[Shakespeare] 1804 Conveyance of Land near Stratford upon Avon Canal

Lapworth, England: 1804. 1804 Conveyance of Land near Stratford upon Avon Canal, Lapworth, England, 1804

Vellum document, 24” x 29”, folded to 7” x 9 ¾”
Lightly soiled and heavily creased at old folds. Very Good.

A large vellum conveyance of land and right of way near the Stratford upon Avon canal in the parish of Lapworth in the county of Warwick, England, dated October 2, 1804. The document, conveyed from George Perrott and Edmund Battersbee to Thomas Fetherston, was prepared and witnessed by Robert Hobbes.

Edmund Battersbee (d. 1812) was a large shareholder in the canal. He had ownership in the first bank of Stratford (started around 1790 by Charles Henry Hunt), as well as the theater property collectively known as “New Place” and Shakespeare’s Church, which went on to become the College at Holy Trinity. George Perrott was the nephew of the Baron of the Exchequer of the same name. Ownership of the navigation works on the Avon river was formally divided into the Upper and Lower Avon in 1717. In 1758 the Baron Perrott leased the Lower Avon Navigation between Evesham and the River Severn, spending over 4,000 pounds to upgrade the locks and weirs in order to enable 40-ton barges to navigate the river. The work was completed by 1768, and upon his death in 1780 he bequeathed the area in trust to his nephew. Perrott also inherited the Craycombe House in Fladbury, built by his uncle.

Robert Hobbes was a prominent attorney in Stratford upon Avon. His son, also named Robert, was instrumental in preserving the Shakespeare birthplace. He was partners with Charles Henry Hunt and both served as Stratford town clerk.

A similar document is held by Shakespeare Birthplace Trust as part of the Solicitors’ deposits from the office of Frederick Lane and Thomas Hunt. Item #1851

Price: $175.00