Journal entry – John Grey – 29 Jul 1834

Tuesday 29th



Examined into matters at Scremerston Colliery where I regret to find very little demand for Coals.  The several Land sale Collieries in the neighbourhood having reduced their price very low, & being generally more favourably situated than this for Carting Coals to the North & West, & the attempt to make Scremerston almost exclusively a Sea Sale Colliery having in the present depressed state of the Trade & abundant supply, proved unsuccessful.  I have great fears that the laying of that expensive rail way, unless the vend of Coal should be increased to such a degree as I see no reason to anticipate will turn out to be a dead weight upon the Colliery.  The crops in the neighbourhood, & especially Mr Thomsons are very good, & the Wheats, unlike those we have at Dilston, so heavy as to be laid flat by the late rains, so much so, that unless Sunshine & dry weather should now succeed, there is a danger of the Grain being injured.  I returned that night to my family at Milfield Hill.