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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Huntingdonshire => Topic started by: castlebob on Thursday 26 March 09 18:42 GMT (UK)
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Hello All,
Does anyone know of any woodlands/forests in Hunts that were owned by the Duke of Manchester? A distant branch of my family worked the woods there in the 1800s, I believe.
Cheers
Bob
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The 1873 Return of Owners of Land shows the Duke of Manchester of Kimbolton Castle, as owning 13,585 acres of land having a gross estimated rental of £20,589-11-0. There's no breakdown of where the land is situated, nor is there a breakdown of the type of land.
David
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Thanks David,
Pretty substantial acreage! One of my ancestors was thought to have managed some woods/forests for the Duke, plus Carderet in Beds
Bob
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He also rented the sporting rights to my GG grandfathers land for of £8 per annum. You would think that his own 13,585 acres would have been enough to keep him happy wouldnt you!!! ::) ;)
Linda.
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True, Linda
Probably shot out the wildlife on his own land!
Cheers
Bob
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In the 1920s the Duke used to hunt there with George V and his sons and then pop in and expect to be fed and I believe on occasions had picnic lunches brought out into the fields.
Obviously thats what happened to the family fortune Bob!! ;)
Linda.
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Fascinating stuff!
Bob
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All very `feudal` back then wasnt it! So many of my family seem to have been employed by the Duke from gamekeepers to laundry women. I went round kimbolton Castle last November. I expect you have been Bob.
Linda.
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Do you know if forestry records survive from the 1800s?
Thanks,
Bob
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A distant branch of my family worked in forests apparently owned by the Duke in Hunts. They did so in the 1800s. I have no knowledge of anything else connected to the Duke, other than that extremely tenuous link.
Bob
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Hi David,
I expect my family were partly to blame for the servant shortage and probably found more lucrative employment elsewhere, which is why they can now afford to be educated in said `properity`. ::)
Linda.
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I think castebob's query has been answered and the topic can be marked as completed.
The other discussion about the Duke of Manchester belongs elsewhere, not here.
Berlin-Bob