R3/4682

Letter Reads- Cottage management difficult, esp. in densely & increasing pop. Medical officers' report; will ask if any were Duke's cottages. We are not perfect, though more odium at other people's doors; have always maintained (though cottage a bad speculation, & undesirable to increase), duty incumbent to provide decent dwellings for people necessary to cultivate soil. Have incurred displeasure by clearing out some of worst houses in Woburn & cleansing & purifying. I find the lodgers for 1 room usually pay 2d. or 3d. a week more for that single room than we charge for the whole cottage of 3 rooms. Begun cottage repairs at Ampthill; some very bad, built on waste, claimed by people as their own (rent for grand), kept in repair by occupier, in a sad state, occupied by by old people; as they die we must make other arrangements.

8 March 1843

From: 1843 To: 1843

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medical officer, letters, forester, WOBURN, Woburn Abbey, AMPTHILL