277
THE ESTATES GAZETTE
Febktjaky 18, 1899.
value £670? Just fancy a house of six rooms in Spitalfields letting at £100 a year ! Why, it’s ridiculous ! ” “ Will you guarantee 95 per cent, if you collect?” “Any notice received from the sanitary authorities ? ” One had heard this last question before, but the answer on this occasion caused much laughter. “No!” said a dealer at the back of the room, “ they are afraid to go there ! ” Rather appropriate, perhaps. “ Now, put it in, gentlemen,” said Mr. Savill, when his patience was exhausted. “ Take £500 ? ” queried one of the audience. “ What! ” remarked the auctioneer, “ make it £1,000 and I will start.” He had not long to wait. A thousand came, and so did another, and many began to look astonished. It was not until £2,600 had been reaohed that the hammer fell, and the Spitalfields property was sold at what Mr. Savill called a “ bad price.” A freehold residence known as Elgin Lodge, Chadwell Heath, with stabling, gardens, and small paddock, let on a yearly tenancy at £50 per annum, was subsequently offered at the same auction, and realised £1,400; whilst a plot of freehold land adjoining, with a frontage of 70ft. to the main road and a depth of about 640£t., fetched £570. Both these results were considered highly satisfactory.
Tuesday.
Mr. David Burnett (Messrs. Ground rents	Burnett and Co.) must
Brixton. have been well satisfied with the result of his sale of leasehold ground rents this afternoon, for every lot was sold at a price which was generally considered as excellent. The rents, which altogether amount to £975 6s. per annum, arise out of 245 houses and shops in Barn-well-road, Rattray-road and Jelf-road, Brixton, held for an unexpired term of 78 years at a nominal head rent of £2 a year. They realised a total of £5,690. One of the properties in Mr. Burnett’s list was peculiarly described as “ an undivided 183-707ths share of eight villa residences in Hampden-road,Hornsey, producing £246, and held on four leases for an unexpired term of 82£ years at a total ground rent of £60 per annum. Naturally, the company were a little dissatisfied with the description of this investment, and the auctioneer was asked all sorts of questions, in answer to which Mr. Burnett declared more than once that the purchaser would get his full pound of flesh. He also declared that the owners of the other shares would not be averse to joining together and selling, or otherwise dealing with the entire property. “ At the present time,” said Mr. Burnett, “ we only get a trifle over £15 a year out of them, but you must not be guided by that. That amount can be doubled to-morrow.” Seveial dealers, still in a fog, were anxious to know how much could be distrained upon, and were evidently dissatisfied with the answer given. Eventually, the lot was sold for £800. At the same auction nine houses in Park-lane, High-road, Tottenham, let at weekly rentals amounting to £234 per annum, and held for an unexpired term of 82 years at a ground rent of £31 10s., fell into the hands of a dealer bt £1,830, whilst six small villas in Dennet -road, Broad-green, West Croydon, together producing in weekly rentals £124 16s. per annum, and held on separate leases for a similar period at a total ground rent of £29 3s. 6d., fetched £670. Under the hammer of Mr. R. T. Hamilton (Messrs. Hamilton and Miall), a residence, No. 65, Carlton-vale, Maida-vale, let at £38 a year, and held under a lease for 52£ years unexpired at a ground rent of £10, realised £340 ; a leasehold corner shop, Nos. 1 and 3, Whitmore-road, Hoxton, 20 years unexpired, annual rental £48, ground rent £4, £385, and Nos. 121 to 133 (odd numbers), Col worth-road, Leytonstone, producing £180 a year, and held for an unexpired term of 98 years, at a ground rent of £33, £2,018. Mr. P. L. James (Messrs. Maple and Co ) found a buyer foe a semi-detached family residence, No. 138, HemiDgford-road, Barnsbury, leasehold for 43£ years unexpired, ground rent £2, rental £50, at £600. Leasehold houses in Notting-hill, Bays-water and Marylebone were submitted by Mr. Lewis Beale (Messrs. Beale and Capps), but the bidding in each instance fell short of the reserve.
tunately, a public-spirited clergyman raised a subscription, and gave the proceeds to the owners on condition that the ruins were allowed to remain intact. The ruin is now in the hands of a Mr. Oswald, who generously spends a considerable sum every year on its upkeep and repair.
