KING’S PURCHASE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 195, 15 May 1941, Page 6

KING’S PURCHASE

Estate In England FIVE PARISHES INCLUDED Most of live parishes in England have been bought up by the King. The Duchy of Cornwall —chief estate of the Crown —has purchased the entire 4000 acres of the Newton Park Estate. Somerset. Newton Park lies between Bath and Bristol. It came ou the market following the death a year ago of Earl Temple of Stowe. His 31-years-old nephew, Air. Chandos Grenville Tem-ple-Gore-Langton, succeeded to the earldom, but not to the estate. He is at present serving with the -Army of the Nile.

The sale —believed to have been necessitated chiefly by death duties—was by private treaty. No figure has been announced, but the price is believed to be between £140,000 and £150,000.

Newton Park had been in Lord Temple’s family for nearly 250 years. It comprises:—(1) Practically the whole of the villages of Newton St. Loe and Corston; (2) large parts of the parishes of Saltford, Stanton Prior, Marksbury, Priston and Englishcombe; (3) the late earl’s mansion with 250 acres of timbered parkland; (4) 16 dairy farms; (5) two licensed bouses; (6) Saltford golf course; (7) about 120 cottages, shops and post offices; and (8) many miles of main road frontages. Mr. Albert Ford, one of the principals of the Bristol flrm of auctioneers who bought the estate for the Duchy, said: "It is intended to keep the estate intact. The change of ownership is unlikely to interfere with existing tenancies.” The late earl, who succeeded his father in 1902, lived on the estate for many years. He was fond of shooting and had a pedigree herd of Jersey cows. He was patron of six livings.

Newton Park has been the country seat of the Temple-Gore-Langton family since the early 18th century, and was held by the first five Earls Temple in succession. The earldom was created in 1822 when the title was assumed by the JlarqulS of Chandos.