Chippenham <1>
June 5th 1826
Dear Sir,
Mr Montagu of Lackham & his Son, being about to cut off the entail of their Property, when the latter comes of Age in October next – I have had some conversation with their Agent respecting some Lands adjoining the Abbey & other Parts of your Estates, wch they are about to sell, in order to pay off Incumbrances – Now it so happens, that some of your Lands are occasionally intermixed with theirs & it would be easy (upon a Principle of reciprocity) to make an advantageous Exchange for both Parties – and as the Property is likely to be immediately put into Settlement again, it seems a pity to lose an opportunity that may never occur again – Under these Circumstances, I spoke to Mr King <2> upon the subject, when I was in Town the other day & he was so fully sensible of the advantage to your Property, in getting the Lands near the Abbey, that he desired me, at all events, to keep them out of the intended Sale – & I have therefore proposed to Mr Montagu’s Agent accordingly – I trust what has been done so far, may meet your approbation & it will be a great satisfaction to me to have a few Lines from you upon the subject – at the same time I think it right to say, that I do not think there will be any objection to alter the arrangement (on the part of Mr Montagu) if you should not approve it, as the Land is so situated, that it must always fetch its value –
I have negociated an Exchange of the same kind, for my Cousin Mr John Awdry, <3> at Notton <4> – & I found such a disposition by Mr Montagu on that occasion, to act with fairness & liberality, that I felt the more inclined to talk with his Agent about your Property in the neighbourhood of his Estates –
All things are going on well on the Farms – and the Rents for the Cottages have been paid better than I could expect under the present Circumstances of the Country, when so many of the Poor are out of employ – on the other side I have stated a few small Lots, which may be disposed of by auction this Summer, if you approve it – They are quite unconnected with other Property & the Buildings in the most delapidated <sic> state & not worth repairing –
I am Dear Sir
Yr obliged Sert
W. H. Awdry
| No 91 – | House at Bewley Green <5> |
| 74 – 75 – | Two Withy Beds at Nash Hill <6> |
| 80 – | House at Nash Hill |
| *200 – | Small Wood near Sandy Lane, <7> called White Strip |
| 155 – | about ½ an Acre of Land near Spy Park <8> – (N.B. Chief Rent) |
*The little Wood called White Strip is a sort of Road between Dr Starkeys & Mr Money’s woods at Sandy Lane & the under wood of very little value We have cut a little timber there occasionally, but it does not grow a good size – it may possibly be bought by one of the Parties contiguous, but it is of no importance with regard to your Property –
1826 June 5
W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Of the firm William Read King & Son, solicitors, London.
3. John Awdry (1766–1844), solicitor, Reybridge, of Notton House, Wiltshire, 1 mi NW of Lacock.
4. Notton House, Wiltshire, 1 mi NW of Lacock.
5. Bewley Common, Wiltshire, 1 mi E of Lacock.
6. Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire.
7. A hamlet approximately three miles east and further from Reybridge than Lacock.
8. Spye Park, Wiltshire, 2 mi SE of Lacock.