Correspondence of William Forster, solicitor of Aylsham(d1906). 1851-1912.
The core of the deposit contains letters received May to December 1901, all of which had been filed on a spike, and give a good representation of the solicitor's work. For similar correspondence of 1886 and 1893 see MC3244/1. Four letters of 1851 probably reflect the earlier ownership of the practice by R W Parmeter. The affidavit of 1912 postdates Forster's death so is a stray.
Forster was steward of the manors of Aylsham Lancaster, Aylsham Wood, Waborne Priory, Burnham Thorpe and Pulham St Mary (Robert Copeman's manor) so many letters concern admissions, fees and enfranchisements. He acted for clients all over England but many of the properties were in north Norfolk. About half the letters are from other solicitors (including Henry Gidney of Aylsham) relating to minor matters; personal letters are from clients regarding legacies and rents and local tenants asking for assistance. He was also asked for all kinds of advice – re positions and loans. His practice was in Aylsham Market Place and he lived at Blickling Lodge (on the Cromer road out of town, just in Blickling parish.) He also had an office in Norwich.
The letters were randomly boxed when purchased but are now in date order. Subjects of interest have been noted below including letters from the Earl of Orford and E Denham Spurrell.
/1 Four letters to and from Richard Porritt Dix of Long Buckby nr Daventry: purchase for £130 of an Ingworth cottage and garden from Rev George Fish, through Wright of Aylsham and Rbt Wm Parmeter of Aylsham. 19 Nov- 3 Dec 1851
/2 21 May From Herbert Spurrell of Eastbourne re Billockby manor
2,23 Jul From D Spurrell of Bessingham
2-3,17 Jul Ireland of Guestwick auctioneer
3,6,30 Jul Re W R Bulwer's Aylsham estate being sold for building
5 Jul From Earl of Orford, Carlton Club coming to Mannington
5 Jul From Mrs Day of Letheringsett seeking a house near Aylsham at £50 pa
6 Jul From Gertrude Saxby of Hethersett invite to lunch
6-7 Jul From cousin Lucy Lanchester of Shirley Sy re visit to stay with him and his draft response
From J D Cooper of West Norwood hoping for post of coachman back in Norfolk
9,18 Jul From Hamilton Hurnard of Gurneys Manor Hingham visiting Aylsham
From Percy Jickling of Smallburgh Hall
10 Jul Reference request for Mrs E Skinner as a tenant for £40 pa
10 Jul From Harriette Anne King of Bury St Edmunds to My dear William re husband's failing health and need to sell Great Barton place
12 July [1900] From George Cawston re loss of 100 young pheasants
15 Jul From D'Arcy Collyer of Reepham
16,19 Jul Re sales of fields at Happisburgh and possible hotel
16,19 Jul From C A and M S Yates of Reading re mothers account and Burgh sale
17 Jul From Crown Brewery Norwich re The Brewery beerhouse Aylsham
20 Jul From Richard Preston solicitor requesting a position with Forster
22, 29 Jul From Wm Gambling auctioneer re Bawburgh cottages
24 July Re Bullard and Aylsham Lancaster enfranchisement of Black Boys
25 Jul From M Copeman of Bedford re sale of Briston property; hope he enjoyed his stay at the Lakes, sorry he has been ill, thinks he works too hard
26 Jul From Evelyn Rogers of Coltishall Hall giving of will legacies to named staff
30 Jul Re Leggatt land at Hunworth
21 May, 1-31 Jul 1901
/3 1 Aug Re Burgh Hall sale
3,29,31 Aug Re Denham Spurrell and a deed of gift from his father
5 Aug Harriette Anne King of Great Barton place to My dear William re husband's health and need to sell; hopes he is better and says he undertakes too much
5, 7 Aug Re property in Manor of Somerton Hall, Thwaite
6 Aug Re an offer for [Blickling] Lodge if he is so disposed
6 Aug From C Wilkinson re Mrs Frary's farm at Happisburgh and Bessingham manors
7 Aug From Hugh Hare of Smallburgh re repairs needed at Marsham
7 Aug From Michael Falcon of Horstead House re Aylsham Manor house estate (Lots 2,6,9,14) for £3028 in Mrs Isabella Falcon's name
7 Aug From Michael Falcon of Horstead House as go-between for Woods of Buxton Lamas buying 3 cottages in Brook Street Buxton from Mr Stracey Clitheroe
9 Aug From F Jickling of Smallburgh Hall re Norgate's farm
9 , 12, 14, 21,24,31 Aug Re Bullard and Aylsham Lancaster enfranchisement of Black Boys and three sales of parts of site (one to Bruce)
13,22, 23 Aug Re Windham estate purchases by Phillip Shepheard, Sir Kenneth Kempe (Ingworth Lot 4), A G Copeman (Colby Lot 6), B Johnson (Erpingham Lot 2) sold by Batt
15 Aug Re Leggatt land at Hunworth
17 Aug Re sale of Briston Hall (Lot 1)
19 Aug Re manor of Walcot quit rents
20, 21 Aug From Crown Brewery Norwich re The Brewery beerhouse Aylsham
22 Aug Re Rogers-manor of Horstead; Lanchester- manor of Lesingham
24 Aug Re manor of Waborne enfranchising The Ship PH
26 Aug From A C Morton [Dr] of Bushey House Aylsham re shares
31 Aug Re Jacob Neave- manor of Tunstead Lancaster, Grove Farm E Ruston 1-31 Aug 1901
/4 1, 11 Sep From F Jickling of Smallburgh re Silcock's Farm
2, 4 Sep Re Burgh Hall leases
4 Sep From R J Storey of Snettisham re brother's loan; going on drawing tour at Cromer with Mr Lancaster and asks permission to view Blickling Hall.
