Chippenham <1>
15h Septr 1834
Dear Sir/
When I was at Lacock today, Fitzsimmons <2> took me into the Green House to shew me the state of the Grapes – He told me that you wished them to be preserved till your return to England, but he was now convinced that it would not be possible – The Roof of the House will not effectually keep out the Wet & when the Grapes are put into Bags they soon turn mouldy – & without Bags the Wasps eat them – therefore, finding it impossible to keep them till November he wished me to ask you if he might sell some of them at Bath, while they are in their present good state – He told me that he had sent some to Mr Moore <3> at Sloperton <4>, as desired by Lady Elizabeth <5> –
I have nothing very particular to communicate at present respecting the Estates – Robins has caught two men breaking Bounds in Inwood <6> & we are going to take them into the Justice Meeting – by way of example –
I rejoice to hear that Capt Rooke <7> has actually been put into possession of Lackham <8> & has commenced taking off the Roof of the House –
I am Dear Sir, Yr Obliged Sert
W. H. Awdry
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
Poste Restante
Geneva
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Cornelius Fitzsimmons, Scottish gardener at Lacock Abbey.
3. Thomas Moore (1780–1852), Irish poet.
4. Sloperton Cottage, Wiltshire, 1 mi E of Lacock: home of Thomas Moore, the Irish poet.
5. Misspelling of Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
6. Inwood, near Lacock, Wiltshire.
7. Captain Frederick William Rooke (1782–1855), of Lackham, Wilts.
8. Lackham House, Wiltshire, 2 mi NW of Lacock: Awdry family home.