Chippenham ^<1>
14^th March 1837

Dear Sir

I have to acknowledge the rec^t of your two last Letters -

Respecting Miss [Brackstone's?] ^<2> House - I offered it to M^rs Barton at £15- p^r annum as you desired - but she thought it too high & declined it - the Water being indifferent & the House old - after receiving your Message by Lady E- ^<3> I offered it again at £10- 10- 0 - & she has taken it at that Rent - but if you should wish at any time to advance the Rent - her Tenancy will be determined by the usual Notice of half a Year -

With regard to the small Item belonging to Snozzell's House - inserted in the Abbey Bill, it appeared to have been accidentally copied from his Book & put into the wrong Bill -

I have spoken to M^r Fussell respecting the Land now last planted - & he will be very glad to have it again as soon as you have removed the Trees -

Tho^s Hayward ^<4> has been with me this Morning & I am happy to say, that he has been commissioned by his Brother to accept your offer of £60- & give up the Property - of course, therefore the Tenants will pay their Rents to me at Lady day-^<5>

I hope to be at Devizes one day this Week & then to pay £100- to the Bank, on your Account -

I am Dear Sir Y^r Obliged Ser^t
W H. Awdry

W. H. F. Talbot Esq^r
31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London

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Notes:

1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.

2. See Doc. No: 03465.

3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773-1846), WHFT's mother.

4. Thomas Hayward (b. 1783), tenant farmer, Wick Farm, Lacock.

5. Lady Day is one of the traditional English quarter days, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, on 25 March.