Bideford Bridge Trust - The Leases

The Indentures, or leases, many of which date back to the early 1690s are made between the Mayor and Feoffees of the Bridge Trust and the lessee. The lease was for the land and invariably for a term of 99 years; determinable on the deaths of the lessee and usually two other 'lives'. Thus, as each person named as a 'life' in the lease dies, another lease for 99 years is drawn up. A fine or heriot, usually of 3/4d, has to be paid and a new name added within two years or the property can be claimed by the feoffees. The lives named were usually those of children or close relatives but sometimes well-known persons such as the Prince of Wales would be named. At the making of a new lease a 'consideration' - approximately two years rentable value of the house, as determined by two independent assessors, - was paid by the lessee. Although the lease was for the land only, the Feoffees laid down strict rules regarding the type of house that was to be built and its maintenance. Early leases stipulated that should the lessee allow the house to fall into disrepair or fail to pay the rent within a given number of days after the quarterly date, the house would become the property of the Feoffees. To ensure that proper maintenance was carried out, a workman or representative of the Feoffees could inspect property. About 1820 a clause was inserted into the leases stating that property would be examined twice yearly and that any repairs over 20/- must be put right within six months. There is evidence in later documents that these inspections were carefully carried out and the repair stipulation rigidly adhered to. In the late 1800s the 'lives' were discontinued and replaced by a term of 100 years.