Heytesbury House

Nov 4th 1824

 

My Dear William,

    All your relets (except ……. ……. …… …… …… ) being paid, I am enabled to send you your quarterly accounts. Prangley’s bill, you will perceive is very high: - it includes however all the necessary repairs to the 3 Cottages near the Meeting house, which fell into hand on the Miller’s death – new hatches at Corton – two new gates to the lawn & many indispensable repairs which perhaps were too long put off. The fencing has also hitherto required the constant attendance of a carpenter.      On the wall account, we have been obliged to take 100£, to be replaced to your general account on the completion of the building & on the sale of the Timber to be felled. We built more this year than we originally intended, in order to make a finish at the lease gate & thereby went beyond our means. The wall is finished from John Everett’s house to the lease gate & will, I am convinced, give you satisfaction.

     Phelps has held your court, at which not a single death was reported.  I have desired him to prepare his account before Xmas.

     The whole of the Mansion Offices, & stables have been examined as to the roofs & the tiles entirely new laid. The timbers are good, but the lathes were nearly all decayed: His replacing them swelled Prangley’s bill exceedingly.

Yours affectionately

C: A: à Court