Letter – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 6 Jan 1760

To Sir Walter Blackett Bt at Wallington 						6th January 1760



Hon[oure]d Sir

	I wish you wo[ul]d be pleased to desire Sir Ed Blackett to meet you here some time before you go to London and bring his steward Mr Armstrong with him in order that you may come to some resolution about the cottages at Winlaton wch is a matter of consequence that ought now to be settled.   The tenants look upon them as Customary Estate and convey and dispose of them at their pleasure tho' they were originally only lease hold from old Sir Wm Blackett for 20 yrs, wch leases are long since expired and have never been renewed.  These leases have been in the family of Mr John Wilkinson till wednesday when I got them delivered up with the purchase deeds of the Nuns and other writings relating to your estate.        Some of the Winlaton tenants are willing to take new leases and I hope they will all do so rather than try their petitions at law.

	I am very sorry to have to acquaint you that this morning about four o'clock a fire broke out in your Maltings in hornsby chair, occasioned by some flax taken in to dry by some tenant, wch has burnt the maltings and a great part of the housing down to the ground, the whole is let at 18£ a year.  These houses were got possessions of by old Mr Wilkinson for a lead debt of Sir Wm Blacketts, and I never saw writings relating to them till last wednesday that they were delivered me with the writings above mentioned.  The Town is so ill supplyd with water that I think it wo[ul]d be right to insure you own house and stables.

	I am &c  JR