Bundle mainly comprising farm leases, conditions, and letting agreements, in the...

As follows:

1 Lease for 99 years or till death of lessee (Sir James Lowther of Whitehaven, Bt., to Gilfrid Lawson Esq.) - Corn and grain tithes of Hensingham Low Hall Demesne, in return for half the meadow called Leonard Ruding (about 3 days' work), and parcel 120 yds. by 12 yds. at west end of the field called Cow Park, as now "Mark'd or Dowal'd Out", at Mirehouse (part of Hensingham Low Hall Demesne), and power to make a road through to Sir James's collieries at Scalegill and Linethwaite ([surface:] Mr Thomas Patrickson) or elsewhere, but not to sink shafts as such there, or otherwise mine there; and with power to use the several springs (including "Calf Park Well" and "Braccon Hill" spring), but leaving enough for the Hensingham Low Hall farmer's use; and to convey the said springs' water by gutter or otherwise (route stated; field names) "to and for the Use of the Water Gin" now in use by Sir James "for Drying his .. Coals .. at Scalegill or Linethwaite", but not to alter the water's course afterwards; rent, £2. 10s. 0d.; Sir James to hedge, rail, and gate the said lands; easement for Gilfrid over Wain Rigg and Lady Pow (lands there); 1736

2 Bargain and sale for £150 (Henry Thompson of Brayton gent. and John Grainger of Bromfield gent. and Sarah his wife, to Wilfrid Lawson of Brayton gent. the eldest son of Alfrid Lawson of Newcastle upon Tyne, Collector of the Customs) - customary house and its land at Brayton (Manor of Brayton), rent 7s.6d., with "all .. Tofts Crofts ..", "to hold .. for ever according to the Custom of Tenant-right" in that Manor, 1736

3 Declaration of trust (Wilfrid Esq. of Brayton, to Dorothy the wife of Samuel Morris of Brough under Stanemore (Westmorland) gent.) - reciting the preliminaries (1732) leading to the marriage settlement of Fretcheville Dykes of "Wartholl Hall" Esq., Dorothy's father, and Dorothy's finances since; and that on 16 March 1738 she mortgaged a house and its land "called Melaw" (Mealo) p. Aspatria to Joseph Danson of Allerby yeo. for £300 - that this was done through Wilfrid Lawson in trust for her; term, 3 years; 1738

4 Lease (lacks release) by Sir Wilfrid to [his lawyer] Lough Carleton of Monument Yard, City of London, gent. - his estate in Hesket (New Market), Hensingham, Loweswater, Distington, and at Morton Head p. Carlisle St Mary, 1754

5 Customary bargain and sale for £539 (Peter Pearson of Workington, Customs Officer, and Jane his wife, to Jonathan Bank of Hill p. Loweswater, blacksmith) - house and its land at Hill in Loweswater (Manor of Loweswater), being two parcels, the one of apportioned rent 6s.10½d., the other of rent 1s.9¼d., plus 3d. in lieu of the great tithes; "together with all .. estate, Tenantright, .."; 1761

6 Bargain and sale for 5s.0d. and for rent of 12s.0d. a year (Sir Gilfrid to Jacob Nicholson of "Heskett" (New Market), carpenter, with George Twentyman of Brayton, 3rd party) - freehold parcel "at Heskett fronting the Market place" between Timothy Twentyman's house on west and Sir Gilfrid's stable and barn on west; measuring 9 yards frontage and 12 yards depth; provision for its future development, i.e. where the timber joists shall be laid during, 1763

7 Copy of Private Inclosure Agreement by the 15 Owners of Distington Church Field (unnamed at head, but sign it; Sir Gilfrid was one of them) - new fields, roads, gates, bars, stiles, rails; concerning "Limestone ground", and "the old Ring Hedges"; "The Commissioners shall have Power to give Quantity of Land for Quality the better to adjust the Same"; arbitrators named, to settle any disputes; the Inclosure to be completed by 1 May 1766; 1765

8 Copy of Arbitration Award to settle the current disputes of lord and tenants of Leco, a piece of land at Blindcrake, and to define its bounds and each side's rights there - reciting that the lord is Fretcheville Dykes of Warthole Esq., presently suing two of his tenants Joseph Carter and Thomas Williamson, both of Blindcrake over right of turbary there - states the bounds of Leco, having first walked them; provides for future inclosure by FD Esq.; directs each side to pay own costs in the lawsuit so far, and half the costs of this arbitration, 1777

Bounds include "a little Green Path .."

Arbitrators here were James Craik of Flimby Esq., John Nicolson of Carlisle Esq., and John Monkhouse the younger of Cockermouth gent.

