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New light on old topic
30 September 1961
Golf club to sell Burrows rights25 August 1961
Zero hour nears27 February 1970
Melhuish trustees appointed7 January 1972
Sharp reception for council's letter6 April 1962
No grants for Melhuish property13 August 1971
Golf club to negotiate26 August 1960
Thomas Melhuish EstateAugust 1971
New light on old topic30 September 1961
New light on old topic at Northam 30.09.1961
Light is thrown on the troubled story of Northam Burrows by documents found by Mr Arthur Griffey, of Northam, who have been people's warden at the Parish Church since 1929. He discovered the papers in the parish room at the old Vicarage to which they had probably been transferred from the old Vestry.
It is just 100 years since a major attempt to save the Burrows from the ravages of the sea created ill-feeling and suspicion among a section of the people - largely those jealous of their grazing rights. Man behind the move was Rev. Isaac Henry Gosset, which accounts for the presence of the documents among Church papers.
His research did bring to light "a true copy of the Charter of Northam" - "Charter of Henry I granted to St Stephen, of Caen" - and a copy of an award that ended a 1716 lawsuit between Roger Melhuish as Lord of the Manor and Richard Vernam.
Footnote: The Manor of Northam, granted by William I in 1067 eventually became vested...
Golf club to sell Burrows rights25 August 1961
Golf Club to sell Burrows rights for £5? 25th August 1961
Mellhuish: Royal North Devon Golf Club have agreed to sell to Northam Urban Council the manorial rights of Northam Burrows for a nominal sum of £5 - subject to a satisfactory outcome of a few points of detail.
The Golf Club acquired the manorial rights in 1895 from the then Lord of the Manor, Mr A L Christie, of Tapeley, Instow. The 200 year lease of the 800 acres of the Burrows lapses in 9 years time and the Urban Council may then try to acquire the freehold rights.
The Clerk of Northam Council, Mr A Gardner said that the Council wanted to have more control over the Burrows and had borne in mind the question of coast protection for which they have a £500,000 scheme.
Zero hour nears27 February 1970
Zero hour nears 27th February 1970
In little more than a month "the ballon will go up" for a number of people - those who hope to substantiate a claim to the Melhuish Estate, largely comprising Northam Burrows and, it is said, a substantial section of Appledore, and those who occupy what is said to be Melhuish property. March 28th is the reputed date on which the 200 yr old lease fall in, and from that date a number of claimants will - for who knows how long? - be perched on a knife edge flanked by hope and fear.
Northam Urban Council as lords of the manor will, says their Clerk, Mr A Gardner, carry on on behalf of the freeholders until they turn up.
Melhuish trustees appointed7 January 1972
Melhuish trustees appointed 7th January 1972
The appointment in the High Court Chancery Division of new trustees for the Melhuish estate means that occupiers of Melhuish property may now be able to apply to acquire the freehold of their property.
Mr Alan Gardner, Clerk of Northam Urban Council, told Gazette "It is a very interesting development and obviously the Council will have to consider what to do".
Sharp reception for council's letter6 April 1962
Sharp reception for council's letter 6th April 1962
Northam Urban Council were accused of having an "I am the dictator" attitude by Mr Horace Ford, Chairman of Northam Burrows Committee, when the committee decided to write to Minister of Housing and Local Government to obtain more information concerning the transfer of the lease of the Burrows with the manorial rights from the Royal North Devon Golf Club to Northam Council.
The Council have still to decide how they will carry out the day-to-day administration of the Burrows but, as Mr Richards (R.N.D.G.C. Steward of the Manor) thought they would like to have some idea of this before the meeting.
If the Council interfere with the grazing then we shall have to step down on them, said Mr H Hodgkins "the trouble is that we have been too weak in the past
At the last Manor Court meeting the secretary Mr Harold Ford brought up the fact that all negotiations were going on. Mr J Harknett had tried to co-operate with the Burrows Committee and...
No grants for Melhuish property13 August 1971
Still no grants for Melhuish property 13th August 1971
An attempt to obtain improvement grants for a number of Appledore properties under the Government's extended scheme has failed. Now the matter may be taken up by Mr Peter Mills, M.P.
Mr Alan Gardner (Clerk of Northam Urban Council said that when the Government announced the higher grants that could be given in development areas the Minister for Housing and Construction, Mr Julian Amery, sent personal letters to the heads of all local authorities in such areas impressing upon them the need to encourage people to apply for grants and so make extra work for people in their districts. Chairman of Northam Council (Mr R Evers) took up with the Minister the problem in this area of the Melhuish property for which grants could not be paid because the occupiers had not adequate title.
Golf club to negotiate26 August 1960
Golf club to negotiate 26th August 1960
At the annual meeting of the Royal North Devon Golf Club the following resolution was unanimously passed with regard to its lease, as Lords of the Manor of Northam Burrows.
Northam Council first enquired of the Lords of the Manor (appointed by the Golf Club) in July 1959 whether the Club was interested in assigning the residue of its lease to the Council to enable them to exercise some measure of control over the Northam Burrows. The lease has 10 years to run to complete its 200 years' term. Mr John Phillips, is one of the Lords of the Manor.
Thomas Melhuish EstateAugust 1971
The shy four who may soon be rich August 1971
Thomas Melhuish signed away his family's inheritance for 200 years. Now the time is up and four people wait anxiously for the result of their claim to the estate, worth nearly £300,000.
The four claim to be the sole survivors of about 400 claimants to the Melhuish estate in North Devon. Three live in Britain and one in Australia, but solcitor Mr Claude Richardson who is representing them says he is 'under strict instructions' not to reveal their identity.
Thomas Melhuish was a trustee in 1770 when the Melhuish 700 acreas were leased - for 200 years - to obtain ready cash. Today the estate includes more than 100 leasehold houses at Northam and Appledore, part of a golf course and Northam Burrows, a local beauty spot.
Mr Andrew Gardner, clerk to Northam Council said: 'This latest news from the solicitors acting for the four claimants could change everything.