294 THE ESTATE OF MR. EYRE 



Development of Small Holdings on the 

 Estate. 



Mr. Eyre came into the property in 1887. 



At that time there was a difficulty in letting 

 large farms, on which agricultural depression had 

 been felt to a greater extent than on the smaller 

 ones. The value of ordinary agricultural land had 

 gone down one half, whereas the smaller holdings 

 maintained a high average value. 



Mr. Eyre therefore adapted himself to the 

 evident requirements of the district by subdividing 

 the larger farms in a way which would meet the 

 local demands of the population. As in so doing 

 he was only reverting to the original conditions of 

 the district, he was able to do a good deal by 

 merely adding land, already fenced in small plots, 

 to existing cottages, and by the adaptation of 

 existing buildings. The increased rental received 

 in this way he regards as a sufficient interest on 

 the capital expenditure needed, and he looks upon 

 the undertaking as having been the only means of 

 maintaining the value of his property. He, more- 

 over, attaches importance to the fact that a better 

 class of tenants have been thus secured on the 

 estate the type of men who not only are never in 

 arrears with the rent, but amongst whom drunken- 

 ness and idleness, with their accompanying evils, 

 are at a minimum. 



