R3/4851

Letter Reads- Browne's house, stable etc adjoins land on which the Duke has mortgages and in course of time will become the Duke's property. Besides these people there are only about six other cottage owners in Chenies - all the others are the Duke's - consequently, when any are for sale, individuals are likely to give very extravagant prices for them. Bennett asks whether, when these cottages come on the market, the Duke is willing to pay 50 to 150 more than they are worth in order to secure control of property and occupants. He says that it would normally be absurd to attempt such a thing but Chenies is an exception. He does not know the state they are in. Bennett goes on to discuss guano. Says that importers and retailers are making as good a profit as they can which is in a few hands but surmises that competition will soon bring down the price. Importers are selling not less than 20 tons at 10 per ton and retailers are charging 12. Local farmers are joining together and taking 15 or 20 tons at the importers price. He goes on with news of railways and says that the "Birmingham People" are determined on a Branch Line from Bletchley to Bedford - the terminus about the infirmary - the late Mr Gotobed's field or that the Duke will probably be chosen. The line then proceeds through Kempston, Wootton, Marston, turned through Brogborough Hill to Holcut, over the lower part of Aspley to Wavendon and Bletchley. The Northern Line are also surveying from Bedford - terminus to be near the House of Industry, to cross at Goldington to Cople Meadows, past Willington Manor House and Church in a direct line to meet the rail at Girtford. Then the London and Manchester people are again in the field. Via St Albans, Luton, Bedford etc. This touches the Duke's property at Maulden and again at Souldrop. He reckons that if this all goes on "Railways" will be as "Common as turnpike roads" He then goes on to discuss types of drainage pipes which may be purchased for Magpie Hall and Chenies. He has bought the lot for Magpie Hall because the Duke expressed a wish to have a trial.

12 May 1844

From: 1844 To: 1844

item

Haedy, C,
Browne,
Bennett,
Gotobed

mortgages, farmer, railways, DRAINAGE, letters, WOBURN, Woburn Abbey, Chenies, BEDFORD, Bletchley, Birmingham, KEMPSTON, WOOTTON, Marston, Brogborough Hill, Holcot [Northamptonshire], ASPLEY GUISE, Wavendon, Bletchley, GOLDINGTON, COPLE, Willington Manor, Girtford, London, Manchester, St.Albans, LUTON, MAULDEN, SOULDROP