STANMORE

2pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. The recipient is addressed as 'Chère Madame' and is not otherwise identified, although the conclusion connects her with 'Monsieur Hollard', i.e. he maried Marie Hollard. He writes that he will be in London in six days, and that he will only have 'douze ou quinze jours à passer en Angleterre', and that he wishes to spend his time 'de la manière le plus profitable au succès de mon oeuvre. Il s'agit de collecter pour ma nouvelle église'.

As Chorley is described in his entry in the Oxford DNB as a 'conservationist' with a 'deep attachment to and lifelong concern for the English countryside', it is a surprise that no mention is made of the matter to which this collection relates, which created some public interest at the time and involved a landmark legal action. The first item in this collection - a copy of typed letter from Chorley to the Clerk to the Hendon Rural District Council on 24 October 1932 - sets the scene neatly.