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Chapter Two State of Property

Sect. 1. - Estates, and Their Management.

The great estates, as those of the Duke of Rutland, the Earl of Moria, and others of that class, are managed by resident stewards, who live either in the mansion, or in a separate dwelling in the neighbourhood; and this system becomes necessary for those whose high rank and conditions in life require their attendance on public affairs; and in management and improvement of a few thousand acres of land, it will well answer the proprietors end, in all cases where such a proprietor cannot, or does not chuse (sic.) to attend to his own affairs, to engage the whole time a man of business, ability, and active mind, to study systematically, and put in motion the various improvements to be made on such estate.

The recent improvements made on the Belvoir Estate, the property of his grace the Duke of Rutland, as related to me by Mr. King, the present agent, have been very great; they have been effected principally, 1, by enclosure, and consequent changes in agriculture ; 2, by improved roads, and the Grantham canal; 3, by planting, and building improvements.

The enclosures comprehend in the following parishes:

Date.	Parish.	Extent.
1766	Waltham	2500	Acres
1769	Eaton	1800
1770	Bottesford	4450
1771	Sproxton	2220
1771	Saltby	2120
1790	Harby	1800
1791	Hose, Barkstone and Plungar	3514
1792	Redmill	1700
	Knipton and Stonesby	3600
	Acres	28,704

besides part of many other parishes. These enclosures were managed with great economy, by often uniting two parishes in one Act, and under one commission; those expenses have not exceeded 10s. per acre, nor the enclosure, £3 per acre, reckoning the same price for fence timber cut upon the estate, it could have been sold at. This is indeed great economy, and a credit to those concerned. I have in other counties, in more instances than one, been assured of solicitors and commissioners expenses, amounting to £3 per acre, and the enclosure £5 per acre more.

A large tract in the vale of Belvoir was, before enclosure, an open chase, or forest stocked with deer; the remainder open common field in the three shift system, of fallow, wheat, beans. The deer often committed depredations on the crops, and were at some seasons obliged to be watched by night. Here the course of agriculture has since the enclosure been turned topsyturvy, the richest land in the vale, formerly tillage, has been laid to grass; and the poorer land up on the hills, and the skirtings of the vale, formerly a sheep walk, have been brought into tillage. Any land is permitted for tillage, whose staple, in the opinion of a proper judge, is not worth more than a guinea per acre; but rich deep soil, exceeding that value, is compelled to lay at grass.

The rents have been advanced from about 6s. per acre in the open state, to 18s. per acre, enclosed; but the duke is a kind landlord, never oppresses, and seldom removes a tenant. The advanced rent has been in part produced by the enclosure, but in part certainly by a change of times and circumstances ; the land has been much improved by laying the richest parts to grass, and by drainage &c., the occupations are mostly small, few individuals rent above £100, in an estate of 21,000 per annum. A numerous and able bodied peasantry is here supported; no stockingers, or other manufacturers, and care is taken that there shall be none; poor rents low, and rents well paid. Mr. King is aware, on behalf of the duke, that occupiers are rather farmers of the old stamp; but observes they are gradually improving, and some of the rising generation, as they grow up, are for striking at new improvements. He believes the estate produces as much nett income as it might do in abler hands at greater rents, as much polish and change in building at great expense, would be wanted. Something of this kind however is intended, and even set a going, to be brought about by degrees.

The enclosure of the vale has not at all, I believe, hitherto lessened the number of inhabitants, as the farms are small, and few changes of tenancy have taken place. The farmer and his family take a hand in the business, yet few can do without a male and female servant, and a labourer, who may have a family, these with the necessary mechanics, blacksmith, wheelwright, taylor, weaver, &c. form a considerable population in each village, I should suppose about 10 or 12 to every 100 acres. The farm-houses are at present generally in the villages; but as these decay, (and they are fast verging to it) it will be natural to form the new erections in the midst of the occupations, where some barns are already built, and the farms will be consolidated upon principles of economy, and let to the more active and diligent farmer; for as the tendency of the county is to pasture and feeding, the rejected occupier and his family must emigrate into towns, or elsewhere, for employ.

The management of the Duke of Rutland's property has always conducted in the most liberal and benevolent manner; yet I think the enclosing of a rich district, and converting it to grass, has been a natural tendency to decrease the population of the district: less corn is certainly now raised in Belvoir, than in the open state. This is admitted by those who effected the enclosures, but who say on the contrary, that fewer horses are kept, and less oats and bears are consumed in the district.

The roads of the vale of Belvoir, in its open state, were in winter dreadful, and almost impassable, and are indeed at present, in wet seasons very indifferent, except in a few instances. This object is not over-looked by those, whose interest is to improve them; some attempts have been made, and gravel has been brought many miles along the Grantham canal, and their improvement is intended to be brought about in time.

The Grantham canal is also a leading feature in the improvement of the vale of Belvoir: this canal is navigable for Trent barges from Nottingham to Grantham, and I am informed, it is practicable to continue it to the sea, at or near Boston ; it passes almost the whole length of the vale of Belvoir, and 9 or 10 miles over the Duke of Rutland's estate, who is a large proprietor; it thus furnishes coal, lime, and other heavy articles, almost upon the spot where wanted, in a county almost inaccessible by land carriage in winter. I heard a neighbouring farmer say, he would not take £50 a year for the convenience it afforded to him; it cost £100,000; it is yet involved in debt, and has never made a dividend, but it is in receipt of 5 or 6 per cent. per annum, upon its capital, and is expected to become a fair concern.

Plantations.--Along the south side of the vale of Belvoir, runs a declivity of some miles in length; this is planted, a great part lately with forest trees, well fenced in, and preserved at the expense of many thousand pounds; these plantations are very promising for timber, and at the same time make good fox-covers for rural amusement and exercise, and are a great ornament to the country.

The estates of the Earl of Moira have been improved by the late enclosure and improvement of Ashby Wolds, by the Ashby canal, by considerable plantations on the declivity between the upland and the vale of Trent, by the introduction of the drill husbandry, and the best modes of modern culture upon his estate: most of the other principle estates are improved by plantations, for ornament and shelter, which are generally kept neat and clean from weeds, and upon the whole, the estate and landed property of the county are under good management, and in a forward state of improvement.

Sect. II.-- Tenures.

Tenures, in this county, are principally freehold, with some little copyhold; manor courts are pretty generally held, even where the copyhold tenure is extinct, and their utility is experienced upon many occasions, as the settlement of boundaries, and preventing of litigations, appointment of constables, &c.; a very small proportion is church tenure, or held under life-leases, renewable between the parties, upon payment of a fine.

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