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Logan was born in Liverpool in 1910 and went on to be educated at University College, Oxford. During 1935-1936 he held the Henry fellowship at Harvard and during 1936-1937 was assistant lecturer in Law at the London School of Economics. Logan was called to the bar (Middle Temple) in 1937 and also elected a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. During World War Two Logan worked for the Ministry of Supply before being appointed in 1944 as Clerk of the Court at London University where he became Principal in 1948. In 1959 Logan was knighted and went on to receive honorary fellowships from the London School of Economics (1962), University College Oxford (1973) and University College London (1975) as well as honorary degrees from numerous universities around the world. He died at University College Hospital, London, in 1987.

Unknown

Son of the deposed King James II of England, James Edward Francis Stuart made several abortive attempts to regain the English throne. In 1715 John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, raised a Jacobite rebellion in Scotland, and the Pretender landed at Peterhead, Aberdeen, on 22 Dec 1715. By 10 Feb 1716, the uprising had collapsed and James had returned to France.

Unknown

Very little is known about Johannes Gratian, who was born in Italy, possibly in Chiusi, Tuscany. He became a Camaldolese monk, and taught at Bologna. At a date some time after 1139 (probably 1140), Gratian compiled the Church laws (`canons') from all available sources and called the collection Concordia Discordantium Canonum (the harmonizing of discordant canons). The collection became known as the Decretum Gratiani. He died before 1179, some say as early as 1160. Although the Dectretum was not an official collection, it was, for a time and for all practical purposes, accepted as the fundamental text of Church law.

Turnpike Trusts were local organisations in England and Wales, each established by an Act of Parliament. They usually comprised local gentry, manufacturers, and other substantial persons. Trusts were often charged with repairing certain roads which were listed in the Act. They were frequently authorised to divert roads, and occasionally to build completely new ones. The Birmingham and Bromsgove road was turnpiked in 1726.

Stephen Elvey was born in 1805 in Canterbury and was trained as a chorister at the Cathedral under Highmore Skeats. In 1830 he became organist at New College Oxford and then at St Mary's University Church and St John's College. He composed a few, yet significant, pieces of sacred music including Evening Service in Continuation of Croft's Morning Service in A (1825) and The Psalter, or Canticles and Psalms of David (Parker and Co, Oxford, 1856). He died in 1860.

Stephen Elvey's younger brother, George, was born in 1816 in Canterbury. Also an organist George attended the Royal Academy and graduated from New College Oxford in 1838 when he was appointed organist to St George's Chapel. George Elvey composed church music as well as teaching several members of the Royal family. He was knighted in 1871 and died in 1893.

Charles William Crawley (1899-1992) was educated at Winchester and Trinity College, Cambridge University. He was a Fellow of Trinity Hall from 1924 to 1966, during which time he acted as Assistant Tutor (1927), Senior Tutor (1946-1958) and Vice-Master (1950-1966). He was University Lecturer in History from 1931-1966. His writings include The question of Greek independence, 1821-33 (1930); (ed)New Cambridge Modern History, Vol IX (1965); John Capodistrias: unpublished documents (1970); and Trinity Hall: the history of a Cambridge College, 1350-1975 (1976).

Opal Whiteley was born on December 11th 1897, in Colton, Washington, the daughter of Edward and Lizzie Whiteley. During Opal's childhood the family moved to the rural area of Oregon where she grew up. From a very young age she demonstrated an enthusiasm and affinity with nature. She was also very much involved in church activities and gained a reputation as a speaker and a teacher on the natural world.

Whiteley enrolled to study at the University of Oregon in 1916. She supported herself by giving lectures, but unfortunately could not afford to complete her studies. In 1918 she went to Hollywood in order to try and become a film actor but was this was an unsuccessful venture. Her lectures, however, continued to be popular, and she began work on a nature book for children called The Fairyland All Around Us. She covered the cost of publication by raising subscriptions, but ran out of money when she wanted to make changes to the printing plates, and these were destroyed by the publishers. Whiteley continued to work on the book by hand, to the detriment of her health.

Whilst trying to find a publisher for The Fairyland All Around Us, Whiteley met Ellery Sedgwick, editor of the American periodical The Atlantic. It was in this journal that The Story of Opal: The Journal of an Understanding Heart was first published. Introduced as the diary written by Whiteley during her sixth and seventh years, it was an immediate success. However, within a year of its publication there was considerable controversy about the work. Many people came to believe that it was a hoax, and that it had actually been written by the adult Whiteley.

