THE SALES

Listed here are a series of pdf files of the sales of the property of the Bootle-Wilbraham Family.

An article from the Ormskirk Advertiser dated Thursday Afternoon10 Jan 1924 gives an indication of the lengths that were gone to in the Press to keep quiet about the real reason for the sale:

Fortunately or unfortunately, Ormskirk has perhaps, had more than its share of large agricultural sales within recent years, but the one which concludes today at the Drill Hall, viz., that of the Lathom Estates, has probably, awakened more sympathetic interest amongst the general community than any other. Lathom, as it has been known, topographically, for successive years, is now no more. From being a township, almost entirely owned by a territorial landowner, with the reigning Earl of Lathom as head, it has now, by a stroke of the pen, been transformed into a homogeneous mass of small ownerships

This not the place, nor have we the inclination, to dwell upon the causes of the change. These are best known to Lord Lathom himself, but no doubt he has been influenced in the action he took by the incubus of taxation on extensive landed property in these days, and again by the fact that unfortunately his lordship's health is not of a robust character Moreover, we understand that he has been warned that the damp atmosphere of Lancashire would not be conducive to his complete recovery. That Lord Lathom fully intended to retain his Estates was fully shown by his rebuilding and enlargement of Blythe Hall at fabulous cost, which he can never hope to anything like recover, and no doubt it was only with the greatest reluctance that, he came to the decision he did.

Happily, in the whole transactions which have so far taken place, there has been a complete absence of that acrimony and distrust which were engendered in connection with the sale by the Marquis de Casteja of the Scarisbrick, Halsall, and Downholland Estates some two years ago. Lord Lathom first disposed of his estates - lock, stock, and barrel - to Mr. A. E. Debenham, of London, a financier of high standing, and this gentleman, along with Sir Howard Frank, of the firm of auctioneers who are conducting the sale, attended the Ring o’ Bells, Lathom, to which all the farm tenants were invited, in order to negotiate, if possible, for, the private purchase of their farms before the sale. Quite a number, took advantage of this reasonable offer, and they are to be congratulated upon their good sense, for it is certain that these holdings would have fetched more money for the vendor under the hammer both yesterday and today. There were others, of course, who, like the foolish virgins, "had no oil in their lamps," and they are accordingly to be commiserated with.

Whether the change will be for the better or otherwise remains to be seen. We sincerely hope it will be for the better. Those who buy their own holding big or
little, can look to France, with its peasant proprietorship system in vogue, for inspiration and encouragement, for the French peasantry are the, backbone and the bul … (damaged original means no further informastion could be transcribed)

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