The Grafton Estate (also known as the Wakefield Estate after the estate's administrative centre was established at Wakefield Lodge) suffered major losses in the early years of the last century. In 1913, 2000 acres of land were sold off by auction in order to release capital. Following the death of the 7th Duke of Grafton in 1918, there was a huge bill for death duties, and this could only be met by further sales of land. 8000 acres were put up for sale by auction in 1919, and lots which did not sell then came back on the market the following year, together with new holdings, totalling 4500 acres in all.
The CD deals in detail with the sales in the relevant villages listed below. For each village there is a complete listing of the lots for auction; a description of each lot, together with details of the area, value and sitting tenant; a close-up map of each lot; and a map of the village showing the position of each lot (see above). Some lots are accompanied by photographs. The lots are hugely varied: farms, villas, cottages, wharves, brickyards, warehouses, mills, shops, public houses, allotments and woods. All in all, a fascinating snapshot of life in the early part of the last century, and a treasure trove for family and social historians. If one of your ancestors of the time lived in a property belonging to the Duke of Grafton, the details are probably here.
