WCP27

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset

Nov., 16^th. 1900

My dear Will

I send you now the order for The Grange, Beaconsfield. the Map, and Mr. Gurney’s letter. The view due south with the church at end must be Beaconsfield church, and the south-East view "for miles" will be across the little valley shown on the map beginning at the end of the word "Grange" and on to the valley of the Thames.

If you go by train one leaves Baker Street at 10.27 Amersham 11.29. I enclose a Railway Map of London district on which I have marked Honor Oak, & Baker Street Station with a blue circle. There is a train back from Amersham at 2.53 Baker St. 3.54. Amersham is 3 miles from the Grange. [2] As the weather seems clearing up you may like to cycle all the way, when your route would be through Wandsworth over Putney Bridge, about 30 miles altogether, and then 2 miles to The Grange. If you do not cycle at all but go wholly by train then wire to Mr. Gurney & he will order a trap for you, but I expect you will have to pay for it. You see he says there are "20 people nibbling at it", so I should like you to go soon, but I should also like Violet¹ to go with you so as to have both your opinions of it. This is a £30,000 pounder for only half of the land there is [3] a Compton but then for a building estate it is worth 4 times as much, — perhaps 10 times as much for anyone who can wait; and if it is too dear to be in Carter’s style I am pretty sure either Swinton or Mr. Tebb, or some friends of theirs will go for it. So it will be better to wait till next Saturday 24^th. and you can write her or see her at once to make the appointment.

Still, if you prefer to go tomorrow do so.

It seems to me a possible chance of a really good house within our means in a lovely country near London sure to double its value in a few [4] years.

If you arrange to go with Violet you might ride over to her to breakfast & go together by rail, — or if you can cycle she could hire one for the day.

You will see on the Map the new railway marked, — direct line Paddington to Oxford, — will be close to the Estate.

Yours very truly | Alfred R Wallace — [signature]