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Besides its distinction as a first-rate seabathing resort, Weston-super-Mare enjoys the reputation of being one of the handsomest towns in the west of England'. In one Of its most central thoroughfares is situated the old-established restaurant, dining rooms and boarding house, being Nos. 8 and 9, Regent-street (sea end), the lease and goodwill of which Messrs. Wansbrough, Sons and Sinclair are instructed to sell by private treaty. The premises are in excellent condition and possess all up-to-date requirements. The purchaser could, if he wished, easily let off one of the houses at £90 per annum. A modern bakehouse has been recently built at the rear, so׳ that, if desired, a good confectionery and family bakery business could be carried on. The rent for the whole is £125 per annum. The yearly returns are about £2,300. It may be added that it has been definitely decided that a new pier will be built from the end of Regent-street, of sufficient length to enable steamers to land at any state of the tide, in consequence of which it is estimated that a much larger business will be carried' on in this street particularly.
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The most ancient charters of Herts are chose connected with St. Albans, says Mr. John Harris, in a letter to the “Hemel Hempstead Gazette.” He goes on to say: The city and borough alone has received 17 charters, and so far as I can ascertain the liberty has received seven. Berkhamsted is the next in point of age ; here I know of five charters. Hertford seems also to rejoice in five charters. Of Stortford (or Bishop’s Stortford) I can only trace one charter to the borough, that of King John in 1206-7, and although it had a liberty of 13 parishes (now, alas! defunct, like the borough), I have not yet met with a single charter belonging to it. Next we have Hemel Hempstead, with eight; of which the former one of Cromwell is missing. Ashwell is spoken of as a borough in Domesday survey, but I have never been able to trace any charter, neither have I of the prescriptive boroughs or Hitchin, Rickmansworth, and Ware. In 1819, Rickmansworth, according to James Dugdale, was still “ governed by two constables and two headboroughs” ; whilst he remarks that “ Hitchin town is divided into three wards and is governed by two constables, two head-boroughs for each ward, two leathersellers, two aletasters, a bellman, etc.” With regard to Ware, Lewis, in 1849, says that the town was then governed by four constables and three headboroughs. All the boroughs, except St. Albans city, Hertford, and Hemel Hempstead have become defunct, although there has of late been a talk of reviving the Corporations of Berkhamsted and Stortford.
|VIems from the ]Wart
Monday,
A glance at the official list Houses 0 ״־f auctioDS for the current fields. week led me to anticipate a lively half hour at Token-house-yard this afternoon. In the list of Messrs. Alfred Savill and Son was mentioned a long-leasehold property comprising a shop and dwelling house, No. 36, Dorset-street׳, and also six houses adjoining, being Nos. 7 to 12, Little Paternoster - row. Knowing something about the character of the neighbourhood, and also that of the property under notice, I was not a litth curious to discover the result. It had also occurred to me that this was just the kind of investment that generally finds favour amongst East-end buyers. When a bold effort is made by these people the result attained is sometimes extraordinary, whilst plenty of fun ib provided. The whole property is held under two leases for 88 years from June, 1874, at ground rents amounting to £80 per annum, and sublet under one lease for 21 years from Midsummer, 1887, but determinable by the lessors or lessee at Midsummer, 1901, at a rental of £210 per annum, the lessee also paying the insurance premium. No sooner had the auctioneer (Mr. Alfred Savill, jun.) mentioned the estimated gross rental value than he was harassed with all sorts of questions, something after this style ; “ How do you make the gross rental
turesque views in England, and contains many old houses with gabled׳ fronts. Tarporley !s a busy little town, and is chiefly notable for being the centre of the famous Cheshire hunt, which has its headquarters at the Market Hall. Close to the town, and within view of the picturesque ruins of Beeston Castle and the beautiful seat of Lord Tollemache, Peckforton Castle, is situated the freehold residential property known as the Bowmere Lodge Estate, which Messrs. Ohurton, Elphick and Co. will submit to auction at the Swan Hotel, Tarporley, on March 1. The house, which occupies a nicely elevated position and commands extensive views over the picturesque country surrounding it, forms an excellent residence of moderate size, and is particularly suitable for the abode of a gentleman devoted to hunting and sport. It is seated in a small estate of about 15 acres in extent, and has extensive gardens and pleasure grounds, with two cottages, stabling and׳ other outbuildings.
