WCP168

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Oct^r. 26th. 1901

My dear Will

At length the long quest has come to an end, & I have agreed to buy the 3 acres of land at Broadstone.¹ Ma & I have just been over again this morning to consider its capabilities, and the exact boundaries that will be the most advantageous, as I have here the great advantage of choosing exactly what I will have. I only wish I could afford 5 acres instead of 3, or even ten; but the three will contain the very eye of the whole.

I enclose you a bit of the 6 inch ordnance on which I have marked the piece I have finally fixed upon in red chalk. The attractive bit is the small enclosure of one acre, left rather paler, which is an old orchard in a little valley sloping downward to the [2] S.S.E. There are perhaps a score of trees in it, apples pears, plums & cherries, I believe, and under them a beautiful green short turf like a lawn— kept so I believe by rabbits. From the top of this orchard is a fine view over moor and heather, then over the great northern bay of Poole Harbour & beyond to the Purbeck Hills & out to the sea & the Old Harry headland. It is not very high— about 140 feet I think but being on the edge of one of the plateaux the view is very effective. On the top to the left of the road track there is a slightly undulating grass field of which I have a little less than an acre. To the right of the fence & coming down to the wood is very rough ground densely covered with heather & dwarf gorse, a great contrast to the field. The wood on the right is mixed but chiefly oak I think, with some large firs, one quite grand; while the wood on the left on the left is quite different having some very tall Spanish chestnuts [3] loaded with fruit, some beech, some fir with ivy & no doubt other trees, but I have not had time yet to investigate thoroughly. Thus this little bit of 3 acres has ⁵ subdivisions each with a quite distinct character of its own, and I never remember seeing such variety in such a small area. The red wavy line is about where I shall have to make my road, for the place has now no road, & I think I am very lucky in discovering it and in getting it. Of course it is dear, but compared with the price of land here and at Godalming², and at Hurst, it cannot be considered too dear. No doubt in some years all the fields to the north east & west of it will be more or less built over, but the field to the south is moorland and, I believe let to some Society that lets it out to labourers in allotments, and the agents say it will never be built over,— but even if it were it would not at all interfere with our view! This piece I have got it for £500, all included, with immediate possession.³

Another advantage is in the land [4] which is varied so as to suit all crops. It is on the Bagshot formation, but there is a good deal of clay which with the sand & gravel form a mixture which is very good for fruit trees, shrubs and gardens generally. I fancy I shall be ^{able to} make a pond in that cement, and shall find places to grow most of my choice shrubs &c. better than here. I expect bulbs of all kinds will grow well, and I mean to plant a thousand or so, of snowdrops, crocuses, squills, daffodils &c. in the orchard, where they will look lovely.

Miss Broughton, who lived 2 years at Broadstone, used often to visit the spot to enjoy the view, & knows nothing equal to it in variety & capabilities. She has also told me of a model gardener and and an ideal labourer, & if I can get them for a month or two to make the road & put up a wire fence, & do the digging & trenching to prepare for putting in trees & shrubs, & then the gardener as a permanency, the place will be ready for beginning to build in spring. Of the house I will send you plans next time.

Your affect[iona]^te. Pa | A. R. Wallace [signature]