Chippenham <1>
13th May 1835
Dear Sir,
Thos Moore <2> has requested me to inform you, that the Surveyors of the Highways at Lacock – wish to make a Road from the bottom of Nash Hill <3> to Bewley Court Farm <4> – & beg to know if you have (as Proprietor of part of the Leazes on the Common) any objection to the measure – I could almost have ventured to say you would approve of it – as I have an Idea that it was one of the things wch you proposed to have done by the Labourers of out of Employ – a few Winters ago – It will I understand, be an advantage to your farm Property at Nash Hill & I think, altogether, a good thing in a parochial point of view –
I will trouble you to give me a Line upon the subject – previous to Monday next – in order that your Answer may be communicated to the Surveyors –
Mr Hayward’s <5> Solicitor has requested my Son <6> to ask, if you will consent to his Client’s retaining the Property by a Lease for 21 years – determinable, however, with the present Lives – & for which they will give a fine of £100– The Ages of the Lives are –
John Hayward <7> 58
Willm – Hayward – 49
Sarah– Hayward – 50
As you offered to give Hayward three years Rent of the Houses, wch would be about £40 – we may, of course, add that sum to the £100 – in making a Calculation on the subject * & therefore I thought it better to submit it to you, before the measure of demanding the Rents from the Tenants, was put into execution – & your final determination shall then be communicated to the Parties–
I am Dear Sir Yr obliged Sert
W. H. Awdry
I think the value of the Houses & land together, may be considered about £20 – pr Annum
W.H.F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville St.
Piccadilly
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.
3. Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire.
4. Bewley Common, Wiltshire, 1 mi E of Lacock.
5. Thomas Hayward, farmer, Lacock.
6. West Awdry (1807–1892), solicitor, Chippenham.
7. John R Hayward.