R3/5144

[3 sheets.] The directors of the Bedford & Bletchley Railway have decided that the corner reserved for a public house will be convenient for the Station [at Bedford]. Mr Hacker has made a plan, including stabling, which Mr Higgins has seen. Cost will be £750 for which he can afford to pay 5% rent per annum. The public house at Ridgmont station will cost £400; Mr Higgins will pay £20 per annum. At Ridgmont Mr Norris, who has a small freehold with an old cottage on it, close to the position proposed for the Duke's public house, has this season converted it into a Beer house ready for the use of the railway labourers. He also applied at the Petty Sessions for a licence for spirits, but was told he would need to make his house a "decent place" with proper accommodation. There is no scope for two public houses at Ridgmont so Norris should give up his intention - today he has had an interview with the Duke, and feels aggrieved. Are both these buildings to go forward, or will the Duke give way to Norris? The Duke granted an interview to an old man [John Dewsbury of Newport Pagnell] who presented the enclosed letter (sheet 3). Writer has since tried to make him and the old woman his client [Ann Elliott of Woburn Sands] understand that if the Duke's predecessors got any property at Husborne Crawley from her family 82 years ago, the title must have been thoroughly investigated at the time and it could only have been conveyed by the person legally entitled to do so. Quite out of the question to ask the Duke to speak to the Lord Chancellor. Appears their claims are visionary dreams without evidence. The poor woman has probably been made a dupe by someone and believes she is entitled to £35,000.

7 September 1846

From: 1846 To: 1846

item

Haedy, Christopher,
Bennett, Thomas,
Hacker,
Higgins,
Norris,
Dewsbury, John,
Elliott, Ann

BEDFORD, RIDGMONT, Newport Pagnell, WOBURN SANDS, public houses, 1st built railways, railways stations, 1st built, title deeds