WCP106

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

June 22nd.1905

My dear Will

At last things are a little settled. About 5 weeks back the first tender to make the alterations came and was about £2.75! Then "White" one of the men who worked on the house gave his tender £187.10. Then the builders at Poole (who built the house above us very cheaply.) had the plans, kept them 3 weeks & then said they were too busy! Then Mr. King a man who has built houses for Mr. Smith the Arch. and is a good worker, sent in — £170. This I accepted last Saturday. He came up here Monday to take some measurements, on Wednesday sent up scaffold poles &c. and is [2] now hard at work. I can see he thoroughly knows his business, and I think it will be done well and quickly.

Now for something even more important. About a month ago I wrote to Lord Wimborne’s new agent, Mr. C.B. Hill, about the East entrance road (my road) being shown on the new plans of the Estate cut off from my gate, so that when the lots are sold I shall be shut out altogether, although the road is kept for the use of other buyers, and asked that I should be allowed to keep it, and have it properly worked on the plan. Also that I should be glad to see him and point it out if he would call. About a week ago he did call — an active intelligent-looking tall thin man. I showed him the road, told him I knew I had agreed to give it up in exchange for the new road, but that as it was used on the plan I thought it was only fair that I should have the use [3] of it seemed[?] to me. He then asked If you keep this will you give up the other way to the new road. I said I thought I might to have a right of at least a footway to it as it saved so much distance. Then he said why don’t you buy that piece, it will save you from the annoyance of having it built on. I said I did not want it and thought it was to be left open. He said "ole! no — if I have an offer I shall sell it. Then he said "if you will buy it & not build on it you shall have it at £100 an acre, and you shall also have your other road, & that will get over the difficulty. So I said "Yes, I will have on those terms." Then he said he must get Lord Wimborne’s consent and would write me. To day his letter came with Lord W.’s consent & I have written accepting it. It is less than half an acre, and most of it fairly good land: will make an excellent orch and a fowl-run, and a good entrance from the Station &c.. [4] That seems to me a first rate bargain. We have two or three places where we can build a bungalow on our own ground. I think therefore it will be better to give up the idea of buying more land, but to spend what money we can spare on a little house for Ma & Violet after I am gone to another country, as you suggested. That we can talk about when you come.

Ma is just gone off to Hurst, & and is going to start tomorrow, for with Rose, for a 12 days outing at Montceuse & Charmoum, with Dr. Linn’s party; Violet comes back this evening from a visit to Marshalls, and I am just about beginning the last chapter of my book (I think) but it may require two. The garden is full of flowers now, but it is fearfully dry. I hope your affair is nearly settled.

Your affect. Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]