TALBOT1549

Chippenham ¹
31^st March 1827

Dear Sir /

I have received a Letter from Dr Nicholas ² relative to the repair of the Tythe Barn at Fisherton³ - a copy of which I annex - about two years ago I looked at the Premises & it certainly appeared to me, that it would be advantageous to the parsonage, if the Barn was to be rebuilt upon a smaller scale - The Arrangem^t which I beg to submit for your consideration is, that a respectable Surveyor should (at the expence of D^r Nicholas) give a Plan of a proper Barn for the Tythes of the Parish & that it may be built agreeable to such Plan, if D^r Nicholas prefers it to repairing the old one -

I have seen M^r Bruges ⁴ respecting the purchase of Lot 4 - & he agrees to take it upon being allowed the value of the Life - w^ch can be done by a Table for calculating Annuities (the Age is 70) - Will you be so good as to mention this when you see M^r King⁵, as he can then arrange the settlement with M^r Bruges' Solicitor & the remainder of the Money will be paid - the other Purchasers are, I believe, all ready with their Money as soon as the Deeds are signed -

M^r Montagu's Agent has sent me a message, requesting that some Person may be named on your part, to meet M^r Montagu's Surveyor & agree upon the Value of the Lands proposed to be exchanged - would you wish that I should name M^r Darley? ⁶ -

I had a Letter from M^r Grosett ⁷ a few days ago, desiring your address & I referr'd him to Sackville S^{t 8} - I hope it may be some Proposal respect^g the remainder of his Lease -

I have just completed the Account of 1826 & the Balance thereon viz £111 ·· 1 ·· 3- will be paid to Mess^rs Hammersleys ⁹ next Week. - also £70- received on Account of the Auction -

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

P.S
Since writing the above M^r Montagu's Agent has called & states that it will be a great convenience to them to have the value of the Lands given in by the end of next Week, to enable them to insert it in their accounts -

W. H. F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville Street
Piccadilly
London
N^o 1 Brunswick Terrace ¹⁰
Brighton

[copy of letter from the Rev J. Nicholas to W H Awdry]

(Copy)

17 Beaufort Buildings
Bath
15 March 1827

D^r Sir /

I think I sometime ago mentioned to you my intention of taking down the Barn at Fisherton, w^ch has been a long time in a tottering state, and the late heavy Gales have made it worse - it is my wish to put it in a proper state of repair during my life time - the present one is preposterously large for the Tythes of 309 acres & 10 acres of Glebe (both Arable & Pasture included) & takes up by far too much of the Yard - A smaller one would answer every purpose & the present one is a great desight ¹¹ to the House - Would it not therefore be better for my Successor that I should build another of proper dimensions, in preference to repairing the present one, but I should not choose to do it without M^r Talbots sanction - you will oblige me by letting me hear from you on the subject as soon as possible, as I purpose being in Sarum ¹² in about a fortnight, if my health will allow of my going, when something must be arranged - Should you come to Bath I should be most happy to see you & talk to you on the subject, as the present state of the Barn is very disadvantageous to the House, This of course can be of no object to me, but of great consequence to those who come after me -

I am &^c &^c
J. Nicholas