The issues surrounding Whiteley and her work are further confused by the doubts surrounding her identity. From about the time of the publication of the Diary Whiteley began to claim that she was the daughter of Henri d'Orléans, a prince of the deposed royal family of Bourbon of France. This man, and her mother (who was identified variously by Whiteley) are referred to 'Angel Father' and 'Angel Mother' in the Diary. From this time onward she began to use the name Françoise de Bourbon d'Orléans.

Whiteley devoted much of her time to the search for information about what she regarded as her true parentage. Various influential people supported her in this search. In 1923 she used money received from Lord Grey of Falloden, who had become a close friend after reading the Diary, to travel to England. From England she went to France where she visited Françoise Marie Amélie d'Orléans, the mother of Henri d'Orléans. She, in turn, provided the funds for Whiteley to travel to the Udaipur region of India, where Henri d'Orléans died, so that she could find out more about him. From September 1924 Whiteley lived at the guesthouse of the palace of the maharana of Udaipur, under the assumed name of Françoise d'Orlé.

While she was in India Whiteley carried out extensive research into the customs, activities, life and surroundings of the areas in which she travelled. The results of this work can be partially seen in an article, The Story of Unknown India, which was eventually published by The Queen magazine. She also had plans to publish longer works on the subject of India, but these never came to fruition.

Whiteley returned to England in 1925, and in 1926 she travelled to Rome, and then on to Vienna where she spent 2 years living in a convent. In 1927 she returned to England, and for the next 20 years lived variously in London and in Oxford. She devoted herself to her writings, collecting books relating to her researches and to her Catholic faith. Her writings from this period grow increasingly confused, and many of her many friends and supporters appear to have lost touch with her from the late thirties onwards. In 1948 Whiteley was found to be unable to look after herself, and was taken into the care of Napsbury Hospital in St Albans. She died there in February 1992.

Madrigal Society, London

The Madrigal Society were involved in reviving Renaissance vocal music in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Catch Club, London

The Catch Club were involved in reviving Renaissance vocal music in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Thomas Sturge Moore was a poet, art and literature critic, book designer, illustrator, editor, stage-designer and wood engraver. He was born on 4 March 1870 and was educated at The Croydon Art School and Lambeth Art School. Sturge Moore was a prolific poet and his subjects included, morality, art and the spirit. His first pamphlet, Two Poems, was printed privately in 1893 and his first book of verse, The Vinedresser, was published in 1899. His love for poetry lead him to become an active member of the Poetry Recital Society. His first (of 31) plays to be produced was Aphrodite against Artemis (1906), staged by the Literary Theatre Club of which he became a member in 1908. He received a civil list pension in 1920 in recognition for his contribution to literature and in 1930 he was nominated as one of seven candidates for the position of Poet Laureate. He died on 18 July 1944.

Nathaniel Lardner (1684-1768) was born in Kent and trained at the Presbyterian Academy in London. From 1699-1703 he studied in Utrecht, afterwards returning to London where he undertook 6 years of private study. In 1709 he preached his first sermon in the church of his study colleague Martin Tomkiss in Stoke Newington. From 1713 to 1721 Lardner was domestic chaplain to Lady Treby, and tutor to her youngest son. On her death in 1721, he took over the role of assistant to his father at the Presbyterian meeting house in Hoxton Square. In 1723 he gave a series of lectures on 'The credibility of Gospel history', which began a life's work on the subject. His first publication of the lecture series in 1729 placed him in the first rank of Christian apologists, and he continued to write on Gospel history for the remainder of his life. He also acted as a preacher at the Presbyterian meeting house in Poor Jewry Lane from 1729 to 1751, being elected Pastor in 1740. IN 1745 he gained a D.D. from Marischal College in Scotland.

Unknown

The North Midland Railway to Masborough opened on 11 May 1840.

Douglas was educated at Dulwich College and ordained in 1894 at Newark. He undertook many positions within the Anglican Church and was Rector of St Michael Paternoster Royal, 1933-53. Alongside his ecclesiastic commitments, Douglas also took several senior positions with the University of London and was Chairman of Convocation in 1939. He published several books, mostly on aspects of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He died in 1956.

