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Document number: 5539
Date: 12 Nov 1857
Recipient: COTTRELL George Edward
Author: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 1st September 2003

<draft>

Cottrell

Nov 12 / 57

I hv bn considg ye bst mode of transportg carrying ye ore ^to Staffdsh You suggestd as I remember, yt I shd make a branch railroad ^to join ye GWR – I hv bn considg of this – It wd not be vy long (1 mile & half) but it wd be expensive in requirg a bridge over ye canal & one over ye river Avon – and I shd have to pchase some ^valuable land (always a good deal of land,

Nevss I think I cd make it if my lessees afford undertake sch a work if my lessees paid as a toll for the use of ye railway the sum wch would be saved to them by using it, in prefce to the canal. I w shd shall be obliged to you t if y will infm me whethr y consider this a fair principle ^to be adopted, as it apprs to me ^ it wd to be The plan offers sevl advges for instce ye ore wd be kept dry, & not broken to pieces by careless unloading &c. but ^wd be under ye ^entire control & supervisn of the lessee’s own people

As I believe y hve lately constrctd a brch railrd at Seend perhaps y can infm me whr y. had met wth any difficy on ye part of ye Canal Compy, in throwing a bridge over the canal, wch I suppose was requisite to be done?

When you next come here if I am absent gone to Scotld wch I’m afr expect will be ye case if y will inquire for Wilkins the gardener he will be happy to accompy y on ye hill; & The and A conveyce will be at yr service as I shall not take my horses to Scotld – I will be glad to be useful as on a former occasn wch I hope y will not scruple to u

You will see that I have considbly deepd ye excavatn at ye place we call the Sandpit.

The appearces of the ore there are vy Promisg. I think nearly ½ of it is of the best kind, and I obsve that there is an immense qy of small fragmts of ye same in the sand, wch might be readly obtained by screening – & wd make (I shd imagine) just as good iron as the massive blocks – We are not yet at the bottom of ^the ore in this excavatn though we suppose proby we must not expect it to continue to m

<expanded version>

Cottrell

November 12, 1857

I have been considering the best mode of transporting carrying the ore to Staffordshire. You suggested as I remember, that I should make a branch railroad to join the Great Western Railway – I have been considering of this – It would not be very long (a mile and a half) but it would be expensive in requiring a bridge over the canal and one over the river Avon – and I should have to purchase some valuable land (always a good deal of land.

Nevertheless I think I could make it if my lessees afford undertake such a work if my lessees paid as a toll for the use of the railway the sum which would be saved to them by using it, in preference to the canal. I would should shall be obliged to you to if you will inform me whether you consider this a fair principle to be adopted, as it appears to me it would to be. The plan offers several advantages for instance the ore would be kept dry, and not broken to pieces by careless unloading etc. but would be under the entire control and supervision of the lessee’s own people.

As I believe you have lately constructed a branch railroad at Seend perhaps you can inform me whether you had met with any difficulty on the part of the Canal Company, in throwing a bridge over the canal, which I suppose was requisite to be done?

When you next come here if I am absent gone to Scotland which I’m afraid expect will be the case if you will inquire for Wilkins <1> the gardener he will be happy to accompany you on the hill; and The and A conveyance will be at your service as I shall not take my horses to Scotland– I will be glad to be useful as on a former occasion which I hope you will not scruple to use

You will see that I have considerably deepened the excavation at the place we call the Sandpit.

The appearances of the ore there are very Promising. I think nearly half of it is of the best kind, and I observe that there is an immense quantity of small fragments of the same in the sand, which might be readily obtained by screening – and would make (I should imagine) just as good iron as the massive blocks – We are not yet at the bottom of the ore in this excavation though we suppose probaby we must not expect it to continue to m


Notes:

1. George Wilkins (b. 1814), gardener at Lacock.

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