File 4 - Station Road General - Correspondence, 1842-1849

1 file, paper

File of 50 letters regarding the sale of land to the Eastern Counties Railway Company for the building of the railway line, station and a road going from the station to Hills Road. Includes:

26 November 1842 - letter from Crowder and Maynard (solicitors to the railway company) to Jesus College giving notice that the Northern and Eastern Railway Company were applying to Parliament for permission to buy land, including that owned by Jesus College, for extending the railway and building a station

26 August 1844 - letter from Joseph Wentworth addressed to William French (Master of Jesus College) saying that the railway company may require more land, either from the college or the Rector of St Andrew the Great, for the frontage of the station

30 January 1845 - letter from Reverend J. Birkett to the Master (William French) describing the funeral and last wishes of Mr Dicks (Fellow). He goes on to inform the Master that he had seen Mr Pemberton about the N & E Railway. The price asked for on behalf of the College for the land was £500 per acre but they considered this too high and offered £300 per acre. They had put the money at the rate of £500 per acre into a bank for the College subject to a deduction being made once a fair price had been agreed. Mr Pemberton had objected to this on the grounds the College was taking the risk with the money and it wasn't being invested and earning interest. He requested the money be paid to the Accountant General or the Bank of England which had been done

15 February 1845 - letter from Mr Woolley (Railway Company) to Christopher Pemberton (solicitor for the College). In the letter he objects most strongly to accusations that the Railway Company (i.e. him acting as their agent) had threatened the College with a jury to settle the dispute over the value of the land. He says that he had done everything asked of him by Mr Truslove (acting for the College) and had ensured that there would be no frontage of the station on Hills Road but it would all be on Station Road which would increase the value of the College Estate. After having done everything he could for the College he was then not prepared to responsibility for delaying the planned opening next July or for "wantonly abusing the confidence reposed in me by consenting to pay at the rate demanded (£500 per acre). He offers to accept any valuation of the land put forward by an independent valuer

18 February 1845 - letter from Christopher Pemberton to Mr Woolley. He acknowledges that the matter is urgent for the Company but says that the Master (William French) was very unwell and had gone to the Isle of Wight and his medical man had strongly advised him that he should not attend to any business. Matters had been further complicated by the death of the President during the Master's absence. Mr Pemberton suggests that the College may accept £350 per acre if the Railway Company was to offer that price

18 February 1845 - letter from Christopher Pemberton to Dr French. He explains the current situation and the reasons behind the Railway Companies valuation of £300 per acre and his suggestion of £350 per acre. He also outlines the situation with regard to whether some land may be outside the limits laid down by the Parliamentary Act. He also says that Mr Truslove (appointed to act in this matter on behalf of the College) is very unwell and confined to bed.

A series of letters from farmers concerning compensation following a change in the location of the station

Originally in a box labelled "Cambridge 4. Station Estate 1 Barnwell Award. Railway Companies. 1808-1876".
In a folder entitled "1842-9. Eastern Counties Rly Co. Purchase of land for station. Correspondence".