The collection of Covenant deeds and Abstracts of Title relating to the new Corn Mill of East Ryppe, Lydd shed light on the ever changing terms and conditions of the status and ownership of the mill for the period between 1801 and 1905.
Indenture dated 3 October 1801 which enabled the lease of a piece or spot of Ground and Premises of Lydd to Mr John Longley from the Baylif Jurats and Commonalty of Lydd.
This indenture sealed on 6th April 1807 confirms the agreement made between John Longley, the miller of Lydd and Thomas Finn, representative of the commonalty and corporation of the town of Lydd. This covenant deed confirms all of the appurtenances and their respective predicaments that were granted to John Longley by the corporation of Lydd in 1801. This document is significant for it illustrates the number and the widespread geographical distribution of the lands that Longley possessed. The lease was to be for a duration of 999 years.
This covenant deed dated 14th April 1832 is important in that it informs us of the financial difficulties that Mr. Thomas Finn was having to confront as well as the sudden death of John Jeken Kennett. We see that Thomas Kennett, the son and heir of the surgeon, finding that Mr Finn was unable to repay the mortgage provided the initial solution of advancing him an additional £200. The indenture then goes on to record the subsequent collaboration between the solicitor and Mr. Finn in devising a temporary solution to the problem which was to jointly assign the mortgage on the mill to Henry Elve of Dover, gentleman, for the combined sum of £800.
The Supplementary Abstract of the Title of the Trustees of the Estate of Thomas Finn was drawn up in 1847 for the purpose of providing a more detailed and comprehensive account of the Covenant deeds than that provided by the initial Abstract of Title. The Supplementary Abstract is significant in that there are a number of annotations in the margin which inform us of the extensive activity of the Probate court in imposing rigorous safeguards for the implementation of the will of Thomas Finn. The oft - repeated phrase of "Will not to be delivered over" illustrates the extent to which the Probate court was determined to reaffirm the legitimacy of the Covenant deeds of 1801, 1807, 1812 and 1830. Therefore, the annotations serve to emphasise the degree to which the implementation and safeguarding of an individual's will was a constant work in progress over a number of years and decades.
Cutting from "Christian Science Monitor" showing the original Block Print of a typical Kentish windmill. The publication observes that "The old windmills of England are steadily giving way to the modern trend of motor power." However, a ramble through Kent can still find several windmills in working order.
This document is a correct plan of the quarter of an Acre of Land leased to John Longley to erect a Mill on, as described in the annexed Lease as requested by Thomas Finn the Present Occupier. This plan was produced on 2 May 1812.
This covenant deed is an assignment of Corn Wind Mill and Premises in Lydd, by way of a Mortgage for securing £600 and interest. On 27 May 1830, this indenture was made enabling Mr. Thomas Finn's successful mortgaging of the corn mill and premises to John Jeken Kennett, surgeon of Eythorne.
