Sir,
The Parrapet is finished except the Coping – the flat course is finished to receive the Bannisters – part of the Brickwork is done that goes up to the ceiling – About 17 Feet more of Roofing is done, and about 10 covered with Lead. Mr Strong <1> was here last Thursday and promised to let me have the plan of the Window as soon as he could finish it <2>
I am Sir Your Obedt Humble Servant
Philip Phelps
Lacock
15th Novr 1830
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
London
Notes:
1. Strong's identity has yet to be established. However, Awdry met Mr. Strong at Box [see Doc. No: 02006], the Wiltshire hamlet whose quarry originally provided Lacock Abbey with its stone. It is possible that Strong was there temporarily to select stone for the renovations at Lacock Abbey, but given the expansion of the area in the 19th c., perhaps Strong was resident there. The 1841 census for Box (the earliest one available) points to two possibilities. The first, James Strong (b. 1796), was a mason, but the Lacock mason, Charles Selman Banks (1805-1881) did most of the masonry at Lacock at this time. Thomas Strong (b. 1781) was a builder, and seems the more likely candidate.
2. WHFT made major alterations to the south front of Lacock Abbey between 1828 and 1831. [See Doc. No: 02059, Doc. No: 02070, and Doc. No: 02076].