134 



SIR HUGH MYDDELTOX'S KMl'.AXIOI KXT 



TART 11 



in the course of the works undertaken by Sir Hugh 

 Myddeltonfor its recovery from the sea, a well, strongly 



eased with stone, 

 was discovered 

 near the middle 

 of the haven, in- 

 dicating the exist- 

 ence of a former 

 settled population 

 011 the soil. The 

 sea must, how- 

 ever, have burst 

 in and destroyed 

 the settlements, 

 laying the whole 

 valley under wa- 

 ter. 1 In King- 

 James's reign, 

 when the inning 

 of drowned lands 

 began to receive 

 an unusual degree 

 of attention, the 

 project of reclaim- 

 ing Brad ing Ila- 

 ven was again re- 

 vived ; and in the 



MAP OF BEADING HAVEN. 

 [Ordnance Survey ] 



year 1616 a grant was made of the drowned district 2 to 

 one John Gibb, the King reserving to hi nisei fa rental 

 of 20/. per annum. The owners of the adjoining lands 

 contested the grant, claiming a prior right to the pro- 

 perty in the haven, whatever its worth might be. But 

 the verdict of the Exchequer went against the land- 

 owners, and the right of the King to grant the area of 



1 Sundry traditions arc extant in 

 MK- neighbourhood as to ihe drcum- 

 stances connected with the inundation. 



See k Land \\Y 

 2 (Jrant by 

 1 I -lac. I. 



in,' vol. i., 262. 

 Seal, JS ,Iulv 



