Lacock.
6th Sepr 1830.
Sir /
I have just called at Lacock Abbey for the purpose of communicating Mrs Brindleys <1> reply respecting the Sale of her Property to you and at the same time to answer your Letter of the 4th Inst which during my fathers <2> absence in Yorkshire I have opened Mrs B consents to accept £100 for the purchase of her Lease upon the following conditions The House Garden and Paddock (about 3a) adjoining to be given up at Michas next (10 Octr) The other field (4a) to be given up at Lady day<3> next being Let till that time The few fixtures belonging to Mrs B. to be taken at a valuation, or Mrs B. to be at liberty to remove them As she has an offer for renting the property for the remainder of her Term she requests a reply at your earliest convenience and as it is not in her power to give up the 4 acres of Land till Lady day she will not expect to receive the £100 till that time
I have looked at my fathers Accounts for the years 1822 and 1829, and find the Errors you mention, not Errors in amount but merely in copying The Copsewood is always sold by Customary and not Statute measure the former being 20 poles pr Acre more than the latter That sold in 1822 amounted in quantity to 60·53 Customary Measure which agrees with the Sum with which your account is credited (£55·17·2) The Statute measure which is 7·1·22 must have been inserted by mistake, and not corrected as I find it is my fathers rough Account
In 1829 The Copsewood was sold to Hayward <4> at £9 pr Acre, instead of £9·9·0 as mentioned in your Account which will account for the difference you mention in that Year
Your Letter shall be handed to my father immediately on his return
I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedt hbe Sert
West Awdry
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
Post Office
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
Notes:
1. A tenant of Lacock.
2. William Henry Awdry (17781847), solicitor, Chippenham.
3. Lady Day is one of the traditional English quarter days, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, on 25 March.
4. Thomas Hayward (b. 1783), tenant farmer, Wick Farm, Lacock.