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Dated November 23, 1931, the letter is written on the attractive illustrated letterhead of William Mellor & Son, The Nurseries, Broad Street, Leek, described as “High Class Florists, Seedsmen & Market Gardeners.”
The letter is addressed to:
Capt. H. P. O. Sleigh
Sutherland Road
Longsdon
The writer, William Mellor & Son, requests a reduction in the rent of garden land near Daintry Street, explaining that approximately 4½ acres of grazing and mowing fields had been taken from them, requiring the firm to purchase hay and pay for grazing while continuing to pay approximately the same rent.
Historical / Military Interest
Period British military records and contemporary newspaper reports identify H. P. O. Sleigh as an officer of the Border Regiment during World War I.
Contemporary newspaper research shows that:
• In November 1914, Lieutenant H. P. O. Sleigh of the Border Regiment was reported among British prisoners of war, after previously being reported wounded and missing.
• A particularly interesting November 10, 1915 issue of The Tatler contains a photograph of interned British officers with Russian prisoners. Its caption identifies Captain H. P. O. Sleigh of the 3rd Border Regiment and states that he was being held at Crefeld (Krefeld), Germany.
The present letter, written approximately seventeen years later, is explicitly addressed to “Capt. H. P. O. Sleigh,” providing an interesting postwar document associated with this identified British WWI officer and former POW.
The document also offers excellent period content relating to British horticulture, market gardening, agricultural rents and land use during the early 1930s.
Condition: Original vintage document with expected age and handling wear. Fold lines, scattered foxing/toning, edge wear and a hole/damage near the upper corner are visible. Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.
You will receive the original 1931 William Mellor & Son letter shown in the listing photographs.
Any newspaper clippings, military records, research images or other reference material shown in the listing are provided for historical context only and are NOT included with the original documen