Fuller was born in 1882 and went on to study to be a solicitor before World War One. Joining the army, he rose to the rank of captain before leaving due to ill health and loss of hearing which prevented him from returning to his legal career. Fuller was interested in collecting Pacific and African artefacts and went on to become honorary curator in the Ethnological Department of the British Museum. He was also an avid antiquarian. He died in 1961.

Morley was born in 1890 and educated at Harvard University. Initially he began his career in journalism but soon drifted into acting, where he spent numerous years acting in the United States. He first appeared on the London stage in 1921. During the years 1947-50 Morley lived in Canada where he established the only professional resident playhouse in the country, at Ottawa. He returned to England after this period and continued to act, write, produce and direct in the theatre. He died in 1966.

The Garrick Club was founded in 1831 ". . . for the general patronage of the Drama; for the purpose of combining the use of a club, on economical principles, with the advantages of a Literary society; for bringing together the supporters of the Drama; and for the formation of a Theatrical Library, with works on costume". Its first proper meeting took place on 15 October 1831 and its first permanent premises were Probatt's Hotel, 35 King Street, Covent Garden. In 1864, in need of further space, the Club moved to new purpose-built premises, just 200 yards away, in what came to be called Garrick Street.

Famous members connected with the theatre and literary world have included Thackeray, Dickens, Irving, J.M. Barrie and Kenneth Grahame. Today, its list of members continues to include actors, writers, publishers and media professionals as well as businessmen. The Garrick Club Library is an important source for the study of British theatre history and houses a large collection of play-texts, playbills and programmes. It also has a significant collection of theatrical paintings and drawings. For further information about the club, see Richard Hough, 'The Ace of Clubs, A History of the Garrick'.

The first theatre on the site of what is now the Royal Opera House was opened in 1732 by John Rich ([1682]-1761), the founder of modern pantomime. The auditorium was gutted and rebuilt in 1782, and again in 1792. The actor John Philip Kemble (1757-1823), became a shareholder in 1803 and acted there with his sister, Sarah Siddons (1755-1831). The child performer Master Betty (1791-1874), was a huge hit at Covent Garden after Kemble engaged him, and the great clown Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837) made his name there. In 1808 the theatre burnt down, but re-opened in 1809. Kemble, by now the manager, increased ticket prices which provoked the 'O.P.' (Old Price) riots. During the first half of the 19th century, most of the famous actors of the day appeared there, including Edmund Kean and his son Charles. In 1856 the theatre was again destroyed by fire, and when it reopened in 1858, it became a home for opera, and seasonal pantomimes. In 1892, it became known as the Royal Opera House. In 1946, it became London's most prestigious ballet, as well as opera venue. Following a controversial grant of lottery funding in the mid-1990s, the theatre was rebuilt with vastly improved stage, technical and operating facilities, yet retaining and restoring the 1856 auditorium. It reopened in 1999 as one of the most up-to date opera houses in the world.

Franz Bauer was born in Feldsberg, Austria in 1758; his first published botanical drawing appeared in 1771; moved to England in 1790 to take up a position of draughtsman at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew; amongst his publications was Strelitzia Depicta (1818). Bauer is considered to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of botanical artists.

Unknown

Unknown.

The Anglican chaplaincy at Christ the King not only served the University of London but also other institutions such as City Polytechnic, City University, and Brunel University. In October 1963, Robert Stopford, the Bishop of London celebrated the Eucharist at Christ the King church in Gordon Square. In so doing, the Bishop began a new era in the church as the base for Anglican student life in London. The University of London Anglican Chaplaincy decided to cease holding its weekly service at Christ the King in July 1992.

John Lionel Tayler was a Unitarian minister in Newington Green and Lincoln. He was the author of A little corner of London in 1925 and also wrote books on biological subjects. His writings on America and other subjects were published posthumously in 1933 with the title New England and New America.

William Harbutt Dawson was an authority on Germany, especially on the social reforms in that country; the Liberal government employed him as an investigator at the Board of Trade, 1906, and he contributed to the Labour Exchange Act and the National Insurance Act in that capacity; his book The Evolution of Modern Germany was published in 1908 and reprinted five times before the First World War; he was a member of the British peace delegation at Versailles and argued unsuccessfully that Germany be able to keep its colonies.

