Journal entry – John Grey – 21 Jul 1834

Monday 21st July 1834



Received the Boards Minutes of 20th July & attended to all the matters contained in them making the necessary communications to the Parties referred to. Received also Mr Snowball’s Letter to the Board applying to be released from the present Agreement for the farm of Fourstones & to be allowed to treat for the same by valuation. Mr Snowball is a Man of Property, but by no means a superior farmer, his Son who occupied Fourstones Farm died, & his Widow continues to live in the House while the old man manages the Farm. He can have no particular claim for a reduction upon this years rent, more than other Tenants.  One of the Railway Agents called upon me in answer to repeated applications I had made to them respecting the interference of the Railway with the Buildings at Allerwash Mill, as in the meantime I am quite at an uncertainty what to do about repairing them.  He stated to me the wish of the Company to know what value would be put upon the Buildings in case of their being taken down, as the best Line would be over their present Site,  but might be deviated from, if they found it too expensive to follow it.  I shall have an estimate of the Buildings made to submit to the Board, that besides that, they must satisfy the Tenant of the Farm & Mill, during his current Lease. Mr Pearson, the Surveyor of the Gateshead Road also waited upon me, in consequence of my having reminded him that having got the public road made, he seemed in no haste to finish the branch road for our accommodation.  He promises to get on with it forthwith. In the afternoon, rode to Hartburngrainge where I had heard from one of the Tenants of the failure of a Pump which was very essential to the Farm Offices, being the only Water within a considerable distance. This I directed to have taken out by a person experienced in such matters, & repaired if found capable of it, but if not, that it should be reported of to me.  Then I proceeded to Rothbury to sleep, being 30 miles on the way to Milfield Hill.