Journal entry – John Grey – 13 Nov 1834

?Thursday 13th November 



      Mr Ridley Hall, the Tenant of Dilston Mill & <Marray> the Millwrights came to urge the necessity of having a new Wheat Cylinder put up in the Mill, as that which is now there, though it does very well for coarse Flour, is not calculated for fine work.  I told him that so much money had been already expended upon that Mill, besides that I had undertaken to put in a new Stone lately, that I could not think of applying to the Board for any additional outlay, but that if he would incur the expense of a new Cylinder & working wheels I would engage that he should be paid for it on valuation on leaving the Mill.  This he agreed to do, unless the Comm.rs would consent to lay out the money at present, for which he is willing to allow interest, during his Term.   The cost will be something above £20.  I shall therefore be obliged by being informed which mode the Board prefers.

      Having sent Mr Hunt into the Whittonstall district to examine the accounts of Lime obtained by the Tenants, and compare them with those from the Lime Kilns, that I may be prepared to make the allowance at the Rent Receipt, I went into Hexhamshire & rode over the several Farms there, examining the state of the buildings which had undergone repair during the Summer, of those which have been newly let, & the charge of which is in future to come upon the Tenants.  At Rawgreen I marked out some Draining & the line of a new Fence which is intended to divide a piece of land, which will be useful in tillage from another plot which is not worth cultivating, & will in this way, be joined to a boggy Pasture.  Proceeded to Gairshield where I found strong ice & showers of Snow, but did not meet with Thorburn as I wished.  I left a message expressing disappointment that he has not reduced his Arrears as he promised, and that much would depend on his payment at the ensuing Rent, whether he should be allowed to remain there or not.   Reached home in the evening & received a Letter from the Moor Master, which I have much pleasure in forwarding to the Board, as it holds out an encouraging prospect of driving at length, some decided benefit from the expensive Work of Nent Force Level & at the same time explains the reason of the cost per Fathom, for drifting it, having been lately increased, which explanation I had requested him to give.  I have the honor also to forward to the Board a Letter from Mr Bainbridge, respecting a matter which came under discussion when I was at Alston, but which, for the sake of accuracy, I requested Mr Bainbridge to have the goodness to give me an account of in writing.  With his Letter, I also send the Case & Opinion which he favoured me with. Having carried the Question to the Quarter Sessions & had a decision against them, the Governor & Co. conceive that they have done all that they may be expected to do in vindication of the Hospitals right, & now leave it in the Hands of the Commissioners.  Were I to venture an opinion on the subject, it would be, that the Magistrates having decided against it, the chance would still be worse before a Jury, & that the object is not worth bestowing much expense upon.  In case the preservation of Gilderdale being abandoned by the Com.rs the small Common of Whitlaw will then be severed from the rest of the Hospitals Manor, & it will become difficult & almost impossible to preserve it alone.  It contains very little black Game Ground, & is not much worth preserving.  The only Heather being at the extremity adjoining that of Lord Wallace’s Ground, who might perhaps undertake to preserve it in Self defence, but I hardly think anyone else would.