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One of the most interesting parishes in Scotland is that of New Abbey, in the southeast of Kirkcudbrightshire. The district is one of exceeding natural beauty, mountain and moor, river and loch alike contributing to the charming aspect of the country, and is rich in historical traditions of all ages, from the earliest times down to the last century. The spot round which most of these traditions gather is Sweetheart Abbey. This beautiful old ruin is the youngest of our Scottish abbeys, having been founded in 1275 by Devorgoil, wife of John de Balliol, founder of Balliol College, Oxford׳, and mother of John Balliol, sometime called King of Scotland. Devorgoil was daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway, and her son was the nearest heir of David I., King of Scotland. She built the monastery of Dumfries and the bridge across the Nith, and repaired Dundrenna Abbey, which is called the Old Abbey, in distinction from which Sweetheart Abbey is called New Abbey. John de Balliol, husband! of Devorgoil, died and was buried in Teesdale ; but before his burial Devorgoil caused his heart to be extracted. The heart was embalmed and placed in a casket of ivory and silver, and was carried about by Devorgoil wherever she went; it is said that she even set it on the table when she sat at meat.
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The erection of the Abbey was superintended by an Italian architect Macolo, sent from Rome by the Pope for the purpose. Macolo brought with him a considerable number of skilled workmen, and they, aided by native labourers, reared the noble fane. As rewards for his pains Macolo was granted the lands of Ard-well; and Scotticising his name to MaeCulloch, he founded the family of MacCullochs of Ard-well. Devorgoil died in 1289 at the age of 80, and was buried within the walls of the Abbey, at what precise spot is not now known, and the heart of her husband was laid on her breast in her last resting-place, that the hearts so true in life might not be parted in death. From this beautiful example of conjugal love the building was called! the Abbey of Dulce Cor, i.e., Sweetheart Abbey. The Abbey was occupied by the Cistercian or White Friars, and was possessed of considerable powers, but at the Reformation it was, like most of the Scottish abbeys, suppressed and its lands confiscated. Within the grounds which formerly pertained ׳to the abbey there is a loch, which, tradition avers, covers a prehistoric village. Some of the natives say, indeed, that on a clear ■day when the water it still one may see the tops of the chimneys of the houses. The point of interest at Loch Kinder is, however, the remains of a crannog, or lake dwelling, said׳ to have been a retreat of Cendaelaghd, King of the Piets, who died about A.D. 580. The crannog, which is built of logs and stones, is circular in shape and is covered with shrubs and grass.
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It was during the time of its last abbot that New Abbey gained greatest prominence. This last abbot, Gilbert Brown, was the prototype of Sir Walter Scott’s Abbot Eustace, of St׳. Marie’s, and he was an arch-plotter for the Church of Rome. He is best known from his controversy with Welsh, the Reformer, but he was also deeply engaged in matters directly treasonable. He arranged with Lord Maxwell that forces from the Spanish Armada should land on the south' coast of Scotland, thence to march on the north of England. At׳ the Reformation the brethren were dispersed, but Abbot Gilbert lingered on in the vicinity, plotting for Rome, till 1605, when he was apprehended by Government. He was, however, allowed! to depart secretly to France, where, it is said, he died a pensioner of King Henry IY. There is a tradition, however, that he returned to Scotland and died in secrecy at New Abbey. After the Reformation the abbey was allowed to fall into ruin, and in 1772 the people into whose hands it had fallen began to sell the stones for building purposes. For-
Jtotes bp tftf Mag.
