Add MS 89290/1/1

Papers relating to legal advice, surveys, valuation, sales and purchases of property chiefly in Cambridgeshire, with some papers relating to property in Surrey, Kent, and Gloucestershire.

Contents:

• Letter from John Vernon to Charles De Laet, 18 Dec. 1770. Seeks opinion about planned widening of the St Albans turnpike road, taking in 5 acres of land belonging to Master Yorke (Philip Yorke, future 3rd Earl). Enclosed is a copy letter from William Kentish to Thomas Grape, detailing the lands on Yorke’s estate at Ridge hill affected.
• Letter from Mr Vernon to Mr Baldwin, Lincolns Inn, 15 February 1782. Regarding property matters, including the Reigate houses.
• John Bassingbourne and his wife’s fine to Henry Chicheley of the Manor of Wimpole, Michaelmas 23 Henr. 7 (1507). Inscribed in red ink: ‘No (1)’.
• Bill and receipt from Nathaniel Kent, for surveying the estates in Gloucestershire, £98. 9s. 6d., paid by John Vernon. 12 December 1771,
• Gloucestershire, Hardwicke, a state of the farms at New Let, October 1777. Names of tenants, with old and new rents.
• Copy of a terrier of Pearce’s Farm, North Brook End, Morden, from 1726. Docket title: ‘Copy of a Terrier of Pearce’s Farm delivered by himself to me at Morden the 10th Novr 1736, with further memorandum and note: ‘now let to John Norman at 96 £[?]’.
• Legal opinion by J. Dunning, Lincolns Inn, on the case of Lord Cadogan and Sir Charles Bunbury v the Earl of Hardwicke, concerning the validity of an agreement between Mr Christie and Mr Vernon, their agents, over sale and purchase of estates in Cambridgeshire,‘ 20 November 1779. Docket title: ‘20th Novr. 1779. Copy of Mr Dunnings opnion as to the purchase of the Estate at West Wickham’. Manuscript annotation at head of document: ‘a very slovenly loose Opinion not worth ½ a Crown’.
• ‘Purchase of land at Eversden &c’. After 1813. List of documents relating to sales of various properties, 1801-1814, including Mr Halsted’s Farm, land in Steeple Morden and Guilden Morden, Morden Hall, Advowson of Foulmire, land and farm at Bassingbourn, Bodgers Land in Burnt Fens, estate at Hardwick, cottages at Chesterton, common rights in Waterbeach, estate at Harlesden. Document on 2 pieces of paper joined together and previously folded in a cross-shape, probably for use as an enclosure for the documents listed, some of which appear to follow.
• Printed ‘Particulars and conditions of sale of a truly desirable freehold residence … cottages … and several pieces … of… pasture and arable land, situate … in the parishes of Royston and Bassingbourn … which will be sold by auction by T. Cockett … on the 15th day of December, 1808, at two o’clock’. Inscribed with a message to the Earl of Hardwick, St James Square, London, from Thomas Cockett, Royston, 25 November 1808, and franked. Manuscript notes on lots, and prices on verso. Possibly document no. 8 on preceding list.
• Letter to Earl of Hardwicke from Christopher Pemberton Jr. Cambridge, 9 September 1806. Details of a farm to be sold at Bassingbourn. Possibly document no. 9 on preceding list.
• List of property lots with acreage, prices, and price per acre. Verso: ‘Prices of Land bought in Bassingbourne in Dec: 1808’. Undated. Refers to the land sold by auction by T. Cockett above.
• Particulars of an estate at Steeple Morden, house, gardens and rents of Steeple Morden, Guilden Morden and Litlington (manuscript). No date [late 18th century?]. Possibly document no. 12 on preceding list.
• Description of the Manor of Steeple Morden. Docket title: ‘Observations on Mr Leheup’s Estate in Cambridgeshire’; ‘Hankins’. The manor was purchased by the Earl of Hardwick from Peter Leheup in 1754.
• Letter to Earl of Hardwicke from W. Wandby, Ely, 26 May 1807. Regarding purchase of Mr Bodger’s land at Burnt Fen, 54 acres 2 roods 12 perches, price £600. Possibly document no. 10 on preceding list.
• Letter to Earl of Hardwicke from H. R. Evans, 29 June 1807. Regarding the conveyances and title deeds of Bodger’s property in Burnt Fen. Docket title: ‘Mr Evans / June 29, 07 / Purchase of Bodger’s Land in Burnt Fen’.
• Letter to Earl of Hardwicke from Thomas Archer Junior, Ely, 3 July 1807. Regarding receipt of letter, cheque for £605 12s 6d, the amount of Mr Bodger’s purchase money and his share of the conveyances. Docket title: ‘July 3 1807 / Evans / Bodger’s purchase in Burnt Fen / 605.12.6’.
• Five letters from William Constance to Earl of Hardwicke, 1815-1816. Regarding land matters, including the purchase of Whatburn’s and Wakely’s farms, land near Dover and Canterbury, request for the Earl’s support for a proposed survey of the county.