1955 Probate

The document is typed and written on a single folded sheet of parchment 416 x 330mm, dated 26th August 1955 attached to 2 sheets of Photostat copies of the Will of Christian Wilfrid James.

The will appoints his solicitor, John Richard Nangreave Bell and his son, Tom James as executors and was signed by Christian Wilfrid James and witnessed by HI Evans-Guryome(?), spinster and Annie T Chester-Master, widow, Both of Hawkwell Cottage, Stamfordham.
The income from his estate was paid to his wife, Winifred Mary James and after her death
£100 to his granddaughter Jane Bagshaw
£25 each to his granddaughters Judy and Dinah Bagshaw
£100 to his clerk, Dorothy Appleby ("provided she still be in my service at the date of my death")
His house at Hawkwell, Stamfordham to his daughter Elizabeth Bagshaw
The residual was given to his son, Squardon Leader Tom James

The will does not specifically mention Rudchester, and it is clear that Christian, his son Tom James and his daughter Elizabeth Bagshaw, we living in Hawkwell at the time of his death.

The estate was valued at gross £22,782-6-1 and £16,052-10-1 net (about £424,000 at 2020 valuation), on which £1,365-1-6 was paid in estate duty and interest.

There are 2 memoranda:
The first references assents dated 24th January 1958 giving Rudchester to Tom James subject to the 1905 mortgage, and Hawkswell to Elizabeth Bagshaw subject to a mortgage dated 14th August 1945.
The second references a vesting deed dated 27th September 1962 between John Richard Nangreve Bell and Tom James (of the first part); Edith Mary Warwick (of the second part); and Ernest Philip Harvey and Ralph Wilde of the third part that Lot 108 Darras Hall Estate was vested in Edith Mary Warwick under the will of Robert Odard Warwick.