Chippenham <1>
2 Decr 1841
Dear Sir,
As it is now time that something should be determined upon as to the letting your Farm lately occupied by Mr Fussell <2> and having received several offers for renting it, I take the liberty of enquiring when you expect to be at the Abbey or whether you would make an appointment for my seeing you in Town in case you should not be returning to Lacock during the present Month.
There a [sic] great many Laborers out of employ at Lacock and it has occurred to me that it would be well to grub another acre or two of the furze at Nash Hill <3> for planting in the Spring – We could get it done cheaper now than hereafter, and it would afford some employment for the Poor – Mr Sotheron <4> & Captn Rooke <5> have undertaken to employ as many as they can during the Winter.
I remain Dear Sir Your obliged Servt
West Awdry.
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Probably Stephen Fussell, a tenant.
3. Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire.
4. Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron Bucknall Estcourt (1801–1876), MP.
5. Captain Frederick William Rooke (1782–1855), of Lackham, Wilts.