L30/11/301/228

Letter from Charles H Ware, Grays Inn to Amabel, Baroness Lucas.

26 Sep 1808

From: 1808 To: 1808

Notifies Lady Lucas of a proposal made to Mr Firmin regarding the farm to be vacated by Benjamin Clay next Michaelmas, following service of notice to quit. It was intended to allow young Charles Clay to move from Shenfield to Benjamin Clay's farm, and for another son of old Charles Clay to go to Shenfield; but young Charles Clay is not prepared to pay a higher rent than £300. Refers to two valuations and the competition for farms adjoining Colchester which have benefitted greatly from the barracks in terms of demand for produce and the manure of the cavalry. There has been an offer from Mr Hawkins, a builder and timber merchant and has 'the ability to perform his engagement and indeed the new building will be a significant security.' The advantage of Hawkins offer could be stated as follows: Rent for 22 acres about £35 Rent for remainder £400 Equivalent for the new building £60 Total of £495, being £195 in excess of Charles Clay's offer. The writer is astonished by the rental valuation - when Lady Lucas succeeded to the estate the rent was about £100 per annum; in 1798 Mr Bowman valued the farm at £256 per annum, but Benjamin Clay was allowed to occupy the farm as a yearly tenant at £200 per anum. Young Charles Clay will be content with a new lease of his farm in Shenfield.

item

Ware, Charles H,
Amabel, Baroness Lucas,
Firmin,
Clay, Benjamin,
Clay, Charles,
Hawkins

estates correspondence, Shenfield, Colchester, estate leases