Rose Macaulay was born in Rugby in 1881 and educated at Somerville College, Oxford. She was a prolific writer: her first best-seller was Potterism in 1920 but she also published a biography of John Milton, and wrote verse. Her final novel, The Towers of Trezibond (1956) was especially highly regarded and created a literary sensation. She also wrote many articles for periodicals such as The Spectator and The Observer. Her correspondence with a distant cousin, the Revd. J.H.C. Johnson, was published posthumously as Letters to a Friend (1961) and Last Letters to a Friend (1962).

John Loudon McAdam was born in Ayr in 1756. He became famous as a road builder, in particular for his seminal book Remarks on the Present System of Road Making (1816). McAdam was so influential that his surname has entered the English language as 'tarmacadam' and 'tarmac', a synonym for the tarred road surface he invented.

William Hone, a radical publisher, was made famous by the blasphemy trials of 1817 at which he was acquited. He often worked with the caricaturist, George Cruikshank, with whom he collaborated in a campaign to improve the condition of lunatic asylums. Hone began publishing the Reformists Register in 1817 and published parodies, which prompted his trial. Later in his life, he became an antiquarian publisher. Hone died in 1842.

French First Republic

The first French republic was declared on 21 September 1792 as a result of the French Revolution and the abolition of the French monarchy. Republican government lasted until the establishment of the First French Empire in 1804. One of the republic's leaders in its latter stage was Napoleon Bonaparte, who was First Consul from 1799 to 1804, when he ended the republic by declaring himself Emperor Napoleon I. The Republic is often divided up into the following eras: the National Convention, 1792-1795; the Directory, 1795-1799; the Consulate, 1799-1804.

Land Tax Assessors

The first assessments of 1692-3 were made under the terms of an "Act for granting to their Majesties an aid of four shillings in the pound for one year for carrying on a vigorous war against France" [4W and M c.1, 1692/3]. The Act specfied that real estate and personal property, that is buildings and moveable property as well as land, were to be taxed. It nominated, for each borough and county in England and Wales, the local commissioners who were to supervise the assessments and local collection.

The tax was voted annually, usually in the spring, until 1798 when it was transformed into a permanent tax, but was redeemable on a payment of a lump sum. It was levied on a number of different bases: as a pound rate between 1693 and 1696, as a four shillings assessment supplemented by a poll tax in 1697 and, from 1698-1798, on the system whereby each county or borough was given a fixed sum to collect. In 1949 redemption became compulsory on property changing hands and in 1963 all unredeemed land tax was abolished.

The assessors for each county are listed in the annual Acts of Parliament, until 1798. The sums collected for the counties of London, and Middlesex (and the City of Westminster) appear, until at least 1760, to have been passed to the Chamber of London and subsequently to the Exchequer.

Various

Morven Park is a Victorian house situated in Potters Bar. It was purchased by the National Trust in 1930. It is now (2010) a care home for the elderly.

The income for this charity, which was also known as Poors Allotments, derived from a plot of ground called Poors Piece, containing one and a quarter acres, situated between Lower Boston Road and St Mark's Road, Hanwell. The land was let out as allotments, the rents being used to provide coal, which was distributed annually to the poor of the parish. The trustees were responsible for the management of the ground, the collection of rents and the dole.

Poors Piece was conveyed to Ealing Borough Council in 1940, for use as an open space, under the provision of the Charities (Fuel Allotments) Act 1939. The money from the sale was invested and fuel continued to be provided, in some cases logs instead of coal. After the operation of the Clean Air Act 1956 smokeless fuel or cash allowances towards electricity and gas bills were substituted.

A brewery is known to have existed in Isleworth in the early years of the 18th century but it was not until 1800 that the Farnells, a prominent local family, purchased it at a cost of £1,145. From this date, William Farnell developed and enlarged the existing business considerably and on his death in 1820 bequeathed it to two of his sons, John and Charles. These two entered into a formal partnership in 1824. Over the next thirty years they acquired, by lease or purchase, control of a large number of licensed houses while at the same time enlarging the Brewery, building malthouses and erecting cottages for their workmen. As wealthy and respected members of the local community they contributed large sums of money to charity, and helped in the building of Saint John's church, Isleworth. In 1854, William Farnell Watson, a relation by marriage, entered into partnership with the two Farnell brothers, and in 1865, the business became known as "Farnell and Watson's". In 1866, William, the son of W. Farnell Watson, to whom the business had been bequeathed in his father's will, converted it into the Isleworth Brewery Company Limited.

