| Description | 1. 30 Jun and 2 Jul from the Photogram referring to a book produced by the company which had had only limited success; they did not want to attribute too much to William Henry Fox Talbot for fear of criticism. Includes a copy letter from Charles of 4 Jul to say the picture (of a breakfast table scene) is by Fox Talbot and cannot be disputed: Charles still has many of the objects represented in his possession. Says it is of interest that the illustration has been produced from a photogram recently printed from the original paper Calotype negative which is in a perfect state of preservation.
2. 3 Jul from Mallett & Son about an inspection of a piece of furniture: the centre of the walnut fall-down bureau shall be opened in the presence of Mr Mallett or Mr Highland.
3. 4 Jul from Mallett & Son about a silver vase which they will take a look at.
4. 4 Jul from the Photogram saying that they are very sorry that the notes on the breakfast table picture were not sufficiently emphasised and that as Charles would be the best judge in matters such as this then they are going insert a note in their next issue which will remove all shadow of doubt from the matter.
5. 25 Jun from J Austin about Charles Clothier, who has been working at George Self's Mill Farm for over twelve months and is leaving his situation on Saturday next; will also have to give up his possession of the house he currently rents. Mr Clothier has made application to rent the cottage near the schoolroom lately occupied by George Face. Does not owe any rent for where he now lives and was at his last place for seven years and did not owe any rent. Says Mr Clothier appears to be a very steady man and he has never heard anything against his character.
6. 1 May from D Awdry about tenants requesting repairs; thanks Charles for his letter with the appointment of Alfred Chivers; Jane Hunt, the widow of Jonas Hunt, has asked to be tenant in her late husband's place. Mrs Wheeler has requested that the stone floor of the passage in her house may be repaired with cement so that the surface is even. John Snozzle has complained that a ceiling is falling down. James Taylor has complained that his pump needs repairing. G Baker's kitchen range has worn out. John Hall in Wick Lane has asked for new windows. Eli Latham has asked if the front of his house could be repainted and some other repairs carried out. G C Hunt has asked if he could have some gravel for his backyard from the pit in Mr Fry's field.
7. 7 May from D Awdry about some information he had forgotten to give about a Mr Milsom, who had paid what he owed and had come to the audit and paid £100 on account of his rent due last Lady day. He has asked if his rent could be reduced otherwise he will be forced to leave his farm. Talks of the acreage of the farm and the costs.
8. 6 Jul from the Board of Education, Whitehall, London about Lacock School and grant money to be sent £181.4.0 sent to the bankerss.
9. 4 Jul from Clyffe Vicarage about a lack of interest by photographers taking up offers of various prints from William Henry Fox Talbot's copper plates.
10. 15 Jun from Charles Wiltshire about the sale of a cabinet.
11. 13 Jun from Mallett & Son about work to be done to the gilt table; talks about the cabinet from Mr Wiltshire and the possibility of him purchasing it.
12. 15 Jun from Mallett & Son to confirm he will come to Lacock to see the cabinet.
13. 25 Jun from D Awdry about damage done to Charles' walls; he has seen Banks but cannot say who damaged the wall he had rebuilt. Suggests putting up a notice offering a reward for information leading to conviction of anyone damaging Charles' property. He has let the field rented by Mrs Tanner to Latham after Mrs Tanner's tenancy ends.
14. 6 Jun from Emily Talbot at Penrice Castle apologising for not replying to his letter; she has been travelling. Confirms she is happy to contribute to the chancel proposed in memory of William Henry Fox Talbot. Asks if Charles could tell Rosamond Talbot that she is coming to London soon.
15. 6 Jun from H Snowden Ward form the Photogram sending five copies of the June edition.
16. 5 Jun from D Awdry: he has been at Salisbury attending the assizes as under sheriff. Sent Mr Ferris the particulars of Wick Farm but he has not heard whether he has been to make his valuation.
17. 23 May from H Snowden Ward concerning particulars of Bower Hill Farm: he thinks it is impossible for them to "entertain any place so far away from London". Discusses the memorial fund and his concerns that few photographers seem interested; he hopes to rouse some interest.
18. 29 Jun from G Ferris: Charles had written to him with regard to Mr Milsom and he says he hopes he has a happy tenant. Talks of his hopes that when the war is over there will be useful men on the farms again.
19. Note of rents by Charles Henry Talbot, including that of George Taylor, Joseph Chamberlain and James Lovelock.
20. Note of a general, lighting and burial rates for November 1899, amounts on agricultural land, and other figures and dates.
21. 22 May from H Snowden Ward of the Photogram enclosing cuttings and some books.
22. 27 Mar from D Awdry thanking him for his letter about Joseph Selman's tenancy; he has written to him and has also given notice to Henry Austin.
23. 16 May from D Awdry confirming he has paid £400 on account of the rents.
24. 17 May from D Awdry saying he knows G Ferris well and also that Mr Milsom has a good opinion of him. Writes of the letting of a field that two people are interested in; it would be useful to get the land valued to make sure they charge the correct amounts for rent.
25. 25 Apr from D Awdry about Miss Knee's tenancy. Confirms he has paid £100 on account of the rents and the rest will be paid after the audit.
26. Note of the money owed to John Crook.
27. 14 May from George Brown of the Photogram to say they are glad the memorial fund is progressing.
28. 30 Apr 1899 List of income and expenses and contributors to Lacock National School.
29. 4 Apr from William Gilchrist Clark-Maxwell to say he is having copies of deeds made at the record office but some are not of much interest. He did find one of interest containing the decision of Sir Richard Beauchamp - there was a question whether the Crokers owed suit of service to the Court of the Manor of Lackham for the lands which they held in "Cheeleswyke in the parish of Lacock", and deciding that they did owe suit at the time of 1482 - it did rank as an independent manor. Comments that he does not know enough about manorial custom to make a judgment. He has called a halt to copying any more as the cost is mounting up. Talks about Mr Brakspear's paper on the abbey church which is to be published.
30. 10 May from William Gilchrist Clark-Maxwell about the Fox Talbot memorial; he is delighted that progress has been made. Thanks Charles for his congratulations on the birth of a son after having had four girls. He has received a letter from Canon Greenwell of Durham about a flint implement found in his parish. He has written to the Canon about the raising of money as he has got confused between the chancel scheme and the Malmesbury Abbey restoration.
31. 11 May from D Awdry to confirm that Sir Gabriel Goldney has paid tithes from 1 Oct but he has not received tithes due from 1 April. He will apply for the farm rent due for Stroud Farm.
32. 18 Apr from George Brown of the Photogram to say that as Charles does not think such decoration as they had in mind would be suitable or desirable, they will abandon the idea.
33. 7 May from George Brown of the Photogram commenting on Sir John Herschel and William Henry Fox Talbot knowing each other in 1829. Writes: "We can only suppose that Herschel was so absorbed in his astronomical work that he was unaware of what your father was doing in photography and until privately informed of what was going on in France the problem of the fixation of the photographic image did not attract his attention". |