Collection GB 0347 D1 - West Hill Estate

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0347 D1

Title

West Hill Estate

Date(s)

  • 1759-1838 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

107 files

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

These are the main title deeds for the West Hill Estate, Wandsworth, which extended from West Hill in the north to what are now Gressenhall Road and Granville Road in the south. Later additions extended it on the west to Tibbets Corner, and on the east and south-east into South Field. Later still, a large part of the Spencers' Wimbledon Park was added to the south. The deeds end with this purchase by the second Duke of Sutherland in 1838. In the next decade the estate was purchased by John Augustus Beaumont for building development. The estate was first purchased, as part of the demesne of the manor of Downe, from the Duke of Bedford in 1759. The new owner was Mrs Penelope Pitt, wife of George Pitt (who later became Lord Rivers) and sister and heiress of Sir Richard Atkins of Clapham Bt. She sold it in 1786 to Sir Samuel Hannay, a Scottish baronet. Mrs Pitt had built a mansion house called West Hill House on the estate, but had not extended the grounds. John Anthony Rucker, a merchant originally from Hamburg, who bought the estate in 1789, and all later owners added to the lands by purchase. In 1804 Daniel Henry Rucker inherited the estate from his uncle; it was settled in trust on his marriage to Caroline Gardiner in 1805, and eventually put on sale by public auction in 1825. The main purchaser, by private contract before the auction, was George Granville Leveson-Gower, Marquess of Stafford, later 1st Duke of Sutherland. He, through his wife the Countess of Sutherland in her own right had added most of the county of Sutherland to his vast estates in the north of England.

On his death in 1833, his son the second Duke inherited.

Archival history

GB 0347 D1 1759-1838 Collection 107 files

Please contact the Archive for further information.

These are the main title deeds for the West Hill Estate, Wandsworth, which extended from West Hill in the north to what are now Gressenhall Road and Granville Road in the south. Later additions extended it on the west to Tibbets Corner, and on the east and south-east into South Field. Later still, a large part of the Spencers' Wimbledon Park was added to the south. The deeds end with this purchase by the second Duke of Sutherland in 1838. In the next decade the estate was purchased by John Augustus Beaumont for building development. The estate was first purchased, as part of the demesne of the manor of Downe, from the Duke of Bedford in 1759. The new owner was Mrs Penelope Pitt, wife of George Pitt (who later became Lord Rivers) and sister and heiress of Sir Richard Atkins of Clapham Bt. She sold it in 1786 to Sir Samuel Hannay, a Scottish baronet. Mrs Pitt had built a mansion house called West Hill House on the estate, but had not extended the grounds. John Anthony Rucker, a merchant originally from Hamburg, who bought the estate in 1789, and all later owners added to the lands by purchase. In 1804 Daniel Henry Rucker inherited the estate from his uncle; it was settled in trust on his marriage to Caroline Gardiner in 1805, and eventually put on sale by public auction in 1825. The main purchaser, by private contract before the auction, was George Granville Leveson-Gower, Marquess of Stafford, later 1st Duke of Sutherland. He, through his wife the Countess of Sutherland in her own right had added most of the county of Sutherland to his vast estates in the north of England.

On his death in 1833, his son the second Duke inherited.

British Records Association deposit no. 2355 from Collyer-Bristow, solicitors.

Many of the deeds relate to these purchases of the main estate. Others relate to additional purchases, each with their supporting title deeds of earlier date referring to previous owners. There is a series of numbers pencilled on the majority of these later deeds, and this order has been strictly maintained in this list. The following groups of deeds were tied in bundles: D1/16-29, D1/34-50, D1/52-55, D1/56-65. There are admissions and surrenders relating to property in the manor of Battersea and Wandsworth.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

This material is only available in the Wandsworth Heritage Service search room at Battersea Library. Please contact Heritage Service staff for more information.

The contents of this catalogue are in the copyright of the place of deposit; Rights in the Access to Archives database are the property of the Crown.
English

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Finding aid created by export from CALM v8.0.2.40 Archives Hub EAD2002. Entry amended by Barbara Ball.
General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997. April 2011 Deeds Wandsworth Documents London Information sources England UK Western Europe Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

British Records Association deposit no. 2355 from Collyer-Bristow, solicitors.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Many of the deeds relate to these purchases of the main estate. Others relate to additional purchases, each with their supporting title deeds of earlier date referring to previous owners. There is a series of numbers pencilled on the majority of these later deeds, and this order has been strictly maintained in this list. The following groups of deeds were tied in bundles: D1/16-29, D1/34-50, D1/52-55, D1/56-65. There are admissions and surrenders relating to property in the manor of Battersea and Wandsworth.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

This material is only available in the Wandsworth Heritage Service search room at Battersea Library. Please contact Heritage Service staff for more information.

Conditions governing reproduction

The contents of this catalogue are in the copyright of the place of deposit; Rights in the Access to Archives database are the property of the Crown.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Wandsworth Heritage Service

Rules and/or conventions used

General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area