WCP328

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Oct^r. 25th. 1901

My dear Violet

At last the deed is done! "I’ve met the Douglas in his hall, — the Lion in his den!" and have come out safely! His roar was terrible! but he ended as mildly cooing as any sucking dove!

That is a poetical account of my interview yesterday with the great Paterson, Lord Wimborne[’s] mighty agent, to settle all details as to the land at Broadstone, which ^is now as good as purchased; and as soon as I have marked out the [2] exact boundaries of the piece of ground I want & ^formally accepted the terms we have agreed on, I can have possession & begin doing what I like. I got this favourable inclusion by offering to pay down the whole purchase money as soon as the legal conveyance is ready to be signed, — and we parted quite like old friends[.] The price is high, — but there is no spot to equal it for miles around, and compared with ^the price of land here, or at Hurst, or at Godalming, even Ma acknowledges now that it is not dear. [3] Besides about an acre of grass & a little heather, there are two beautiful bits of wood one with large Spanish chestnuts in it, the other with oaks & other trees and a very fine old fir tree, & between the two an old school in a little valley with beautiful grass under the trees and a view right over Poole Harbour to the Purbeck hills on the right and to the Old Harry rocks on the left — South & south-east.

It is only ½ mile from Braodstone station: — the views cannot possibly be shut out or even interfered with, & as it is at present in a large field above the woods and there is no road to it, it will probably [4] be some years before that is built over, especially as without cutting the woods down there is no view!

If you & "Dolly" like to come at half-term do so, and we will go to Fordingbridge & make enquiries. The country there is lovely, and the surroundings altogether more attractive than Broadstone, there being both river & forest. But consider the possibility, even probability of its being wet all the time! & will it be worth while? At Christmas there is sure to be some fine weather, & for you that will be plenty of time. Miss B. could have an acre joining me for £.200, & I think a view could be had by clearing away some wood, but I will see next time I go. At Fordingbridge she would probably get 2-3 acres for same money.

In haste | Your affectionate & "chortling" Pa | A. R. Wallace [signature]