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Reaccessioned in Reading University Library. This lease, covering one page of foolscap paper, was made on 29th December, 1746. It concerns a small field on the farm of Robert Chaundler in Crondall, Hampshire. It covers a period of 20 years from the previous Michaelmas Day (Sept. 29th). The lease specifies that the land should be used to grow hops in a 'husbandlike manner'

deaccessioned

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘… // DATE ACQUIRED: // GROUP: // NEGATIVE: // PERIOD: // PLACE OF ORIGIN: // NUMBER: // DESCRIPTION: …‘ It is of particular interest for two reasons. Firsly that it indicates that Robert Chaundler was enclosing his land about this date. The date of Enclosures in Hampshire is difficult to ascertain, but a survey carried out in 1794 states that there was still a great deal of common land in North Hampshire at that date, nearly 50 years after this lease was made. // The second feature of interest is the use to which the land was to be put. Hops were grown in considerable quantity in the Farnham area in the latter half of the 18th century, fetching between 40 and 50 shillings per cwt., and the value set on growing them varied between £50 and £3 per acre. Farnham hops were said to be the best of this area. Chaundler himself grew considerable quantities... but he appears to have set a low value on this particular piece of land. He did, however, insist on good standards of farming upon the land that he leased. //, MERL miscellaneous note - //AN AGREEMENT made this twenty-ninth day of December in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and forty six BETWEEN Robert Chaundler of Crondall in the County of Southampton Yeoman on the one part and John Winn of the same place Labourer of the other part as follows. // The said Robert Chaundler for and in consideration of the payment of the yearly Rent and of the performance of the Agreements herinafter mention'd hath lett unto the said John Winn ALL that piece or parcel of Land lately set in a field called Goddyers Land adjoining to a field call'd Bagmoor containing by Estimation one Acre be the same more or Less to plant the same eith Hops together with all ways and priviledges and Appurtenances to the same belonging TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the aforesaid piece or parcel of Land with the Appurtenances unto the said John Winn his Executors and Administrators from the feast day of St. Michael the Arch Angel last psat before the Date herof for by and During unto the full End and Term of Twenty years from thence next Ensuing and fully to be compleat and ended YEILDING and paying therefore yearly and every year during all the said Term unto the said Robert Chaundler his Heris and Assingns the yearly Rent or Sum of three pounds of lawful money of great Britain on the feast Day of St. Michael the Arch Angel AND the said John Winn doth Agree and Promise to pay or cause to be paid unto the said Robert Chaundler his Heirs or Assigns the aforesaid yearly Rent or Sum of three pounds at the time before mention'd for the payment thereof And also shall and will maintain and keep all the Fences belonging to the said piece of land in good Repair AND at the End or sooner Determination of the said term leave and yeild up the said premises planted with Hops in Husbandlike manner AND the said Robert Chaundler doth also Agree that if the said John Winn his Executors or Administrators shall be willing to leave the above mention'd piece of Land and be Released from this Agreement before the Expiration of the said Term of Twenty years he the said John Winn shall have free Liberty at any time to leave and quit the same only giving one years Notice thereof in writing and leave the same planted Hops in their husbandlike manner IN WITNESS thereof the Parties above mentioned have hereunto set their Hands // The Mark of John X Winn // Witness to the above Agreement // John Harris // Jn. O. Binfield // (Endorsed:-) // An Agreement // John Winn to // Robert Chaundler 1749 //

1746-12-29 - 1746-12-29