Chippenham ^<1>
14^h Jan^ry 1831

Dear Sir /

I enclose a Copy taken from the Map of Nethermore ^<2> farm – by which you will be enabled to point out the spot that you wish to have planted – You will observe that “Middle & Yonder Heath” are both arable Lands & in a state of cultivation, the large field only, is Furze – I therefore imagine you may intend a part of this field for the Plantation – in that case, you will probably think the end nearest to your own Land, the best – on Account of the Game – when the Trees become large enough to form coverts^<3> – I have been to Bath, & Salter agrees to replace all dead Trees the first year, the same as Heale –

I have been endeavoring, ineffectually, to make a contract for grubbing & burning the Land – Moore ^<4> would willingly have taken it on behalf of the Parish – but it is so unusual a thing, in this country (I mean the grubbing furze) that they cannot fix a Price – but he desired me to say, that he would undertake to have a superintendant [sic] on whom he could rely, to see that the men did it well & worked their full time & would pay 4^s/ p^r Week for each Man while employed – the other 5^s/ being paid by you – He also desired me to say, that the Furze may be sold, as being so light, it will make very little manure & it is useful for making fences – The Roots & turf, may then be burnt to advantage ^<5> – when you write, be so kind as to say if you approve of this Plan –

I have made a Contract for the draining at Nash Hill ^<6> – with a Man who, I understand, has been working at Lord Lansdowne’s ^<7> & other Places in that Neighbourhood & he undertakes to employ Men provided by Moore – who will in this case also allow you the 4^s/ p^r Week for each Man while employed – this will be done as Peice [sic] Work between by the Contractor & being rather a large concern he has undertaken it at something less than what he usually is paid. –

I will take care to attend to your instructions respecting Timber for planting & as soon as I can get any certain intelligence on the subject, will write forthwith –

I called to see M^rs Trimnell ^<8> at the address which you gave me, but she was gone into Herefordshire – whither, my Letter has followed her & I am now waiting to receive her directions, when I shall pay the £20– w^ch you desired me to present to her –

I am dear Sir Y^r obliged & obd^t Ser^t
W. H. Awdry

W. H. F. Talbot Esq

---

Notes:

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

2. No enclosure found. Nethermore Farm and Wood, Lacock, Wiltshire.

3. A thicket in which game can take shelter.

4. Thomas Moore (possibly d. 1854), member of the Lacock Parish Vestry.

5. The ash provides potassium to be applied to the land.

6. Nash Hill, also Naish Hill, a hill and farm 1 mi NE of Lacock, Wiltshire.

7. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3^rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.

8. Elizabeth Trimnell, executrice, of Bath.