The letter
The following letter is addressed to Thomas Storr Esq, Canterbury.
Norwich
Aug 12 1835
Sir,
I am sorry that I cannot advise Miss Amyas top accept the terms proposed for a renewal of the Lease of Deopham Manor etc.
I have perhaps no right to enquire upon what data you estimate the annual value, but I may state some facts which want of local knowledge may prevent your being acquainted with.
In 1821, the fine set was £517-15-7 & the fees £13-13-8 making together £531-9-3. In 1828 the fine & fees together amounted to £640-9-5. My corn returns do not go back to 1821, but in 1828 the average price of wheat in Norwich Market was £3-1-6. The present fine & fees demanded are together £642-19-5, exactly £2-10-0 more than they were in 1828, the average price of wheat per quarter being £1-19-8 according to the returns delivered to me by the Inspector, being less than ⅔ of the value in 1828, with a falling market. When your Steward or Agent came down in that year, I shewed him my rental without reserve, to which circumstance perhaps Miss Amyas owes it that the fine was increased more than £100, but it should appear that if the fine were then fairly estimated, it ought now to be reduced ⅓. It would be useless for me to detail the facts relating to Agriculture in this part of the Kingdom, because they may be learned from other Sources, and my account would be looked at with suspicion as coming from an interested party. It would give me great pleasure if I could accede to your terms, but my duty is very clear; if the Dean and Chapter be be determined to insist upon this fine or a Sum at all near it, I shall certainly advise these ladies to run out the lease which may probably last their lives, and happily they have no families to provide for. The Covenants proposed may hereafter require comment but it is unnecessary to trouble you upon that point at present.
I am Sir Your obedient Servant,
W.S. Millard
Chapter of Canterbury archive; their ref AL 1266
Transcription © G. Sankey
Comments
Presumably a new fine was agreed since a new lease was signed by the Amyas sisters on December 9th 1835.
Mr. Millard has a keen interest in this subject since he is the the lessee of the next lease (dated 1842).
The original letter
Reproduced courtesy of the Chapter of Canterbury; their ref AL 1266
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 18/1/24 | Published |
Deopham History 