| Description | Papers of the Irvine family and their estates in Barham, Spaldwick, Easton and Stow Longa, especially the Prebendal estate of Stow Longa, 1785-1932; includes an account for the inclosure of Stow Longa common fields 1838, correspondence with the Ecclesisatical Commissioners re tithes, summary tithe apportionments and tithe plan 1840-1849; list of farms with names of tenant farmers in Stow Longa 1845; architect’s report on Stow Longa manor house and possible repairs 1846; estimates and letters re the repairs of church chancels at Spaldwick, Stow Longa and Barham 1847-1872; other estate and personal papers 1826-1932.
Note: the Irvine family's 'Huntingdon Estate' comprised freehold properties in Barham, Spaldwick and Easton, and part of the Prebendal Manor of Stow Longa leased originally from canons of Lincoln Cathedral and then (after 1839) from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners; the Stow Longa property included the Manor House, said to have been built c.1622 and pulled down in 1904. The original lease of the Stow Longa property was to the Reade family; it passed to the Irvines by marriage.
The papers had been sorted into subject-related bundles prior to their purchase by the Archives service; it is not known by whom. For receipting purposes these bundles have been retained. Bundles 1-13 are clearly about the 'Huntingdon estate'; it is possible that future research will reveal any of bundles 14-24 are about the properties as well. Items of interest include bundle 4 with an architect's report on the condition of the pre-1904 Manor House at Stow Longa, c.1846; and bundle 9, with estimates for the repair of Barham, Spaldwick and Stow Longa church chancels. |