5 Sep From Musgrave Francis of Cambridge re Mrs Gilbert's pump; just returned from Norway.
7,12 Sep Re Gt Witchingham estate
7 Sep Re Happisburgh manor
10 Sep Re Pulham sale Lot 3
12 Sep From Hugh Hare of Docking Vicarage re Coulstons farm
13 Sep From Alfred Neave at Lord Nelson Inn re purchase of house at Burnham Sutton
16 Sep From H T Kenny re land at Banningham
18 Sep From Limmer of Cromer re the tenancy of 2 Hillside 1 -18 Sep 1901
/5 18, 30 Oct Re Mayhews copyhold Aylsham Wood manor
28 Oct From E Bambridge re land at Briston
29 Oct From Gambling re sale of Bawburgh cottages
31 Oct From D Spurrell of Bessingham re new will
31 Oct From Carter of Northallerton re valuation of 40 year old brougham; and re Lady Lothian's executors.
31 Oct From Anne Jodrell of Norwich re family's share of Aunt Kate Copeman's money
31 Oct Re manor of Tivetshall
11-31 Oct 1901
/6 1,9,14,25,28,30 Nov Re Jillings family and manor of Lavenham
2,6,8 Nov From D Spurrell of Bessingham asking not to divulge will content
4 Nov From Rev E P Mack re Lammas living
5 Nov Re Bullard enfranchisement Aylsham Lancaster
5,15 Nov From L Watson School House Horstead re the Ollands
6,12,14,17,23,29 Nov From Fanny and E L Bleakley and Gambling re Bawburgh cottages
7 Nov From Henry T Kenny , Major re Emily Kenny's family
7 Nov Re manor of Tivetshall
11 Nov From D Coupland of Tuttington re trees at leased property
12,13 Nov Re Mayhews copyhold Aylsham Wood manor
13 Nov Re J W Saunders decd property at Aylsham
14,16 Nov Re manor of Tunstead Lancaster Mrs Turner
15 Nov From Limmer of Cromer re 4 Vicarage Road
19 Nov Re cottages at Kelling, manor of Waborne Priory
22,26 Nov From H Curties of Edgefield Mount: as unable to find house will build one behind Castle Hill Hunworth above the Rectory
25 Nov From Janet Hare New Zealand re Metfield property
26 Nov Re manors of Whitewell and of Bawdeswell
26 Nov From Stracey Clitheroe; would like to hear what becomes of Blickling; 'today it is 130 years since my father was born'.
26 Nov Re Manor of Kerdiston Reefham 1-30 Nov 1901
/7 2,25,26,28 Dec From CA Yates re mother's rent and sale of Burgh
3 Dec From M Townley of the Transvaal widow of Capt Edward Townley
3,9,11 Dec Re Jillings family and manor of Lavenham
3,5,16,23 Dec From E L Bleakley and Gambling re Bawburgh cottages
3,10,12 Dec From Stracey Clitheroe repurchase at Steyning and Reedham
4 Dec From F Jickling of Smallburgh hall
6 Dec From J Mowat of Sussex re marriage settlement
6 Dec re manor of Erpingham (Broughton)
7, 11 Dec From Wm Page re [Aylsham] Manor house purchase from Bulwer for £1465
9, 27 Dec From D Spurrell of Bessingham about Denham Spurrell
10,12,16,19,21,28 Dec From Melicent Rogers of Coltishall Hall re Capt Cantley
11 Dec From Earl of Orford, Mannington asking if Forster knows if Blickling [Hall] is to be let
11 Dec From A E Copeman, Dunham Lodge re Mrs Hopkins settlement
13 Dec Re Capt Batt Quit rents (various manors)
14 Dec From Musgrave Francis, Cambridge re Mrs Gilbert; thinks Forster will be 'dreadfully distressed at poor Lady Lothian's death. I wonder what is going to become of that most magnificent place. I do hope they will not let it fall into the hands of any of those vulgarians'
14 Dec Re Mr Thompson of Wramplingham re the poor state of the house
16,28 Dec From M A Springall re 17 Pottersgate St Norwich
17,24 Dec Re Henry Rogers decd
19 Dec Re Erpingham Lodge estate (Sir Kenneth Kemp to Murrell)
19,21,28 Dec Re Gimingham sale (Lot 2 and Lot 1)
22,24 Dec From Earl of Orford re enfranchisement of The Ship at Waborne; not keen but wants full worth (compares The Ship with the Walpole Arms at Itteringham which brings in £36). The station had 251 people in a few days and the Ship is the only PH in Waborne now.
24 Dec From Henry Gidney Aylsham re Lothian debt to Robert Tuddenham
28 Dec From D Coupland of Tuttington asking for land to farm on 1-31 Dec 1901
/8 Affidavit of appraisal Kentucky County USA on shares in Canadian Pacific Rwys Co of Benjamin Cook of Aylsham (d 2/2/1912). Sworn by Chas Richard Bullard of Shernbourne, Norfolk farmer and Thomas Cook of Bradwell farmer. Gives all nephews and nieces of Cook. Post-April 1912
