R4/33

File of memoranda on the Lewsey arbitration.Related Material See R4/6 pp 128-130 for complete account of the dispute also R4/2 13 Jul 1834

1849

From: 1849 To: 1849

INCLUDES - BACKGROUND TO THIS DISPUTE William Bennett had been a tenant of Lewsey Farm - very large. He begged for and obtained a 21 year lease in 1843. (Michaelmas). 1849 Subsequently he made a statement before a House of Commons committee that the recent repeal of the Corn Laws was as if ?one fifth of the capital of the tenant farmers of the kingdom had been stolen, with Peel to blame. The Duke of Bedford was attacked on this issue in the house of Lords by the Duke of Richmond, a protectionist. The Duke therefore offered to let Bennett out of his lease and pay him for stock in hand and improvements made. Controversy arose in that Bennett wished to be paid also for the value of the lease - a contradiction in terms, if he considered the lease was ruin to him. There was an attempt at mediation by the tenant of the Maulden farm. In due course the matter was settled by 2 valuers and an umpire, and by and large the Duke lost, and had to pay a considerable sum. Case was of interest in agricultural history because of I) protectionist issue II) tenant right issue It was complicated by the fact that William Bennett and all his circle of supporters were all a) Wesleyan and b) Protectionist. Because of a) he was much disliked by Thomas Bennett, the Duke's steward.

item

Bennett, William,
Peel, Robert,
Duke of Bedford,
Duke of Richmond,
Bennett, Thomas

Luton Lewsey Farm, arbitrations, tenancy, agricultural leases, House of Commons, corn laws, money, farmer, House of Lords, livestock, building work, Maulden farms, MAULDEN, valuers, AGRICULTURE, HISTORY, Wesleyan Methodist, steward