BHD79/3/4

Letter from Benning & Hoare, 11 West Street, Dunstable to Jesse Bird of Coombe Farm, Totternhoe: "Under the provisions of the Law of Property Act 1922 all copyhold land was automatically converted into freehold land as from the 1st January 1926 the Tenant becoming the freeholder. For the convenience of tenants certain of the "manorial incidents" such as Copy Rents, Quit Rents etc. were continued in force for a further period of 10 years unless extinguished by the Tenant in the meantime. This further period expires on the 1st January 1936 and unless the "manorial incidents" in respect of your property are extinguished by that date they will be extinguished automatically under the above Act subject to payment of compensation and costs by the Tenant. It is an advantage to a Tenant to extinguish the "manorial incidents" by agreement with the Lord before the 1st January next as otherwise they will be compulsorily extinguished by the Act through the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries and this procedure will necessitate the employment of a valuer whose fees will normally have to be paid by the Tenant. the Act also requires that all costs and expenses of the proceedings shall be borne by the Tenant and it therefore follows that these will be increased of the extinguishment takes place after the 1st January next. The Act lays down the procedure to be carried out and the basis upon which the calculations for compensation are made. Should you decide to extinguish the "manorial incidents" on your property before the 1st January next will you please let me have your age and the Gross Assessment of the property for Property Tax purposes as soon as possible so that I may calculate the amount of compensation payable. I am instructed that you own a strip of land adjoining and on the North west side of the Icknield Way which was formerly copyhold of the said Manor and it is therefore important that you should be aware of these provisions".

18 Dec 1935

From: 1922 To: 1935

item

Benning & Hoare,
Bird, Jessie

Eaton Bray Manor, quit rents, Benning & Hoare, Totternhoe Coombe Farm, Law of Property Act 1922, Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, property tax, Major 14 Road, EATON BRAY, Eaton Bray Icknield Way