Description:A letter dated November 1st 1847 from George Cooper, John Bate and John Swift demonstrates that the Duke of Sutherland took an active interest in the lifestyle of his tenants and was keen to reward those who carefully maintained their properties.
The letter from the three estate agents named above provides the Duke with ‘a list of the Cottagers who appeared to us, upon a careful inspection of their Cottages and Gardens, the most deserving of that mark of approbation which your Grace has kindly offered as a reward for neatness, cleanliness, and general improvements’. Enclosed with the letter are details of those to receive prizes, giving the ‘Townships’ they lived in, the ‘Names of Occupiers’ and ‘Prizes awarded’.
Rewards were given to both male and female tenants in Trentham, Hanchurch, Tittensor, Hanford, Blurton and Normacott. The first prize was two pounds, and the second prize was one pound.