T 1/561/303 - Barony of Bangor & Sabal and Royal Mines - 1780

A State of certain Tenements and Lands in the Isle of Man, belonging to the Crown, from the Books in the Surveyor General's Office.

The Crown is entitled to certain messuages of Lands in the Isle of Man, formerly parcel of the Possessions of the Monastry or Abbey of Bangor and Saball, in Ireland; which premises are described in the Leases thereof to consist of six messuages of six quarters of Land, two other messuages & two half quarters of Land, and a Water Mill, all situate at Dalby, in the Parish of Kirk Patrick, in the said Island.

In the year 1666 Richd Sherburn Esqr being in Possession of the Premises by virtue of a Lease for three lives, whereof one was then existing, applied, for a further Lease, and Sir Chas Harbord then Surveryors General having no survey of the Premises wrote a Letter to the Bishop of Oder [sic Sodor] in the Isle of Man, requesting him to employ some Person of trust, to survey the same, and to certify to the Lord Ashley or himself the number of the Messuages, and the quantity and value of the Lands. In answer thereto he received a Certificate from the Bishop and other Persons of Credit there, stating

"That the Premises contained six messuages, reputed six quarters of Land, each containing between 30 and 40 acres of Lands, valued there at £6 7s in money, and 118 Carrs of Customary Turf, 21 Custom Hens, 63 Boon days in sheering and four Carriages yearly made by the Tenants of each quarter of Lands, valued in the whole at £4 @ ann in clear yearly rent to the Leasees, over and above the King's rent, of £2 6 8, and divers charges & allowances made to Stewards Bayliffs and Officers of the Isle."

This State of the premises the Surveyor General reported to the Treasury in 1669, on the Petition of Mr Sherburn, and added that if their Lordships sho'd think fit to grant him a new Estate for 3 lives or 31 years Reserving the old rent of £2 6 8, he thought a Fine of £10 might be reasonable, considering the Place, & the charges of passing the Lease.

And accordingly a Lease of the Premises was granted 13 Jany 21 Cas 2 to the said Richd Sherburn for 31 years from Michaelmas before the date, at the Fine and Rent aforesaid.

3d Feby 10 Wm 3 A further Lease of the premises was granted to Sir Nichs Sherburn Bart for 29 yrs from Michaelmas 1700 for a Fine of £20 and under the aforesaid Rent.

After the Expiration of that lease the premises were out of Lease for about 10 years, until one Edwd Chew of Preston in Lancashire applied for and obtained a Lease thereof, dated 8th August 1739, for 31 years from the date, At the same rent of £2 6 8 @ ann and for a like Fine of £20. This Lease was assigned to one John Nicholson of Kennington Lane Lambeth in the year 1747. - The Rent is in Arrear from Michaelmas 1745.

The sd Lease expired in August 1770, and neither Nicholson nor his Representatives have since applied for a further Lease, owing, it has been said, to the smallness of the Values of the Premises, and the Charge of an Exchequer Lease. What the yearly value thereof now does not appear to the Surveyor General who has no survey, or other account of the Premises, than that which was certified in the year 1669.

Royal Mines in the Isle of Man

In the year 1666 a Grant was made to Charles Earl of Derby, of All Mines Royal of Gold and Silver, or holding Gold or Silver to such a proportion as according to the Laws of the Realm of England doth make the same a Mine Royal, situate in the Isle of Man, whether opened or not opened, To hold to the said Chas Earl of Derby and his Heirs Male. Paying at the Receipt of the Exchequer yearly the full 20th part of the clear yearly profits, over and above all charges.

This grant of the Mines Royal expired on the failure of Heirs Male of the Body of the said Earl, by the Death of James Earl of Derby in the year 1735, and no Grant or Lease hath since been made thereof. On equiring at the Exchequer it does not appear that any Profits have arisen to the Crown from the said Grant; Nor does it appear to the Surveyor General whether the Mines have ever been wrought or not.

April 8th 1780

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