The Rev. W. F. Brown points out that the Tower Bridge southern approach, at present in course of formation, will run right across the site of old Bermondsey Abbey and the Abbey Church, and he expresses■ the hope that any relics or remains that may be discovered will be carefully and reverentially treated.
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Riddlesworth Hall, near Thetford, which was destroyed by fire this week, was a handsome mansion in the Italian style, built about a century ago upon the site of the old Manor House, which was then demolished. The mansion stands in a noble park, and with the estate of 120 acres was purchased in 1894 by Mr. W. N. Champion, from Sir Thomas Thornhill. The damage is estimated at about £40,000. Mr. Champion has determined to commence the work of rebuilding at once.
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The Parish Council of Brampton, the little Huntingdonshire village from, which Sir Henry Hawkins has taken his new ■title, has congratulated him on his elevation to the peerage, and thanked him for taking his title from the village with which his family have been associated for many years as owners of property. Some time ago, when ׳subscriptions were being collected for repairing or restoring the church, Sir Henry Hawkins was applied to for a contribution. He replied that it was true he owned a farm, but never visited the place. He added, however, that he would be pleased to give double the amount contributed by his tenant. This tenant was a Dissenter, who was not likely to contribute anything for such a purpose. After a few days, however, Baron Brampton, having had his little joke, sent a cheque for £25 without any explanation.
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The Glamorganshire town of Pontypridd is a busy, thriving place, many large breweries, chain and ironworks, and collieries being in the neighbourhood. It is hardly necessary to point out that there are a number of substantial properties in this district which form excellent investments, a fact which makes the forthcoming sale of freehold ground׳ rents by Messrs Stephenson and Alexander, of Cardiff, an event of considerable interest. These ground rents, which will be offered at the New Inn Hotel, Pontypridd, on March 22, produce an income of £460, and are secured upon various valuable properties at Pontypridd and Treforest, and generally are of such a character as to deserve careful attention at the hands of investors.
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The craze for flats seems likely to bring about the destruction of every building which has any pleasant or notable associations attached. We now hear that the picturesque old cottage at Frognal, Hampstead, interesting on account of its association with Dr. Johnson, is soon to be razed to the ground. Boswell tells us that it was here, where Johnson was staying as a visitor, that he wrote his “ Town,” and busied himself during a summer with his essay on the “ Vanity of Human Riches.” It is not a little singular, however, that neither of these poems bear much trace of the inspiration of the Hampstead Muses. The fact is that the burly doctor preferred society to scenery, and with the winter returned to Fleet-street, and presented himself once more amongst his friends, in whose company he felt׳, we may be sure, much more at home than amidst the breezes of Hampstead, and whose conversation gave him more gratification than the songs of the nightingales.
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The doomed cottage formerly stood close by the entrance of a singular edifice—now demolished—known as Frognal Priory. It was built by a Mr. Thompson, best known by the name of “ Memory Thompson,” or, as stated by others, “ Memory-corner Thompson.” This Mr. Thompson built the house on a lease of 20 years, subject to a fine to the lord of the manor. He appears to have been an auctioneer and public-house broker, who grew rich, and, having a peculiar taste in architecture and old furniture, built this house in an old English style, approaching the Elizabethan. Thompson is said to have belonged to a club of auctioneers or brokers, which met once a week ; and at one of these meetings, boasting that he had a better memory than any man living, he offered to prove it by stating the name and business of every person who kept a corner shop in the City. Having maintained his boast, he was thence called “ Memory,” or “ Memory-corner,” ’Thompson.
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The long winding street of the old Cheshire town of Tarporley forms one of the most pic-