WCP327

[1]¹

Parkstone, Dorset.

June 17th. 1901

My dear Violet

If you have no engagement for next Saturday will you [go] to see another house between Mayfield & Wadhurst, which I have seen twice, & which is really first-rate. The Dodd’s of T[unbridge]. Wells are making a party to see it — a kind of picnic. Two of them were with me yesterday week & were delighted. Mr & Mrs. Shaw are going, & I want you to meet Mrs. Shaw. I think you will get on with her. She takes her cycle & will cycle over from T[unbridge]. Wells to the place — 7 miles — with some of the Dodd’s & their friends. Mr. [2] Shaw will drive with some non-cyclers. You will prefer to cycle I presume, & if you will go I will send you cash for your ticket for self & cycle. Let me know at once as I had better let the Dodd’s & Mr. Shaw know you are coming to represent me. Mr. & Mrs. Shaw are going from Victoria by 11.15 train.² I saw Mr. Shaw last Tuesday on my way back through London, & we have arranged, if the money can be raised & the Estate bought, that I & he will take the house between us as our joint share, of £.1000 each, with garden &c. [3] He will have one of the sitting rooms & 2..3 bedrooms, furnishing them himself, — and as he has his house & business in London, this is all he will want for some years, as he & his wife will only come down for a holiday when they want a change ^{or for week/ends}. Then, if I can, in 4 or 5 years, as I hope I may if I live, pay him back the £.1000 he advances, the house will be our own absolutely, with the use of the reserved park, view, stream ponds &c. If on the other hand I should die before paying it off, then he will ^pay the £. 1000 back to my executors. That is if you did not agree to hold it jointly.³ So there would be no loss either way. The [4] house is lovely, & it would be a pleasure to live in it. And the gardens & Estate would be a constant occupation& joy to me. It is only 1 1/2 miles from Mayfield Church, but a steep up & down road in a N.E. direction. I fear it is too much to hope to get it; but much will depend on this visit. Mr. Shaw will, I am sure, be delighted with it, but there whether enough people can be found to subscribe the money remains to be seen.

If we go ^{there to live}, I will try & get the place of Estate bailiff for Kate’s husband, she being our Cook, and with a small girl to help or a woman to clean once a week we should do fine. Also I shall try & persuade Ma to have "paying guests" —

gent. & lady or 2 ladies — there being ample room. So go if possible, & let me know at once.

Your affect[ionate] Pa | A.R.W. [signature]