X95/291/76

From: Thomas Sworder, Luton; To: Thomas Sworder, Hertford

8 Mar 1855

From: 1850 To: 1855

From: Thomas Sworder, Luton; To: Thomas Sworder, Hertford "In 1853 our business was about 6,000 Barrels but last year if fell off rather more than 1,000. This falling off was no doubt occasioned by the badness of trade all thro' last year & the high price of provisions. I have taken out the totals of Barrels sent out for the following years Barrels 1850 - 3,807 1851 - 4,755 1852 - 5,503 1853 - 6,227 1854 - 5,099 Had trade, I mean the Straw trade, been as good last year as the previous year no doubt the beer trade would have gone on increasing in about the same ratio as it had done from 1850 to 1853. The Railway proposed to be made from Dunstable thro Luton to Digswell will be a vast improvement to this neighbourhood, it is calculated that we shall have £8,000 a year in coals alone. It will also increase the trade of the Town in various ways. I wish I could find out that we made £3,000 last year; £1,600 is nearer the mark but considering the high price of Malt & hops it was not so bad as 1,600 quarters of malt at 14s per qr (the difference in price betwn 53 & 1854) would come to £1,120 & a proportionate quantity of hops at only 1/- per lb advance would amount to £560 these two sums added to £1,600 would amount to £3,280. The above sums deducted from last year's prices of malt & hops would be too much, I have no doubt, taking an average of, say, ten years. If we have lower prices next year and a brisk trade the present high prices will have a beneficial tendancy [sic] rther than otherwise, for those who can stand it, as there will not be so many in the trade & consequently not so much pushing & lowering the prices. I saw Mr.Benning, Mr.Burr's Solr, yesterday & he told me that Mr.Burr was about selling some more houses & he expected some good ones amongst them. I think Mr.Burr has about 20 Public Houses & 6 Beer Houses of his own in Luton he also has 7 or 8 on Lease. Besides these he has 10 or 15 houses in the neighbourhood. If he sells 6 or 8 more his Brewery will not be worth much to him, or to any one else without they have an additional trade to add to it. W.Medland has gone to Bedford today to fight the Crown a client of his having built on the Waste which the Crown now claims as Lord of the Manor".

item

Sworder, Thomas,
Burr, Solomon,
Benning, Charles Crichton Stuart,
Medland, William

family correspondence, business correspondence, straw plaiting, railways, Digswell, hops, waste & encroachment, Park Street Brewery Luton