Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    X95/291/161
  • Title
    From: John Sworder, Dowlais Brewery To: Thomas Sworder, Hertford
  • Date free text
    29 Mar 1858
  • Production date
    From: 1858 To: 1858
  • Scope and Content
    From: John Sworder, Dowlais Brewery; To: Thomas Sworder, Hertford “I expected to hear from R.Raines this morning as I wrote to him last week saying that I should like to see him down here today if he could manage it. He seems to be anxious to settle about this business. I presume if you went (as you said you intended) to Luton on Saturday evg you have heard all particulars from Tom, but as you wish to learn something about this place further than you at present are aware of I will give you as full an account as I can but you must bear in mind that I am not in possession of all the facts, Robert being so very close. The Rent of Brewery &c and Gellyfallas House is I believe £110. The latter of which is now let for two years from Xmas 1857 at £60 per annum. There are not any houses let with the Brewery but wehave six on lease in Dowlais, the rent varying from £20 to £30 or so excluding the Dowlais Inn the rent of which is about £60. Two Houses in Merthyr and one or two I think in the Rhonda Valley one of which I think Robt told me sold last year from 1st of Jany to 31st Dec 3,574 Barrels amounting to about £7,500. If Browning fancies that this Business is anything like the Brewery business in England he will be very much disappointed for most of the Publicans are Miners or Colliers and underground work does not improve either their manners or morals. Of course we are as careful as we can not to make bad debts but sometimes it is impossible to avoid them especially during the Strikes. Should R.Raines think favourably of this place it would be advisable not to have more in the business than can be helped. Something ought to be done as the place as I told you before is in a very forlorn state, only wanting a few pounds laid out to make it neat & respectable and of course the longer such is neglected the worse it gets. I am glad to hear that you are better. Having had the smallpox lately I am debarred from spending Easter in town so must undergo a month's quarantine".
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