenant in their respective Leases for that purpose.  Where such parts as are fitt for Springing and not for Tillage Improvement are hedged off; the Tenants lose the benefit of Herbage or Eatage by their Cattle and consequently by the Covenant before mentioned are intitled to an Allowance.  As to the quantity of additional Tillage Land which will be got by cutting down the Timber it is impossible for us to inform you without an actual survey which would cost a considerable Sum; and were the Board at present inclinable to go into that Expence it cannot at all be judged of.  When the Timber in such parts as are capable of Tillage Improvement is cut off a great deal is to be done before the improvement can be made as the Roots of all the Trees are to be taken up to render it tillable.  The Tenants who at present have Leases which do not expire till May day 1758 will have the Benefitt (if any there be) of such improvement as it cannot be the Interest of the Hospital to be at any Expence of preparing Land for Tillage where the Tenant must enjoy the profits of it for a Term of years to come and therefore in all cases where it shall happen that an Improvement can be made the Tenants must be at the Expence of taking up the Roots themselves if they chuse to engage in the Improvement and though this will be some advantage to the Tenants before the Expiration of their present Leases, we think it will be an advantage in the End very considerable to Greenwich Hospital

      We are  Sir Yours etc

      Walton & Boag