9 List of persons paying Allhallows hay tithe prescription (name of person or farm, sum paid), 1777

10 Letter from "Bk.* Shorter" to the Rev. Mr Waite, Brayton - replying to yours of 24th arrived 28th, as to Lawson origins in Co. Durham: has searched, but largely in vain; and as to Sarah Lawson, now Cockburn, born at Deal (Kent), married William Cockburn of Newcastle upon Tyne c. 1750 "at Gretna Green, in the Neighbourhood of Brayton", and family reluctance to talk about it

Washington, Postmarked "Durham" 1791

*B[rac]k

11 Schedules of Sir Wilfrid's estates in Aspatria and Isel parishes "for which a Land Tax certificate is required" - gives field names, tenants, what buildings if any, acreage, Land Tax, for each farm listed; two items, watermark 1796

Farm leases, each for 11 years, minerals and timber excepted 1801

12 Premises: Linskel field and East Park, Bassenthwaite, occ. John Fisher and Daniel Wilkinson

Lessee: John Pert of North Row and Thomas Pert of High Close, both in Bassenthwaite, yeomen.

Rent: £164

Clauses: H, R "Potatoes and turnips [are] considered fallow crops". Sir Wilfrid to pay lessees £25 if they be "obliged to make a new Road through Linskel Field"

13 Premises: Tenement in Blindcrake

Lessee: Joseph Harrison of Blindcrake, yeo.

Rent: £20

14 Premises: Isel Mill, Middle Park, and Frostrams (occ. the said William Todd) and Thick Hill, Lanwood (both occ. George Stagg) and Old Orchard (occ. John Fisher)

Lessee: William Todd of Isel Mill, miller

Rent: £84

Clauses: (including the Mill) (water corn mill)

15 Premises: Westray's Tenement and Greenup's Field p. Isel

Lessee: John Clemetson of Sunderland p. Isel, yeo.

Rent: £38

Clauses: (The quicks not referred to here as "young")

16 Premises: Howgills, Harrison's, Wilson's, and Borranskaile's Tenements at Old Park, p. Isel, occ. William Bowe

Lessee: Robert Bushby of Seaton p. Camerton, yeo.

Rent: £96

17 Premises: Long Close, Prior Field, Bainbridge, Nut Hill, p. Isel, occ. Jos. Westray

Lessee: Joseph Robinson of "Widdiker Hall" [Weddicar Hall], yeo.

Rent: £225

18 Premises: Oughterside Demesne (renewal of lease)

Lessee: Thos. Jackson of Warthole p. Plumbland, yeo.

Rent: £100

19 Premises: Plumbland Mill Tenement and Aspatria East Mill (renewal of lease)

Lessee: Thomas Hayton of Aspatria East Mill, miller

Rent: £49

Clauses: (mill and kiln)

20 Premises: House and land called Washington and Washington Moor, p. Washington (Co. Durham), except the Mill Field and part of "that tract called Boggs" (already let to George Wardle)

Lessee: John Brack of Washington (Co. Durham), yeo.

Rent: £180

Clauses: Field names. A 4-year rotation specified ("in four Aethers or portions")

Lease annulled if lessee die within the term.

21 Bargain and sale (stamped but not completed) for blank sum (Thomas Bewley of (blank) yeo. to Sir Wilfrid; John Norman, steward, 3rd party) - parcel of freehold woodland (1a. 1r. 20p.) called Hillbeck in Bassenthwaite 1802

Farm leases for 7 years each, with detailed husbandry and repairing clauses, and reserving minerals, timber, sport:-

22 Premises: Blackamoor, a tithe-free house and land (field names) at Baggrow, occ. Wm. Grave

Lessee, Date: William and Henry Twentyman of Aspatria and Wigton respectively, yeomen, 1804

Rent: £80

Special Clauses: Power to lessor to inclose any part subsequently for plantations

23 Premises: House and 8 closes (named, including Brickkiln Field) at Brayton

Lessee, Date: Samuel Hannah of Highwood Nook p. Torpenhow, and John Ismay of Ireby, yeomen; Lady Ann Lawson of Brayton, lessor, 1807

Rent: £160

Special Clauses: Lessees to repair the road from Cockgate Lodge up to Brayton; and to let Lady Ann have 4 acres of wheat (now sown) rent-free

24 Premises: S, N, W Broats and Pond Meadow (4 closes) at Brayton

Lessee, Date: Thomas Jackson of Maryport and Wm. Beeby of Crookhurst (Cumberland) yeoman; Lady Lawson, lessor, 1807

Rent: £110

Special Clauses: Lessor reserves right to extract sand and gravel there

25 Manor steward's account of fees received for admittances etc. (Mounsey, steward; tenants' names and manors), 1807

26 Receipted voucher for cutlery supplied from London to Mrs Lawson, 1810; and receipt for rent paid by Thomas Lawson Esq. for his chambers in 13 Paper Buildings, (Temple), 1810, 1810

Letting conditions and/or agreements as follows:-

27 Premises: Thos. Lawson Esq's estate at Blindcrake Far Close

Lessee (occupations not stated): Wilfrid Barnes of Blindcrake

Document, Term, Rent: 12 years £1 per acre

Date: 1810

28 Premises: Oughterside West Demesne, occ. Wilfrid Holliday

Lessee (occupations not stated): Thos. Jackson of Mealo House, p. Aspatria

Document, Term, Rent: 4 years £130

Date: 1816

29 Premises: Farm at Sunderland p. Isel (fields named)

Lessee (occupations not stated): Fisher Wilkinson of Redmain

Document, Term, Rent: 10 years £68 if Mr Lawson agrees (void, if not).

