The Mart was in George Street, although exactly where is to be confirmed. The Second Equitable Permanent Building Society was established in January 1852 (Whitby’s Directory, 1889). The secretary in 1883 was, according to the directory was F.F Whitby of the Cornhill, although there may have been two, hence Coombs’ involvement below.
Letter 7 February 1883
SECOND EQUITABLE PERMANENT BUILDING SOCIETY
The Mart
Bridgwater 7 February 1883
Dear Sir
re: James Champion
I am in receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date. The notices we have received are
1. Notices from yourself in your favour as second mortgage
2. A notice in favour of Mr Hall as third mortgage
We should not be justified in handing over the Deeds to Mr Hall until he had proved to us that he was legally the third mortgagee, and that he wished to pay us off, but if he did this, then I am of the same opinion as your solicitor, Mr Watkins, that he could pay us off, and we should have to hand over the Deeds and your second mortgage would then have to come at the back of Mr Hall’s.
As Mr Thomas Watkins is your solicitor, you cannot do better than be advised by him in the matter and act according to his advice.
Yours faithfully
Mr Coombs
Secretary
[sent to] Mr George Masters
Pontnewynydd
Pontypool
Annual Report 27 February 1883
Letter 25 January 1887
SECOND EQUITABLE PERMANENT BUILDING SOCIETY
The Mart
Bridgwater 25 January 1887
Dear Sir
Mr James Champion
I am in receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant.
There is every wish on my part to oblige, but I cannot fall in with your proposals as to the insurance of this property.
The rules of the society provide for all properties in mortgage being insured through the society, otherwise we should never know whether a property was insured or not.
The premises are insured in £850 being the amount advanced by the society – I could not consent for this amount to be reduced, especially as there is a clause in the lease of the leasehold part in that the premises are to be insured in their full value.
I may mention that the portins in Mr Sandbrook’s office is for £950. £100 being for Mr Champion’s furniture, and the remaining £850 on the remenant – of course the £100 on the furniture can be dropped, unless, Mr Champion pays the premium on it and wishes it kept up.
It is open to you as had mortgage to pay off the society if you think proper, but so doing you or the persons included is in the property will lose the benefit of the compound interest.
Yours truly
John Coombs
Secretary
[sent to] Mr George Masters
Pontnewynydd
Near Pontypool
Letter 24 April1890
SECOND EQUITABLE PERMANENT BUILDING SOCIETY
The Mart
Bridgwater 24 April 1890
Dear Sir
I am in receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date with its enclosure, which I return – In our society we neither pay nor allow Income tac, and if we did so, we should have to extend the period for the realization of shares, so what a Borrowing Member would gain in one way, he would lose in another.
Yours truly
Mr Combes
Secretary
[sent to] Mr George Masters
Pontnewynydd
Near Pontypool