The owners of Lackham in the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries ...

The Manor of Lackham IV : 19 th & 20 th century owners
Michael Palmer didn’t retain title to the property for long; early in 1890 he
transferred the entire estate to George Llewellyn accompanied by a touching
letter, which indicated Michael’s poor state of health 232 .
Michael Palmer died between 1890 and 1901. Mary Palmer continued to live at
Berryfield until her death in 1901 233
George was the only son and he was educated at Harrow.
In his twenties George Llewellyn Palmer worked in the family business and he
married Louie Madeline Gouldsmith in 1881. She was the daughter of William
Gouldsmith, “woollen manufacturer” 234 and his wife Hannah. Louie Madeline was
19 when she married George 235 .
232 W&SHC 816/47 bundle 2 Letter from Michael Palmer to George, dated February
17, 1890, Berryfield, Bradford on Avon:
My Dear George,
I send you all of the papers in my possession relative to the Heywood estate, which has
cost me upwards of £27,300 and which reduces my income for my life about £1200 per
year.
The cost includes cheques and Foley’s fees for purchasing the property, the deeds are
in my home box in the bank.
I hope that you may live to enjoy this estate and that it will be advantageous to your
family after you.
I fear my time is fast drawing to a close in this world, my strength is fading very fast
and I have nothing to look forward to increase my domestic happiness as I get older.
It is a great (trial?) your mother being so very deaf both to her and me also.
I remain hereafter your affectionate father
233 Wiltshire Times Saturday December 14th 1901, Vol XLVIII no 2344, p1 “Deaths:
At Berryfield, Bradford on Avon, Mary Ann, widow of Michael Palmer, 81”
234 1871 Census for Hilperton Road, Trowbridge, where the family home, Rodwell Hall,
was located. The census also mentions that he had “about 300 ” workers and also
owned 30 acres of land.
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