TALBOT3083

Chippenham ¹
13^th May 1835

Dear Sir,

Tho^s Moore ² has requested me to inform you, that the Surveyors of the Highways at Lacock – wish to make a Road from the bottom of Nash Hill ³ to Bewley Court Farm ⁴ – & beg to know if you have (as Proprietor of part of the Leazes on the Common) any objection to the measure – I could almost have ventured to say you would approve of it – as I have an Idea that it was one of the things w^ch you propose^d to have done by the Labourers of out of Employ – a few Winters ago – It will I understand, be an advantage to your farm Property at Nash Hill & I think, altogether, a good thing in a parochial point of view –

I will trouble you to give me a Line upon the subject – previous to Monday next – in order that your Answer may be communicated to the Surveyors –

M^r Hayward’s ⁵ Solicitor has requested my Son ⁶ to ask, if you will consent to his Client’s retaining the Property by a Lease for 21 years – determinable, however, with the present Lives – & for which they will give a fine of £100– The Ages of the Lives are –

John Hayward ⁷ 58
Will^m – Hayward – 49
Sarah– Hayward – 50

As you offered to give Hayward three years Rent of the Houses, w^ch would be about £40 – we may, of course, add that sum to the £100 – in making a Calculation on the subject * & therefore I thought it better to submit it to you, before the measure of demanding the Rents from the Tenants, was put into execution – & your final determination shall then be communicated to the Parties–

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

* PS
I think the value of the Houses & land together, may be considered about £20 – p^r Annum

W.H.F. Talbot Esq
31 Sackville St.
Piccadilly
London