Journal entry – John Grey – 16 Aug 1834

Saturday 16th August 1834



Having written some time ago to the Party to whom I had given permission to bore for Coal at Hartburngrainge, requiring that they should acquaint me with the result of their experiment, & whether they intended to conclude it by making an offer for working the Coal, or to relinquish it, & leave me at liberty to treat with another party, two of them came over today.  They have found Coal on the East side of the Estate which might be worked, but the Sale, they say could be very limited, as they themselves are Lessees of Coal in the Wallington Property to the West.  They have found Coal also near the Western boundary, where it would be more expensive to sink, but which in a few years could be wrought and cleared of Water, by the establishment they have at present in Sir John Trevelyans side of the boundary, who would give them permission of outstroke as it is called, by paying him a certain Rent.  They reckon upon having Coal to serve for seven years in the Wallington side, which they must Work out before beginning to the Hospitals Coal.  I asked them if they expected that the Hospital should grant them a Lease of this Coal to receive no rent for seven years to come, & be debarred from treating with any party for Coal in another part of the Estate.  They said they could not afford any Rent till they began to work the Coal.    But I observed, if it would not pay them to give something for keeping another out, I could let the Coal to another Party with whose competition they would have to contend.  In fact I had been offered £25  years another person for leave to work Coal on the East side of the Estate,  but told him that so trifling a Sum I would not recommend the Board to allow of the Land being broken into.  The party today left me with the undertaking that they should make one offer of paying dead rent as it is called, while the Coal remained unwrought, & a certain rent for each hewing man, in case of their commencing the working.  I shall be able to judge by their offer, whether it shall be worthwhile to send Mr Forster to examine the seam or not. From the thinness of the Seam & the scanty population thereabouts, I apprehend there is not much to be expected from it. 



I rode to Wooley, where the repairs of buildings are finished.  To Staples & Rawgreen where they are nearly so.  Through the Farms of Turfhouse, Aydonshields & others in that quarter, returning by Whitley Mill, where the Mill Wrights are at present employed in putting the Machinery in to proper order for the new Tenant.  It will not cost much. Some of the Wheels wanted new Cogs, and the Kiln a drying Plate. Reached home at nine o’clock.