Things of beauty...

[christianb]

I get so little time to myself these days that it was lovely to have a couple of hours going through an old vellum deed my mother has acquired from a kindly friend. Although we've got some amazing ones for our own cottage, framed and on the wall, this one blew me away...

Dated September 28th 1655 (the time of Cromwell's Protectorate) and for the street of Whitefryre Gate (now Whitefriargate) in Hull. A bloke was paying £250 in cash for three tenements (or messuages), a stable, a little house, and something which seems to be a "cabbage garte" (whatever the hell that is.Any ideas?). Lots of other olde-worlde names belonging to affected parties on there, too. And the price today would be about £400k.

So, if anyone on PP is from Kingston upon Hull, there's a piece of its heritage sitting on my table (alas, camera is b*ggered so can't take snaps).

But what gets me is how little monetary value these old vellum indentures have. To me they're staggeringly beautiful. And it's a huge thrill to be able to hold something that meant so much to those involved so long ago.

Anyone in possession of an earlier one, at all?

 

[Tom]

Wow, that's fantastic! You're so priviledged to have something that old. I share your sense of value with things like that and the wonderment of holding it in your hands. I don't understand how others don't feel the same. Still, it would be a boring world if we all had the same values. Lucky you, anyway. I'm really jealous!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[christianb]

... and it's got a wax seal the size of a golf ball!

 

[Tom]

So, go and buy a new camera.......QUICKLY !!! :lol: :lol:

 

[Alex]

Christian, I couldn't agree with you more, I love things like that. Whilst doing my history degree, I spent a month doing work experience in Gwent Records Office and most of the time I was there was spent sat on the floor between the rolling stacks, reading all the old documents. My favourite things were the Rolls family (of Rolls Royce fame) diaries and a late medieval Commonplace book that belonged to John Gwynn who was the Steward at Tintern when it was owned by Anne Duchess of Worcester. He wrote everything in there from the rents he collected from tenants to cures for smallpox and his shopping lists for things he had to buy from the Apothecary in Bristol. The book was then passed down through the family and they all added little bits including a mention of the attack on Raglan Castle during the Civil War and the Great Fire of London. It was wonderful.

Alex

 

[Jill]

Dated September 28th 1655 (the time of Cromwell's Protectorate) and for the street of Whitefryre Gate (now Whitefriargate) in Hull. A bloke was paying £250 in cash for three tenements

I don't suppose this blokes name was Clappison was it? I have family that originated in Hull and have got history dating back to the early 1600's. (not much chance I know, but I had to ask )

With my batch of house deeds I also have some Last Will and Testaments and receipts for various payments between family members, they are only on scraps of paper but are wonderful. Not sure yet if everything relates to my house, but I find them very interesting.

 

[christianb]

I spent a month doing work experience in Gwent Records Office and most of the time I was there was spent sat on the floor between the rolling stacks

Some might call me a weirdo, but that sounds like heaven.

I don't suppose this blokes name was Clappison was it? I have family that originated in Hull and have got history dating back to the early 1600's.

Well, the handwriting is so illegible to the present-day eye it could be possible! The names I have got so far are...

Toby Humphrey
Ann Humphrey [selling]

Timothy Lumm [purchasing]

Thomas Howard
William East
Symon Emerton [tenants]

Hester Page
Francis Page
Christopher Sartson
John Moodye
Thomas Harte
Isaarfe Harland (well that's what it looks like!)
Susanna Ashe
Richard Wittison [affected parties]

 

[christianb]

Scouring t'interweb, I found this fabulous old map of Hull at around the time of the deeds...

By my deductions, the properties in question are most likely those immediately above the city gates at the bottom of the picture.