Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-08
BRITISH LANDLORDS
BOW TO BIG TAXATION
Great Estates CrumblIng as
Peers Find II Economically
Essential TO Cut Expenses.

ny AooOciAte0 l'FeAa u EVery FNenluB
London. Sept s.--England's grea,
eststea are crumbling unoer the
weight OF taxation and death duties
and ono big landed proprietor after
another among the nobility II divid-
ing and selling his holdings, many
OF which have been In the hands OF
single families for centuries.
Tho latest indication that peers are
findinK II necessary to geek smaller
homes comes In the announcement
nf the Duke OF Portland that he may
have 70 abandon his paiatial mansion,
Welbeek Abbey. ip Nottinghanshire.
This Is only one of the residences of
the D,fke who owns some 100000 acres
In England.
For centuries past landed estates
have been handed down rom genera
tion to generation said the Duke. ad-
dressing his tenants on the occasion
OF the coming OF age OF his son. Lord
Francis Cavendish. Landlords and
tenants have lived on terms of mutual
trust and affection. 4 fear, however.
that the state of thigr Is passing away
for with the. present weight OF taxa
ton and the extremely onerous incl
dence OF death duties, tho future may
become very uncertain for all landed
proprictors. II this is good for the
country, i certainly do not complain.
with regard to my own case. IL
may or may not be possible for me
and my family tu continue TO reside
at Welbeck, but ] fear that there can
be little doubt that those who come
after me will not be able to do So
On all sides historic houses are
finding new tenants and ancient fam
lilies are seyering their connection
with the soil,
The Duke OF Devonshire solo De-
vorshire House, In 1919 and Stowe
House. the property OF Beroness Kin
loss, was disposed OF recently.
Others who have sold their proper
ties recently include the Duke of Bed
ford, the Duke OF Westminster. the
Duke of Rutle enG, the Duke OF Grafton,
the Duke of Marlborough. Lord Leeon-
field, Lord Londesborough, Lord Port
man. LORD Cam1en, Marquis d. Cas-
tega. Earl Pesuchamp. Eari Bradford,
Lord Aberdeen. Lord Lovat. Lord
Harrington, Lord Harlech. the Conn
teaa of Warwick and Sir Richard
Bulkslev.
welheck Abbey Ia famous for the
subterranean pasHages and apartments
built by the Duke of Portland at :
cost of f3,ooo.o0o in order TO hide
himself from observation by the out
side world
The abbey has an underground rid
ms school 400 feet long, 1os feet wide
and so feet high. capable of holding
10000 persons.
There is subtesranean 4ballrcom
15s feet long. 50 feet wide and 81 feet
with famous paintings.
Both the riding school and the ball
room are connected with the abbey hv
a series of tunnels.
other features arc large suhter-
ranean libraries and a tan bark course
for galloping horses. IL is a quarter
OF mile long entirely covered in with
glass. Altogether there are aboue Is
miles of tunnelling.
Runnymede, a meadow on the
bank OF the Thames river, In Surrey,
site OF thu historic battle where tho
barons wrested from King John the
Magma Charta in 1918. is also for sale.
Attacking the government in the
debate on the Corn Production Acts
Repeal bill. Lord Lincolnshire In the
House OF Lords declared the present
was preparing to sell the
crown lands and said nothing remain
ed but ito pawn the crown Jewels"
Lord Lincolnshire referred TO 4
catalogue Of crown lands offered laf
sal. and continued.
"Runnymede is Lot in the cata-
ioEue. There peers were encaraped
for the signing of the Magma Charta
in 1915 Your ancestors. my lords,
on that historic field, saved the liber-
ties of England. Now We are face 10
face with the fact that this histori,
field is put up for sale and viii be
Knocked down under the hammer"
The second reading was agreed 20
without a division