Journal entry – John Grey – 22 Oct 1834

Wednesday 22nd



       Rode first to Glororum, to examine the Ground & decide upon the necessity of making two new hedges, for the purpose of laying the Land more equally & more conveniently, for being managed in the five course rotation instead of the four, which has been too long pursued.  Having fixed this part and directed my Son to send some workmen to examine the Ground & give him in estimates of the Work, to be transmitted to me, which he has also undertaken to do respecting the piece of new road at the Scremerston Quarry, according to the directions I gave him, I proceeded through Spindleston, looking over that Farm & examining the Lime Kiln which has been lately repaired & new lined with Brick, at the expense of £18.17.6 & of which I heard that it did not work well.  I cannot however think that the fault can be in the improvement but rather in the original construction, & also in the peculiar situation which is ill chosen, being immediately under a high rock, which obstructs the Draft of the Kiln, when the wind blows over it.  When the wind is from the West or South, it does very well.

       Mrs Thomson has expended nine pds in the repair & lining a Kiln upon Glororum, for the use of the Farm, which she begged to have allowed, upon condition of her maintaining it during her future occupation of the Farm. I told her that I had no authority to do so, but would refer it to the Board, thinking it likely that they might do so, upon her giving an undertaking to keep & deliver up the Kiln in good order. [marginal pencil note: ‘agreed’] Went then to Spindleston and Waren Mills, to examine their condition & the manner in which the Work was executed, for which the large alteration had been made on the previous day.  These are the only concerns of the kind on the Hospitals Estates, which can be said to be managed in a full satisfactory manner.   But as the old Tenant of Spindleston Farm is nearly worn out, I should much recommend at a new letting to Tenants of such Capital & activity as the Nairns, to take the Farm of Spindleston along with the Mills.  It is not too large, is close by, & would be convenient in many respects, especially for the keep of Horses.  I then went to Chesterhill to assist Mr Borthwick In contriving the best manner of laying out his future rotation of management, so as to leave a portion of the Turnip land in each years Fallow quarter, & to get the Farm altered from the four to the five course husbandry. This farm, as well as Outchester, sustains great damage by being carted over in wet weather, & would be much the better of some short branches of road being made through the Fields nearest to the Offices, which communicate with those beyond them.  At Outchester this cannot be done, till a new letting takes place, but at Chesterhill, seeing the necessity of it, & considering the Farm high rented, I took upon me to undertake to do the most necessary part immediately, as the Season is dry, Mr Borthwick doing all the leading at his own cost.  I pointed out the mode of doing it, & my Son, as well as Mr Borthwick is to inspect the work.  I occupied the remainder of the day in going over Outchester.