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Diary

Diary

Diary

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In 1865 a fire destroyed the entire house at Mote Park, as another had destroyed their castle a century previously. While the house was being re-built in 1866, the family occupied the old barrack room in the farmyard. From the 1870's onwards the once feared power of the landlord was clearly on the wane.

Despite the Land Acts tenants made no effort to purchase their land. Arrears of rent increased with arrears accounting for over 30% of total rent received by the 1890's. It is clear that the house itself was also falling into disrepair as evidenced from the photograph below showing animals grazing on what were once the pristine gardens.