This letter has been ‘defaced’ by a previous owner who has written on the front address panel in indelible pencil ‘posted at UTTOXETER’ and then joined it together with a sticky paper label with blue edges. It has a poorly struck town stamp in black ink of that town, and obviously the previous owner wanted to confirm this.

So now to the letter which is still perfectly legible after more than 200 years. The ink has not faded, and the handwriting is easy to read. At this time the ‘long S’ was in use in hand writing when there was a double ‘s’ in the word, as in ‘Commissioners’, and ‘necessary’.

Dear Sir
I yesterday rode over to Holly Bush, and had an Interview with Mr Gisborne, when we settled the businefs of the allotments very pleasantly by agreeing that each of us should take half; it was also understood between us, that in case Lord Scarsdales’ and the Foston allotments should turn out to be so considerable that the half would complete our plan of reaching up to the Turnpike Road, within 4 or 5 acres, the turn of the Scale should then be given in our favour.

I for my own part wish the price should at the proper Season be fixed by the Commifsioners, and if you approve it, and think it proper an agreement should be entered into, will you have the goodness to prepare one, as also to take the charge of making our Title, when the allotment and price is ascertained, and we shall have an implicit confidence in your judgement as to the Power of us Trustees in making it.

I have received your account of the land claiming right of Forest and will make the Necefsary inquiries, but am apprehensive it will be found to be at large I remain
Dr Sir
Yours sincerely
Thos. Hart Junr.

Uttoxeter 8 Oct 1802

From the contents of this letter, it probably refers to the enclosure of the lands, changing the ownership, and the decisions were in the hands of the Commissioners. The ‘ Right of Forest ’ referred to in this letter concerns the rights of villagers to have access to the forest for gathering wood for fuel, and for using the pasture for their sheep and pigs, and these rights were lost when the lands including the forests were enclosed.

Note: Charles Upton of Full Street Derby was appointed the Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1809, and he died on November 27th 1814 in his 62nd year.