Chippenham <1>
10th May 1838
Dear Sir,
I have recd an answer to my application for the damage occasioned by the burning of the Cottage at Bowden Hill <2> – & I fear that you may feel disappointed at the result – as I confess that I had for the moment supposed the office would pay the full amount of the damage – but I am now quite convinced that the office is only liable to pay the proportion of which they stake – viz – one of Eighty insured for £300 – & that amount is £3·15·0 – I am, however, also convinced, that it would have been much worse to have insured the Cottages separately, for, I find upon a calculation, that if we had done so – the amount paid for insurance, up to the present time – would have been about three times the amount of the Sum wch we should now have recovered – whereas we have only paid 13s/6d pr annum, for the insurance of the Cottages – taken altogether – Before the next payment of the Insurance – it will I think, be advisable to consider, whether it would not be prudent to insure the some of the best of the Cottages in the Village, separately – & wch may be considered at leisure in the mean time – It is a great satisfaction to me to feel, that, the Abbey – the Furniture – the six Farms & the Red Lion Inn <3> are all insured separately, for the amount of any probable damage, & with regard to the Cottages, I could not, considering the number of them, even now, recommend any other alteration than what I have here suggested –
I am glad to find, that there is enough old hay left in the Yard, to last the two Ponies for another year – therefore I propose to sell the whole of the Mowing Grass in the large Field, this Summer – there is likely to be a very fine crop & I hope to get a considerable sum for it – & the Grass in the New Ground, will, if made early, be a good stock for the Ponies – after this year –
I am Dear Sir Yr Obliged Sert
W. H. Awdry
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Bowden Hill, Wiltshire, 1 mi SE of Lacock.
3. The Red Lion Inn, Lacock .