H4 [E. C. For E.: Durham Chapter Estates - Billingham]

Survey volume H4 is the fourth in the series of twelve 'H' volumes, which covers the Ecclesiastical Corporations of Durham, which were transferred by commutation to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners under mid nineteenth century parliamentary legislation.; This volume contains surveys carried out on behalf of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners by their appointed land agents, Messrs. Smith & Watkins. The preferments in this volume concern the Durham Chapter Estates, were transferred by commutation to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners on 29 September 1870 (effective date) and published in the London Gazette on 10 December 1872 by Order in Council. However, this Order in Council also made provision for some of the estates and manors to be reserved by the Chapter as part of their permanent endowment estates.; These surveys were essential to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, as it was the most comprehensive way of clearly ascertaining the extent and condition of the preferments that had been transferred. ; As preferments were transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners from the Ecclesiastical Corporations, the various holdings of the estates were either kept or sold; the land agents supplied recommendatory advice on this matter with the survey reports.; The purchases and sales of the leasehold interest in land also figures strongly within the volume.; The volume also has added annotations often regarding the disposal of property or land since the surveys were originally carried out and therefore incorporates later dates.; The geographical area covered within the volume includes: the county of Durham, parish of Billingham.

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