Letter – Arthur Mowbray to Shute Barrington – 9 Oct 1797

      Sherburn 9 Octr. 1797

My, Lord,

      I have your Lordship’s Favors of the 4th Inst., and will with Care communicate what Your Lordship observes in one of them to some few of the Land Owners; having to be near West Gate to view one of your Lordships Farms in the Course of a few Days:

      I took the Quantity of Land in Weardale from the County Survey, from which I presume I have formed a pretty fair Estimate, but how to apportion the Quantities by mere Guess, I know not:

      I should imagine, (but it is merely Imaginary) that the enclosed Lands may be about one seventh, and that the enclosed pastures may run about two thousand acres, but it seems difficult to give this lightest Guess at the others, I should conceive there is considerably more open Lands where the Stinting is limited, than where it is stinted in Common;

      The Ring Fenced part appears to me to be an enclosed Farm, where each Owner has a known Interest, and where the Owner may at Pleasure enclose without any Leave from the Lord; and I do presume that the Outpasture, where stinted is and has for several Years been limited and precisely known, is the same, However, there is one Question that seems necessary, and which seems proper to be enquired:- Whether the Stints on the part not enclosed are Appurtenants belonging to the enclosed Grounds, or if they are separate Estates, bought and sold by separate Deeds, and enjoyed by different Owners; if they are an Appendant, it is rather a Query with me, and I think there is Reason to suppose they ought to pay the 16th., if the latter, I think they ought to be exempt. I should suppose the Lands to be divided and allotted may on an Average run about 10% p. Acre, when brought into Cultivation. 	It is hard to say what may be Freehold, it is a very small proportion indeed, as I have been informed, and the Copyhold proportion cannot be great; _ I should suppose the customary Freeholders, and the Leaseholds under your Lordship, may be almost equal, yet I think the Leasehold must be more:

      The Lords Allotments I consider to be but in secondary Object, the first is to obtain (which you will completely do by a Division) a competent & clear Acct. of the Leaseholders, and the Value of their Estates, and to have them put forward in Improvements, by which the Fines will be considerably more than double in Weardale; However, when these Matters are more looked into the Rights will be better known, & as soon as I can procure more Information, your Lordship shall be informed;

      I find some Difficulty in estimating the Value of Mines in Weardale, altho’ I have made several Enquiries, but I think were the whole out of Lease at this Moment, they cannot be estimated at less than £20,000 p. Ann. and I see I have valued the whole lands at £43,945. 13. 4 when Improved; and £3,760 in their present State.

      I will turn your Lordships Hints in my Mind, and will endeavour to improve upon the Minute I gave your Lordship, and in every Act with the Landowners, Your Lordship may be certain that I will act with every Precaution; _ I think it better to postpone the Meeting till I hear again from your Lordship.

      I have rec’d. a Letter from Bramwell, saying that Mrs Yeoman’s Trustees will release their Trust for the £1800 on the money being deposited in the old Bank at Newcastle for her use; therefore, my Lord, I now propose to draw on your Bankers (Drummonds) for that Sum so that the Interest may cease, and the Mortgage be released; I have paid the Interest viz; £26. 2. 8d accrued since Mayday.

      I am sorry that I have not, nor can I obtain Buddle’s Report as to Bedlington, in a Conversation he told me he wd. recommend boring to prove the Coal; I particularly desired him to give me a short Mem[oran]dum that I might hand it to your Lordship, but I have not obtained it.

      I am My Lord, Your Lordships very much obd. & most obt. Hble. Servant

      Arthur Mowbray



The Honb. & Rt. Revd. Ld. Bp. of Durham