R3/3579

Letter regarding estate labour, illness of an elderly employee, building work etc.

28 Jan 1831

From: 1831 To: 1831

Reads- A number of men on the roads in Ridgmont still. I hardly know what to do with the no. of labourers here; next month will probably try sending 1 or 2 away at a time. A carpenter, Ric.Millard, who was worked on estate repairs more than 40 years, now too ill for a month to work; over 70; probably nearer 80; wife asks me to apply to Duke for allowance, as they are in great distress; says a few years ago when he was ill Duke sent £5 & told them they should not want; his wages were 13s., but incapable of earning them for many years; I gave his wife 10s.; their house is their own. Am proceeding with church E. window; finishing Market House & new cage; then shall begin new hayloft at Park farm. Bennett's point about cost of bricks from Crawley kiln; those from Fenny Stratford 3-4s. per 1000 cheaper; in a large consumption this makes a difference. Bennett thought he ought not to be charged more than elsewhere. It reduces profit of kiln; but it seems bad policy for Duke's material to be had from any other place; so we propose to reduce price to neighbouring kilns' rate for ourselves; price to others will remain as before. Todd always purchases his drain tiles & lime at Fenny, nearly £200; I think the money could usefully have been spent here. Getting rid of hurlock lime burnt under the bricks in the large kiln.

item

Millard, Richard,
Duke of Bedford,
Bennett,
Todd

estate labour, RIDGMONT, town & local roads, labourers, employment, carpenters, building work, health, elderly people, FAMILY, money, estate wages, HOUSING, church windows, church architecture, building work, Woburn Market House, metalwork, BUILDINGS & LAND USE, hay, Woburn Park Farm, brick manufacturers, kilns, HUSBORNE CRAWLEY, Fenny Stratford, business, brick and tile manufacturer, WATER & DRAINAGE, lime, FIRE