Sich and Company, taken over by the Isleworth Brewery Company in 1920, was likewise a small family concern. The earliest mention of a Sich connected with brewing was in a conveyance of 1790 when John Sich purchased the Lamb Brewery at Chiswick from a group of persons including members of the well-known Thrale family. In 1809 John Sich the Elder, John Sich the Younger and Henry Sich entered into a formal partnership as common brewers, a partnership which was dissolved and renewed between John Sich the Younger and Henry Sich in 1819. As a slight diversification of their business interests they agreed to act together as coal merchants, side by side with brewing. Throughout the remainder of the 19th century the business was carried on by a varying combination of members of the Sich family. They pursued a similar policy to the Isleworth Brewery Company and acquired a large number of licensed houses in the vicinity of the brewery.

Four years after the amalgamation of these two family businesses, the enlarged company was taken over by Messrs. Watney, Combe, Reid and Company.

Lady Mary Clarke, who died in 1754 aged 69, was the daughter of James Clarke, Esq. He held various appointments under the crown, including those of chief clerk of the Kitchen to William and Mary and Queen Anne, and constable of Dublin Castle. He married Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heir of Captain John Masson of Stamford, Lincolnshire, "a great sufferer by his loyalty to King Charles I." Their only daughter Mary, the writer of these letters, married Sir James Clarke, Knt., lord of the manor of East Molesey, Surrey.

This manor was granted by the crown in 1677, together with the lease of the passage of water called Hampton Court Ferry, between Hampton Court and East Molesey. At the time these letters were written, James Clarke, the son of Lady Mary, was lord of the manor and lessee of the ferry. Other children mentioned in the correspondence are two married daughters, Mrs Pordage and Mrs Floyer, and Anne Clarke, who in February 1751 married Samuel Sheppard of Northamptonshire {The Gentleman's Magazine Vol XXI p.91}.

Lady Clarke wrote her letters from various places; in London where she resided in George Street, Hanover Square (address on back of letter no.42); at Windsor Castle where she took lodgings; and {West} Drayton where she occupied a house which later became the manor house of Fysh Burgh, lord of the manor from 1786. Entries in the court roll of the manor of West Drayton record that on 25 April 1744 Sir William Irby was admitted to "a customary messuage and lands formerly the estate of Jno.Brown and then in occupation of Lady Clarke", and on 26 April 1762 William Cholwich was admitted to the premises "formerly in possession of Lady Clarke with the stable barn gardens and appurtenances," (ACC/448/004 p.26, 32). It seems likely that Lady Clarke still occupied this house at the time of writing these letters. She refers to her "good friend" and neighbour James Eckersall, who lived at West Drayton. "I hear Mr Eckersall is to be at his house here for a few days next week the famely being at london", (No.13).

Colham manor was in 1086 assessed at 8 hides, 6 of which were in demesne. Part of the manor lands was probably granted away in the mid-13th century to form the basis of the sub-manor later known as Cowley Hall. At some time before 1594, however, Hillingdon manor was incorporated in that of Colham. Insulated within the lands of Colham lay the 'three little manors' of Cowley Hall, Colham Garden, and Cowley Peachey, and freehold estates belonging to a number of manors in other parishes, including Swakeleys in Ickenham.

The manor passed through several owners before, in 1787, John Dodd sold the whole manor to Fysh de Burgh, lord of the manor of West Drayton. Fysh de Burgh died in 1800 leaving Colham, subject to the life interest of his widow Easter (d. 1823), in trust for his daughter Catherine (d 1809), wife of James G Lill who assumed the name of De Burgh, with remainder to their son Hubert. The manor passed to Hubert de Burgh in 1832 and he immediately mortgaged the estate. Hubert retained actual possession of the property, which was seldom if ever during this period unencumbered by mortgages, until his death in 1872.

In the 12th century the dean and chapter claimed that ten manse at West Drayton had been given by Athelstan to the cathedral church of Saint Paul, and the date 939 has been given for this grant. Though both the transcribed grant and the date are suspect, Saint Paul's appears to have been in possession by about 1000. Various tenants farmed the estate on behalf of Saint Paul's until the lease was acquired in 1537 by William Paget (c. 1506-63), secretary to Jane Seymour. In 1546 Henry VIII, having 'by the diligence and industry' of Paget acquired the manor with all appurtenances, granted it to him in fee, and the interest of the chapter ceased.

