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The Deed's undone at Surrey History Centre
12th Feb, 2010 to 12th Mar, 2010
Surrey History Centre isn't usually associated with dodgy deals but a recent and unusual arrival in the archive is definitely a Shady Deed.
Odd as it may seem now, it was not uncommon during the first half of the 20th century for old deeds to be made into decorative ornaments, including lampshades. It's quite likely that many similar items are relatively modern reproductions but not the one shown above. This item has been catalogued and included in the archive and the conservation team have restored and conserved it as shown below.
To conserve and restore the Deed the conservation team looked at what had been done to it. They found it was covered in a clear PVC film attached with a solvent activated adhesive and stitched to the lampshade frame with a fine thread.
The challenge then was to take off the covering and undo the stiching without damaging the Deed further. The stitches were cut to remove the Deed the frame. Fortunately the PVC covering had come away from most of the Deed and the rest was taken off without having to use any liquid. This was done without losing any of the writing on the Deed. Any old adhesive was cleaned off using isopropanol alcohol. The Deed was relaxed in a humidification chamber to help flattening and release creases. Finally the Deed was dried under light weights.
If you want to know more about restoring and conserving old documents and photographs you may be interested in Surrey History Centre's talks and tours. Click here to find out more about talks and tours on offer.
The deed (click here to see a
(pdf) copy of the Catalogue entry: SHC ref: 8636/1) is dated 2 May 1794. It is a lease by Philip Wright of Ewell, brewer, and Elizabeth his wife to Robert Street of Ewell, butcher, of property and land in Ewell near the Green Man Alehouse in the road leading from Ewell to Epsom. The lease was for one year at a peppercorn (symbolic) rent.
The property had previously been transferred to Wright by John Harris (amongst other premises) by lease and release of 9 and 10 May 1779 and in 1794 it was occupied by Philip Wright and James Chandler.
This form of lease (for one year at a peppercorn rent) was actually the first stage in a two-stage process to convey (transfer) a piece of property in such a way as to satisfy the demands of the law at that period. On the day after the lease was made a further deed, called a release, would be executed which would give the purchaser of the property full ownership. This release often gives much more of the background to the transaction and might name other parties involved but sadly in this case appears not to have survived.