R3/4849/1

Letter Reads- Encloses a note from Mr W Bennett with a resolution passed at Luton as to making a railway from Luton to Leighton Buzzard. Mr Bennett feels that this line is a much more feasible and likely to pay than the one proposed from Bedford to Bletchley - also more useful to the County and neighbourhood because there is now a very considerable traffic in coals and other goods from the Grand Junction Canal at Leighton Buzzard to Luton. He points out that Luton is also "the great straw plait manufactory" and the carriage of plait boxes to rail must be very great. Mr Bennett does not anticipate any objection on his Grace's part. He encloses a tracing of the plot of land at Caddington. It is entirely cut off from Lewsey Farm by the road from Luton to Dunstable. If it should be selected as a station it would be eagerly purchased at a good price as his Grace has no other property in Caddington. There cannot be any object in keeping it. Should the proposal go ahead, the Duke's estate will have all the advantages to be derived from it without any of the disadvantages of severance and other annoyances which occupiers are subject to until the fences and fields are put "in proper from" again. He thinks the branch line should be encouraged. It would be for the general benefit of that part of the County. He foresees other branches in the future either to Birmingham or the North and East

10 May 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

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Haedy, C,
Bennett, W.

railways, coal, straw plaiting, Luton Lewsey Farm, WOBURN, Woburn Abbey, LUTON, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, BEDFORD, Bletchley, CADDINGTON, DUNSTABLE, Birmingham