From 1546 to 1786 the manor descended with the other Paget honors and estates, apart from a brief period at the end of the 16th century. In 1786 Henry Paget (1744-1812), 1st Earl of Uxbridge, sold the manor and estate to Fysh Coppinger, a London merchant, who assumed his wife's name de Burgh. His widow, Easter de Burgh, owned the manor in 1800. She died in 1823 and it passed to her grandson Hubert de Burgh, who died in 1872. The next heir, Francis (d. 1874), devised it jointly to his daughters, Minna Edith Elizabeth, and Eva Elizabeth, who was sole owner when she died unmarried in 1939.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962) and A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971) (available online).

Various.

The hundred of Gore comprised the parishes of Edgware, Hendon, Kingsbury, Little Stanmore, Great Stanmore, Harrow and Pinner.

Unknown

The 1811 prospectus for the Regent's Canal describes the ill-fated Paddington to Wapping Canal project:

"The great Distance of the Thames from the Northern Boundary of the Town has been always considered an Inconvenience from the Expense of Land Carriage, and the crowding the intermediate Streets with Carts and Waggons: as the Town has extended itself Northwards, those Inconveniences have been more severely felt, and so long ago as the year 1773 a Canal was contemplated along the back Part of the Metropolis, between its Northern Boundary and the High Grounds of Hampstead, Highgate and Islington.

The Paddington Branch of the Grand Junction Canal, executed about ten years since, formed a Communication with the River Thames at Brentford but the Distance from Paddington to Brentford being 20 miles, and from thence by the River Thames to the Shipping at Limehouse and the different Docks at Wapping, Blackwall etc. upon the Average 20 miles more, is so circuitous and the Passage through the different Bridges is so hazardous, that no Sort of Accommodation has been afforded by that Connection with the River Thames to the Neighbourhood through which the intended Canal is proposed to pass, and the Accommodation it has afforded to Paddington itself is very little.

In the Year 1802, a Canal from Paddington to the Limehouse Dock, at Wapping, was projected on a line through Ground, much of which was then allotted for building upon, and in the Course of which many and valuable Buildings then erected must have been necessarily taken down. A large subscription was then raised to carry the Scheme into Effect, but it was afterwards abandoned from the very heavy Expence likely to be incurred by it and by the great Opposition made by the Land Owners through which it was to pass."

Source: Website "When London Became an Island" about the building of the Regent's Canal. See http://www.whenlondonbecame.org.uk/new_page_5.htm (accessed Aug 09).

Pudney , family , of Sunbury

At the inclosure of 1803 the lord of the manor of Sunbury held about 175 acres of inclosed land and received about 186 acres of allotments. His old inclosures included fields on which Manor Farm (at the junction of Green Street and Manor Lane) and the house now called the Manor House were built before 1865. The early-19th-century Old Manor Farm, which also belonged to him, is in Church Street.

From: 'Sunbury: Manors', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 53-57 (available online).

Conveyances are transfers of land from one party to another, usually for money. Early forms of conveyance include feoffments, surrenders and admissions at manor courts (if the property was copyhold), final concords, common recoveries, bargains and sales and leases and releases.

Lease and release was the most common method of conveying freehold property from the later seventeenth century onwards, before the introduction of the modern conveyance in the late nineteenth century. The lease was granted for a year (sometimes six months), then on the following day the lessor released their right of ownership in return for the consideration (the thing for which land was transferred from one party to another, usually, of course, a sum of money).

Probate (also called proving a will) is the process of establishing the validity of a will, which was recorded in the grant of probate.

From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".

The most illustrious member of the family was Sir Lancelot Shadwell (1771-1850), last vice-chancellor of England. The eldest son of Lancelot Shadwell, a barrister and "an eminent conveyancer", Sir Lancelot was appointed a King's counsel in 1821. After a short parliamentary career lasting from 1826 to 1827, he took up the vice-chancellorship in 1827, a position which he held until his death.

The personal and business papers in this collection mostly relate to Sir Lancelot's son, Alfred Hudson Shadwell, a solicitor, who died in 1884. He inherited estates at Greenford and Northolt in 1857 from his uncle Charles Shadwell who was also engaged in the practice of law.

