Chippenham <1>
26th June 1829
Dear Sir,
I am much obliged for your Letter <2> of the 24th – With respect to Inlands Farm. I would not by any means recommend offering a Lease, especially at the present time, when the Poor Rates are so high – as the circumstance must naturally tend to lower the Rent – I trust, however, that this will be only temporary & I have no fear of being able to let the Farm upon fair terms for a year, with the understanding that an encrease of Rent will be expected if the Poor Rates become lighter – on the subject of Lease I have almost made up my mind that they are exclusively for the benifit of the Tenant & the only thing that makes it desirable to want a Lease is where the Farm is out of order & requires a good deal of money to be laid out upon it – which of course cannot be expected from a Tenant without a Lease – This, I am happy to say, is not the case in the present instance & under existing circumstances I do not see any inconvenience in the promise of a refusal which you mention having given to Crocker – I have not the least doubt of having good terms offered for it by several Persons – wch will ensure a proper Rent if Crocker does have it for a year – & during that time, we shall have an opportunity of knowing whether he is a good Farmer – when the Estate will be again at liberty if he should not prove so – <illegible> I think of advertising it in the Salisbury & Devizes Papers & by some Hand Bills –
With regard to the employment of the Poor on Bewley Common, I quite agree with you in opinion that it might be more beneficial if some Land nearer the Village was used for the same purpose – & as there is a very large proportion of Arable Land at Inlands Farm, I would submit for your consideration, whether it would not be advisable to offer one of these Fields (now that the Farm is to be relet) to the Parish at the same Rent as you would have from the Tenant – I shall not mention the subject to Moore <3>, of course, until I have your sentiments – but I have no doubt of the Parish being very glad to become Tenant for a Field or two in this way, if you should approve it –
Mrs Dickinson <4> (who had heard accidentally of the Idea about the Common) called on me the other day to know if it was true – I told her that you had, as yet, given no answer to the Proposal – She expressed an earnest hope that you would not consent to it, as it would (she said) quite destroy the Beauty of her Prospect –
I am happy to report that the Way is made in excellent condition – The remainder of the old Stack could not be sold – which I am now very glad of, as it is worth at least double the price, from the crops having turned out so light this year
I am dear Sir Yr obliged Servt
W. A. Awdry
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Letter not located.
3. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.
4. Elizabeth Dickinson (d. before 1833), of Bowden Park.