Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 22 Feb 1740

Ravensworth Castle  Feb 22d  1739/40



Sir,

The Board were pleased by this Minute of the 28 Novembr last to Order Us to Send them a pticular acct. of the Condition of the house of Dilston hall, the Number of Rooms & Offices, how much ground the house stands upon, wth the Gardens, & to Estimate what the Materials wou’d Sell for if pull’d down.

	In Obedience therefore to their Command we Send you herewith Inclos’d & under another Cover, a Ground Plann of the House & Gardens distinguishing all the offices by which you will please to Observe the House and Gardens Stand upon Eight Acres three Roods & 28 Perches of Ground. And likewise you will receive a Ground Plan of the House & Offices only No.1, a plann of the first floor No.2, a plan of the 2d floor No.3, a plann of the 3d floor or garrets No.4,  & a plan of the  fronts or uprights No.5 as Also an Estimate of what the Materials wou’d Sell for if pul’d down amounting to £761:5:1d.

	As to the Condition of the House we begg leave to Refer you to the plans which will shew the unfinished part, but we observe the great weight of the Slate Roof in the new Buidling to have caused a Shake in the Wall & from the Weakness of the Timber may very  likely in time increase, but at present there does not appear much hazard. The Out Offices from No.25 to 36 are all in very bad repare & has for some years wanted a part of the Covering.

	You will observe Sir that tho’ the house is a Large one the materials only amount to £761:5:1 & it might probably happen that they woud not sell for that Sum were the house pul’d down. We believe the Estimate is very Exactly done & by men of very good Judgement Yett there is no Judgement to be made what if materials might Suffer in pulling down & Consequently might fall short of the Valuation, altho’ we hope from the pains that has been taken it is very near the truth, The expence of doing which we believe with drawing the Planns will amount to about £25 for the payment of wch we desire the Board will be pleased to give us their Order. & we are Sir Your most Hble Serts.

Nichos. Walton

Hugh Boag





An estimate of what the materials in Dilston Hall and offices would sell for if pull’d down made by Mr John Bickerdike Carpenter & Joyner, Mr John Bell and Mr John Rewcastle Masons January 1739/40



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