The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. & [Charles North]. [1845.04]. Contract for a new House and Farm Buildings. CUL-DAR210.10.7. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 8.2023. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR210.10 contains correspondence; Darwin's estate at Beesby. 1844-1871.

"Beesby, a village in Lincolnshire. 1845 CD bought a farm including 325 acres of land for £13,592 borrowed from his father; rent 1845 £377, 1877 £555 16s. 1845 Sept. CD visited the only time "to see a farm I have purchased". CCD3:258, Keith, Darwin revalued, 1955, p. 222. Atkins 1976, p. 100. Most of that time tenanted by Francis Hardy. 1903 Sold by William Erasmus Darwin (for the Executors of CD, deceased) to the tenant, Edward Ash Young. See Worsley, The Darwin farms, 2017."
"Higgins, John, 1796-1872. Born in Shrewsbury. 1819 Moved to Alford, Lincolnshire, land agent to Robert Waring and Susan Darwin and CD from 1845. H expertly managed and collected rent for CD's farm in Beesby. His papers survive in Lincolnshire Archives (Higgins Deposit) and provide abundant detail. See Worsley, The Darwin farms, 2017." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021.) The sketch of an estate at Beesby is at CUL-DAR210.10.4. Darwin in 1864 sold a portion of this land. Text.

[1]

at £38 & fraction per acre

The Beesby Estate

Messuage Farm, Buildings, Cottages & Arable Meadow & Pasture Land, containing……}

Purchase Money ….. £12400 at 3 1/4 per cent

Additional for a new Farm House & Building} 800 at 3 1/4 …..}

Say £430. per annum

324

403

£429

The Tenant to pay Land Tax and all other Outgoings whatsoever and to manage the Farm upon the principles laid down by Mr. Higgins.—

Gross Rental £437 s10

[1v]

[calculations not transcribed]

[2]

Contract for a new House and Farm Buildings at Beesby in the County of Lincoln, for C. R. Darwin Esq: to include such old materials as may be approved..} £800. s. 0 d. 0

Additional work, not included in the above.

Stackyard Fence, of Oak Posts & Studs and Larch Rails…}

12 Deal gates with Oak Posts…}

Fence for Front of House, Oak Posts & Larch Rails crossed, thus, [sketch]}

Digging & Boxing Well & Pump…

Tank for Liquid Manure; Bricks pointed with cement; 6ft x 8ft x x 8 ft deep to contain 1770 gallons; with Pump & Pipe Drain Tiles…}

Oak Lintils to be substituted for Deal, over Doors and Windows…}

Two extra Cupboards, additional Locks, and other fixtures in the House…

Spouting for the House…

Repairs to old Farm House, and converting the same into two Labourers Cottages…}

£. s. d.

15. 0. 0

30. 0. 0

14. 0. 0

16. 0. 0

21. 0. 0

3. 0. 0

5. 10. 0

6. 0. 0

10. 0. 0

120.10.0

£920.10.0

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)