MS British Library Add MSS 54921: 226-8

Dear Mr Macmillan
I wish to consult you on a matter that I am taking in hand.

Hursley - beside the recent association with Mr Keble has a good deal of local interest connected with it. It has the remains of an old Castle destroyed in Stephen’s time, and the customs of the manor’ are all complete

There are a few curious local anecdotes connected with the place, and there is correspondence in Cromwell’s life about his son marrying the heiress. A book was drawn up about it by Mr Marsh, the Vicar in 1808, which came to a second edition, (locally) but has long been out of print.

The whole career of Mr Keble and of Sir William Heathcote (who was a model country gentleman, and a great influence over the whole county, besides his political standing) was subsequent. There is a proposal that the book should be reissued taking in a great deal of antiquarian interest unknown to Mr Marsh and notices of the building of the present Church, as well as those of this place and Amfield [sic], with the outline sketch of these two friends.

There ought to be illustrations – portraits of these two friends[,] of Merdon Castle, the former and present houses at the park, the former Church and the present.

There would be a fair sale, for such a book is often enquired for, and I think I could make it attractive for there are considerable materials.

Now is it what you would like to undertake, or would you advise its being locally done.

One plan might be to have a superior edition with photographs reproduced, and a cheaper one, without the illustrations.¹

I should be very glad to know what you think of the matter before taking any further steps

Yours truly
C M Yonge