{References: Dictionary of National Biography, Vol.XVII; V.C.H. Middlesex Vol. IV}.

New River Company

During the late 16th century the need for a fresh water supply to the City of London became increasingly apparent. The city was served by an inadequate number of conduits, and its main source of fresh water - the River Thames - was contaminated by sewage and refuse.

After several abortive attempts at legislation, the Corporation of London finally accepted the offer of Hugh Myddelton, a goldsmith of the city, to complete a new conduit in four years. This was in 1609, and by September 1613 the work was duly completed. The conduit, known as the New River, rises from Chadwell Spring in Hertfordshire, and runs approximately 40 miles, finally ending in the Round Pond at New River Head, behind Sadlers Wells Theatre in Rosebery Avenue. As well as providing water for the citizens of London, the New River Company owned a great deal of property along the course of the river, in both Hertfordshire and London.

James I granted a charter to the New River Company in June 1619, and it was incorporated under the title of 'The Governor and Company of the New River brought from Chadwell and Amwell to London'. The seal of the company depicted the 'hand of Providence bestowing rain' upon the city and its motto was "et plui super unam civitatem" (and I rained upon one city).

Capital for the venture was provided jointly by James I and Hugh Myddelton, along with 28 other 'Adventurers'. On the incorporation of the company the two parties divided the shares between them; James I owned the King's Shares. The Adventurers' Shares were divided into 36 parts, 22 of the directors owning one part, and 7 others (including Hugh Myddelton) owning two.

The function of the company as a public utility ceased with the passing of the Metropolis Water Act in 1902. By this act the provision of London's water supply was passed from the various water companies to the newly-created Metropolitan Water Board.

As a result of this takeover, the New River Company was re-incorporated in 1904 as a modern property company. It was registered under The Companies Acts 1862-1900 as The New River Company (Limited). The Company was taken over again in 1974 by London Merchant Securities, but still exists as a separate entity within that group.

Conveyances are transfers of land from one party to another, usually for money. Early forms of conveyance include feoffments, surrenders and admissions at manor courts (if the property was copyhold), final concords, common recoveries, bargains and sales and leases and releases.

A bargain and sale was an early form of conveyance often used by executors to convey land. The bargainee, or person to whom the land was bargained and sold, took possession, often referred to as becoming 'seised' of the land.

A 'fine' was a fee, separate from the rent, paid by the tenant or vassal to the landlord on some alteration of the tenancy, or a sum of money paid for the granting of a lease or for admission to a copyhold tenement.

Common Recovery was a process by which land was transferred from one owner to another. It was a piece of legal fiction involving the party transferring the land, a notional tenant and the party acquiring the land; the tenant was ejected to effect the transfer. An exemplification was a formal copy of a court record issued with the court's seal.

From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".

Conveyances are transfers of land from one party to another, usually for money. Early forms of conveyance include feoffments, surrenders and admissions at manor courts (if the property was copyhold), final concords, common recoveries, bargains and sales and leases and releases.

Probate (also called proving a will) is the process of establishing the validity of a will, which was recorded in the grant of probate.

From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".

Probate (also called proving a will) is the process of establishing the validity of a will, which was recorded in the grant of probate.

A mortgage by demise was the most common form of early mortgage in which the land acting as security was transferred to the mortgage by a perpetual lease for a term such as 500 or 1,000 years. On redemption the land was transferred back to the mortgagor (the party borrowing money) and the remaining term of years assigned to a trustee

From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".

A militia force was raised from the civilian population of a county, in order to supplement the regular army in cases of emergency. In Middlesex they were called out at times of unrest. They came to be supplemented by volunteer forces, such as those raised by the 1794 Bill for "encouraging and disciplining such corps and companies of men as shall voluntarily enrol for the defence of their counties, towns and coasts or for the general defence of the Kingdom during the Present War [with France]".

There were around 300 militiamen in Middlesex in 1802. During the Napoleonic Wars this number rose to over 2000 by 1808 and 12,000 by 1812. More volunteer corps were raised in 1859, again in response to threat of French invasion. In 1881 the Army was organised into territorial regiments formed of regular, militia and volunteer battalions. Middlesex militia and volunteer battalions came under the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own).