[ Red Cross Gardens, Southwark, London. ] Draft manuscript indenture assignment signed by the Earl of Ducie, Lancelot William Bennett, Charles Stewart Loch, Mary Lumsden, Helen Ironside, Janet Johnson, Thomas Slingsby Tanner, Cecil Antony Nussey.

On three sides of a vellum bifolium supplied by the London law stationers Witherby & Co. Dimensions of leaf 39 x 26 cm. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. The document is a draft, with several emendations in pencil, including a lengthy addition in the margin of first page, and a shorter one on the second page. Laid out in customary style, within red rules. Docketed on fourth side: 'Dated 15th August 1914 | The Earl of Ducie and Others | to | The Earl of Ducie and Others | Red Cross Garden | Assignment'. With stamp of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, signed by Hugh de Bock Porter. The document is signed by eight individuals: the Earl of Ducie, Lancelot William Bennett, Charles Stewart Loch, Mary Lumsden, Helen Ironside, Janet Johnson, Thomas Slingsby Tanner, Cecil Antony Nussey, with each of the eight signatures accompanied by that of a different witness. Eight wafer seals in red wax, on a length of green ribbon. The document refers back to the original 999-year lease of 1888, with original lessees 'the said Earl of Ducie William Waldegrave Viscount Wolmer M.P. Herbert Bulkey Mackworth Praed Robert Hunter C.B. [i.e. Sir Robert Hunter (1844-1913)] Octavia Hill and the said Helen Ironside and the said Janet Johnson'. The document explains that as Hill and Hunter (both instrumental in the foundation of the National Trust) have since died, 'the Assignors are desirous of vesting the said premises in the assignees'. Red Cross Garden was laid out in 1887 on the site of a burnt down paper factory and a derelict warehouse. With its ornamental pond, a bandstand, a covered play area for children, and colourful mosaics , the garden was the venue for the annual Southwark Flower Show, and other fetes and celebrations. The garden has recently been restored, and is now run by the Bankside Open Spaces Trust.