Endorsed "Abated to 63 pounds"

Clauses: No sub-letting

Date: 1819

30 Premises: Isel Mill and its farm

Lessee (occupations not stated): William Penny of Brigham Mill p. Brigham

Document, Term, Rent: 10 years £150

Date: 1819

31 Premises: Isel Hall Farm

Lessee (occupations not stated): John Relph of Isel Hall

Document, Term, Rent: 10 years £470

Clauses: Sport. Lessee to report any hedge-gaps round Mr L's plantations, and any poachers, or forfeit his lease

Date: 1820

32 Premises: Broadmoor, Brickkiln Field, and East Field, being 3 fields

Lessee (occupations not stated): Mr John Hodgson jnr. of Blennerhasset

Document, Term, Rent: 1 year £105

Clauses: Lessor to maintain 2 of the hedges

Date: 1820

33 Premises: Strother House Farm, Co. Durham

Lessee (occupations not stated): Mr Robert Smith there

Document, Term, Rent: 9 years £220

Date: 1820

34 Premises: Oxclose Farm, Ox Green, and part of Washington Hall Farm, Co. Durham; and all Messrs. Carr & Co.'s farms and cottages there if the Colliery be not working (lease annulled if the Colliery revives)

Lessee (occupations not stated): Mr William Stobart of "Pealow House" [Pelaw], Co. Durham

Document, Term, Rent: 9 years £550

Clauses: Lessee to have 12 months' notice of ending of lease should the Colliery revive

Date: 1820

35 Premises: Oughterside Farm; also extra 6 acres from Oughterside West Demesne (postscript, 1821)

Lessee (occupations not stated): Robert Langcake of Oughterside

Document, Term, Rent: 9 years £300

Clauses: Sport Horses and cattle numbers not to be run down in final year

Date: 1821

36 Premises: Farm at Sunderland p. Isel

Lessee (occupations not stated): John Clemitson there (renewal)

Document, Term, Rent: 11 years £170

Clauses: Sport Horses and cattle clause (as in Oughterside 1821).

Lessees to repair roads at Oxpasture and near Isel Vicarage

Date: 1823

37 Premises: Milstone Moor Farm

Lessee (occupations not stated): Isaac Sibson there (renewal)

Document, Term, Rent: 4 years £320

Clauses: Sport

Date: 1823

38 Premises: Late Tom Reed's estate at Baggrow, now occ. Mrs Ann Clarkson, widow: house, 2 closes called N & S Crofts, "1 Cowhouse covered with tiles", poultry-house, pig-sty

Lessee (occupations not stated): John Todd of Burnshill p. Sebergham, and the said Ann Clarkson

Document, Term, Rent: Annual tenancy £20

Date: 1823

39 Premises: Strother House, Co. Durham

Lessee (occupations not stated): Robert Smith (son of the previous lessee) there

Document, Term, Rent: 1) Acknowledgement of renewal;

2) Agreement signed at Keswick (two documents) 1 year

£220

Recites terms of agreement sent to Mr Stobart, Pelaw House, the month before; and what Mr Norman the Agent said on his last visit to Strother House

Date: 1825

40 Premises: Townfield Close (parish not stated) (p. Aspatria, see Item D/LAW/3/22 below)

Lessee (occupations not stated): Joseph Donald of Hayton

Document, Term, Rent: A

1 year

£55

Clauses: Lessee may cut drains there

Date: 1825

41 Contemporary copy of 1836 lease of wayleave for 99 years for road or waggonway for colliery or other purpose (Sir Wilfrid to JF Harrison of London and two others) through Coxgreen Farm and Washington Mill Fields, Co. Durham; the said road to be 14 yards wide at most; lessees to fence it, and to lift any railway track within a year of end of lease; rent £63. 17s. 2d. p.a., c. 1836

42 Two letters re the 1836 wayleave and re insanitary cottages there (1889, 1893); one letter re the effect of Sir Wilfrid's road from Washington Colliery and Ox Close Colliery on the York and Newcastle Railway, 1849; and one tracing of plan, section, and schedule of land in Washington and Little Usworth to be bought for the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway n.d. (c.1850), 1849 - 93