Item 203 - Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Elizabeth Trevelyan

1 item

The White Gates, Dorking. - This letter is 'dictated for legibility's sake!'. Has offered Leith Hill Place to the National Trust; thinks they will take it, but they 'must let the house and the immediate surroundings' for an income to keep up the estate. Therefore to him and the Trevelyans 'as neighbours' to find a tenant who is both 'desirable and rich'. Would prefer an individual to 'some form of community' since they would probably be 'more human in their relations with the cottagers and workmen'; wants to 'keep up the great tradition in that respect' of his grandfather, mother, and [brother] Hervey. The house will be let partly furnished; he will take 'the valuable pictures china and furniture', but a good amount of '"utility" stuff' will remain. A few desirable tenants have 'already nibbled', but nobody has yet taken it.

British Library, MS Mus. 1714/1/15, ff.187-188

Transcription available on-line on the Letters of Ralph Vaughan Williams website, copyright the Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust.
Reference number VWL1923: http://vaughanwilliams.uk/letter/vwl1923

Annotation: 'Please return. ET' in Elizabeth Trevelyan's hand.