Folios 292-293. Letter from Walter May Barton, Clerk to the Guardians of the Mitford...

Folios 292-293. Letter from Walter May Barton, Clerk to the Guardians of the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Union, to the Local Government Board. He writes under the heading of 'Bawdeswell Parish Property' and encloses a copy of a letter received from Mr Pomeroy, who acts for all the mortgagees and also from Mr Lombe who is a probable purchaser [not included].
Letter from Mr E B Pomeroy, Solicitor, Wymondham, Norfolk to Walter May Barton, dated 15 December 1879, with a heading of 'Bawdeswell Workhouse Property', outlining the fact that the order of the Local Government Board directs that the purchase money for 'the interest of the parishes' in the property in question is to be applied to such purposes as the Board deem to be fitting.
Pomeroy presumes it is intended that the incumbrancers should concur in the sale so as to vest the beneficial interest in the property in the purchaser free from any encumbrances, 'the interest of the parishes is simply worth nothing as the encumbrance's amount to more than its value'. He states that the incumbrancers hold the view that by consenting to the sale, the purchase money for the property should be divided pro rata among them and if this is the intention of the Board, they are prepared to concur in the sale so as to make it a complete matter. He remarks that as the incumbrancers will be liable to the expenses, they think it right that they should nominate the auctioneer and express a desire for it to be Mr J S Hickling of Cawston, Norfolk. They also desire that Barton be paid his fair charge for attending the auction, notwithstanding the rules of the Board preventing this. However, this matter need not delay proceedings to sale as he feels that some arrangement can be made at a later date. He emphasises that at present he wishes it to be understood that the purchase money will be divided among the incumbrancers and once he has assurance from the Board that this is so, he will forward the form of the conditions. Finally he states that the ulterior object of the transaction is to provide for an enlargement of the Bawdeswell burial ground, a matter that is becoming more pressing on a daily basis. He therefore hopes that the Board will give a speedy response to this enquiry.
Annotated: 'Mr Fry. Acknowledge and state with reference to the part marked in red ink of the enclosures hereto, that the Board have been given to understand that, the interest of the Parishes in the property was worth nothing and that therefore there will be nothing to be repaid to the Treasurer, and the Board presume that the Guardians will only be made parties to the conveyance of the property in order to convey whatever interest of the parishes there may be remaining. The direction in the Order as to payment to the Treasurer was inserted according to invariable custom in these cases and became in the present case, until a sale had actually affected and the conveyance retitled, it was impossible to ascertain with certainty what form would be necessary or the reverse', 29 December 1879.
Annotated: 'Prepare letter accordingly', 2 January 1880.
[See also paper numbers 51110/1878 an 61190/1878.]

Paper Number: 93950/1879.

Poor Law Union Number: 302.

Counties: Norfolk.