398 CASTLE MORTON 



people took the opportunity which was then offered 

 to them of enfranchising themselves. Some of 

 these small freeholds have been bought up by 

 tradespeople from neighbouring towns, who charge 

 rents up to 5 an acre. There is a decided 

 tendency in the neighbourhood for the small 

 freeholds to be bought out of the small-holding 

 class. 



Price of Land, Bents, etc. The average rents of 

 the district are : 



The rates work out at 2s. an acre for large farms 

 and 7s. on the smaller farms, the former being 

 assessed at an average of 15s. an acre and the latter 

 at 3 an acre. 



The sale of several small freeholds in the district 

 during recent years, amounting to 31 acres, shows 

 an average price of 50 an acre. A farm of 

 between 400 and 500 acres a few years ago was 

 sold at about 11 an acre. It had originally been 

 four farms, but had been let to one tenant for some 

 years. The price included four houses and some 

 tumble-down cottages. If it had been put up in 

 the original four lots it is probable that a far larger 

 price could have been realized, and as many small 

 men in the district who were in a position to go on 

 to a larger farm would have benefited by it. 



