Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 10 Jul 1736

To Wm Corbett Esqr



Sr                                                                                Ravensworth Castle  July 10th 1736

	Since our last of the 4th Inst we have had Severall Confera with Collonel Liddell about the Derwentwater Estates who has been so good as give us his advice, & has wrote his Sentements thereon to Mr Holden.

	First as to the Sale of part of the Estate we apprehend it will be necessary to come to a resolution thereon before the time of letting, as it will be an objection to any purchaser that such Estates that are to be sold Should be lett on leave for twenty one years.

	The Estates proper to be sold are Castleridge Derwentwater and Thornwaite Mannors, Newlands & Whittonstall Mannors, and the Woods upon the Estates of Dilston, Thornbrough Coastley & Langley Barrony wch will we apprehend raise a Sum, Sufficient to pay of Such Incumbrances as are now charged upon the Estate

	Dilston Wood we before wrote you may raise £800, or £1000 Coastly & its appurtanances about £2000 & Thornbrough abt £200 & we think near £1000, in Langley Barroney, so that in the whole the Woods that are fitt to be Cutt & Sold may be supposed to raise abt £4000, Exclusive of Keswick & Newlands which will sell along with these Estates

A

	You will observe Sr what an advantage will accrue to the Hospitall by the Sale of these Estates, for they now pay Int Annually £1504, and the Rentall of the Estate to be sold is no more than £701.1.3d <..> by which a Saving will annually ensue of £802.6.2d besides the Improvement that may be made in part of the woody Land that is now of little Value, Dilston & Coastley will at least advanced on that Accot £100 per Ann so that in a Lease of 21 Years the Hospitall will save by paying of the Incumbrances at least £20,000.



[In the margin:]  This Para to come in at Letter A

	The Demesne Land at Keswick cannot advance much, nay we doubt scarce at all, & the Newlands & Whittonstall may advance to £500 per Ann yet it will be a great expence to bring it to that & cannot be less than equall to the to the advance



	We are still more of opinion that the letting the Lands Collierys & Lead mines in the North will be much properer than at London, the reasons for wch Coll Liddell has fully wrote to Mr Holden, & has also transmitted to him a supplemental advertizmt to be in certed in the London Gazette & Newcastle papers, if the Direcors approve thereof.

	We have made a demand of the money due from Ra Redhead who gives as for answer that what Wood he Sold, was his perqueiste & that he does not intend to pay for any, we told him that the Directors of the Hospitall expected that he woud imediately pay, that they doe not allow of what he called his perquisites & that order woud verry soon be given to prosecute him, if he failed of obaying the Command, to which he gave verry little answer at all.

	At the head of Fourstoneshaugh is a breach made by the River Tyne of abt 300 yards in Length, which has taken away a part of the high Road from Hexham to Newbrough, which occasions a Complaint being made to the Justices of Peace for the County of Northumberland, who has given orders to turn the road into the Tents Lands.  if care is not taken to repaire the present one, this breach is at the lower end of some breaches repaired by the Derwentwater family some years agoe for the better explanation of which, you have inclosed a Sketch of it, by which you will observe that what is called four stones haugh is in danger & will in course of time inevitably be taken away.  We computed that the expence of repairing of it may if Sufficentlly done be abt £150, the Ford £50, may be secured for some years, & as the Lands are under Lease for a term of 16 or 17 years yett to come, we think it would not be advisable for the Hospitall to be at much expence, therefore if the Directors think proper we woud advise its being done in the easyest way   We are Sr Yours etc

      Walton & Boag