Its owners and some historical connections - Lackham Countryside ...

The Manor of Alderton 3 rd edition
continued parsimony he amassed this enormous wealth. He never spent anything
and lived wretchedly.” 380
It is said that he made his fortune by buying jewellery from those fleeing the
French Revolution who sold their jewels in London “often at prices favourable to
the purchaser” 381
When he died at the advanced age of eighty 382 Rundell was worth between
£1.4m and £1.5m – an incredible amount in the early nineteenth century 383 .
He made Joseph Neeld his residuary legatee, ie Joseph got everything left
after the other bequests were honoured, in a will Rundell made sixteen days
before his death; Joseph Neeld became a very wealthy man indeed. It is
generally believed that he got around £900,000 but it has been suggested that
the actual amount was £600.000 384
Joseph Neeld owned property at Norton St Philip, between Frome and Bath in
Somerset, presumably part of his inheritance from Philip Rundell. It was here
that he first employed the architect who was to work with him on his estates
for the next thirty years, Thomson.
Another association from this time that was to last for many years was with JE
Jackson who was the Vicar at Farleigh Hungerford. The two got on so well that
Joseph offered the good Cannon the post of Vicar at Leigh Delamere, where he
remained for the rest of his life, and was closely involved with the Neeld
family, hence much of his information was gained at first hand.
380 Badeni J (1966) Wiltshire Forefathers
381 Badeni J (1966) ibid
382 on the morning of Saturday February 17 th , 1827
383 Between £68m and £74m at 2005 values (using the Currency Converter provided by
the National Archives at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency/results.asp#mid
384 Given in the account of Joseph Neeld by Stephen Farell in The History of
Parliament 1840-1832 online edition at
http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/neeld-joseph-
1789-1856,
Amounts equate to £44,541,000 and £29,694,000 in 2005 values as above
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