The Honeywood Files Read Online Free Page A

The Honeywood Files
Book: The Honeywood Files Read Online Free
Author: H.B. Creswell
Tags: Fiction/Architecture
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proceed with the contract and inform me immediately when the operations will commence and how long a period they will take to complete.
    Yours sincerely,
    SPINLOVE TO BRASH
    Dear Sir Leslie Brash,17.3.24.
    Thank you for your letter. I will get on with the contract drawings at once.
    In reply to your question, all well, the building will start in about four months’ time, and take about two years to complete.
    I enclose list of seven builders I propose to invite to tender. Five, as you will see, are of London; the other two are provincial firms operating in the district. All are of good standing and known to me. If there is anyone else you would like included will you please let me know.
    In order to save the cost of the builder finding his own water, I propose to have the well sunk at once. As we know we shall get plenty of water at about 130 ft. it will not be actually necessary to employ a consulting engineer, but l propose nevertheless to do so both on the ground of economy and efficiency. I suggest the name of Mr. P. F. Toodlewipe, a.m.i.c.e., who is known to me.
    Yours sincerely,
    BRASH TO SPINLOVE
    Dear Mr. Spinlove,22.3.24.
    I was dumbfounded at your communication intimating an anticipated delay of four months. I am at a loss to comprehend why this should occur. Surely now that everything is settled arrangements can be agreed with a suitable builder? Also the length of time the work will take. Two years! We are completing arrangements to take up residence next summer. Surely the operations will be terminated in fifteen months from now! Can nothing be done to expedite progress?
    Certainly do as you propose as regards the well.
    There is a builder at Marlford—Nibnose & Rasper—whom you might append to your list, and also a most respectable man, Mr. John Reaker, at Thaddington, who did work for a considerable period on Lord Imagwire’s estate, whom I desire should tender. I fancy his son carries on the business now in partnership with a person named Mr. Smith.
    Yours sincerely,
    SPINLOVE TO BRASH
    Dear Sir Leslie Brash,24.3.24.
    I am afraid that four months from now is as soon as you can expect to see the builder at work. It will take me seven or eight weeks to work out the design in detail and prepare the necessary drawings and contract documents. The preparation of bills of quantities to enable builders to tender will probably take four weeks, the builder ought to have at least ten days in which to arrive at the figure of his tender, and a fortnight would be a short time in which to settle and sign the contract and for the builder to get his plant on to the site. It is true that the house might be built even in one year only, if a special point were made of it; but it would invite disaster to scramble through work of this kind, and it is doubtful if a really good builder would enter on such an undertaking. I will do all I can to expedite matters.
    Thank you for names of builders. I will inquire about these firms.
    Yours sincerely,
     

CATASTROPHE OF THE TRIAL HOLES
    SPINLOVE TO MESSRS . REAKER & SMITH ,
BUILDERS , THADDINGTON , KENT
    Dear Sirs,28.3.24.
    I understand that you have done work for many years on Lord Imagwire’s estate. I want some trial holes dug in the meadow south of Honeywood Spinney on the top of Honeywood Hill. The enclosed plan shows the ground and the position of the holes, which should be 8 ft. deep. If you can undertake this work I will ask you to put it in hand at once and give me notice so that I may go down and see the ground.
    If you are accustomed to building large private houses will you tell me of some you have built and give me the names of two or three architects under whose direction you have worked?
    Yours faithfully,
     
    Spinlove seems to have forgotten that he is an agent of Sir Leslie Brash. In ordering this work without making clear that he acts as agent, he assumes responsibility and could, in fact, be made to pay for it.
    The following letter seems to have found its way
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