Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 20 Aug 1739

      Ravensworth Castle  Aug 20th 1739



      We wrote you the Ninth Inst and Inclosed you Mr Johnson and Mr Buntings report on the Complaint relating to the Cutting and Carrying off Timber belonging to the Derwentwater Estate, Since which Mr Pearson the Bayliff at Keswick Informes us that in the Demesne Woods of Keswick no Timber of any kind hath been cutt down Except some decayed Oakes for building a Sheephouse for the Tenant of Goosewell which we orderd and approved off, as being very properly Applyed for the benefitt of the Estate when we were last at Keswick.

	The Tenants within the Manour of Thornthwaite hold there Estates by Custom by wch they all claim a Right to the Timber which they or their predecessors have planted in the hedgerows, and we have been well Informed they have cutt down Timber in the hedgerows at their will and pleasure for their Necessary Rep<ai>rs time out of mind, Others Say it was done by permission of the L<or>ds Bayliff who had the Bark for his perquisite. But besides the Hedge Row Timber there is some Wood Land, which some of the Tennants Claim a right to, & as you were before informed, The Rev. Mr Jefferson did actually cut down & sell a Quantity of Birch & Alder by which he was we apprehend & is still liable to prosecution. That Severall of the other Tennants have also Cutt down Timber in the Hedge Rows, Since we have been Concerned is also Certain, but it is what we have apprehended they have a Right to, but in Case the Directors are pleased to order a Stop to be putt to it, whatever they direct shall be punctually observed. Parson Jefferson should really be prosecuted, for his not being so may have a very ill effect, in the Encouragement it may give others. But whether a Stop should be putt to the Tennants for cutting Hedgerow Trees may deserve to be very well considered, as it will undoubtedly draw the Hospitall into an Expencive Law Suit about a thing of very little value. We have however repeated a Discharge to all the Tennants, which we often did before; but shall not take any other Steps till we receive the Boards further Commands.

	We reced. Yours with the Boards Minutes of the 15th Aug Inst wch we duly observe and are Sir Yours &c N.W H:B