Journal entry – John Grey – 30 Aug 1834

Saturday 30th August



Directed the Bankers to remit £2000 to the Cof the Commissioners with the Bank of England on the 10th of next Month, & informed Mr Paine of my having done so.   Wrote to Matthew Bell Esq.  M P informing him that as the transfer of the Manor of Wark to the Duke, would not take place until the 22nd November ensuing, the Rent for the Right of Shooting on Hareshaw Common would be due to the Hospital up to that period.  The Rent for last Season is still unpaid.  I took occasion today to go over the whole of the Dilston Farms, particularly with a view to their present condition and the best arrangement of their Boundaries.  The Corn being now all cut, the exact state of the Land is apparent, & I must say that anything so foul and discreditable, upon Land of good quality, I never before witnessed.   I find Mr Benson though desirous of quitting the Haugh Farm is anxious to retain the Park Farm, & I am of opinion that it may be advisable to allow him to do so, for the following reasons Viz, that the condition of the Haugh Farm is very bad, & more likely to grow worse than better, if he should be compelled to keep it against his will. That the Park Farm consists of 300 Acres, a size sufficient for the Capital of the generality of Tenants in this part of the Country, that its form is square & cannot be improved by any change of boundary, & that though, when in the same occupation as the Haugh Farm, the Tenant has had the advantage of Threshing a large portion of the Corn by his Water Machine yet the Horse Machine is a good one, whereas that at the new Town South Farm is a bad one, & might be laid aside by the following arrangement of the Farms, The Park farm of 300 Acres to remain in the occupation of Mr Benson, the Commissioners having the option of releasing him at a future time or not as they may see fit, I would then lay about 100 Acres of the North Farm to the Haugh, which would make a beautiful laying farm, bounded by the West & North  by the Tyne, & on the South of the Turnpike Road from Hexham to Corbridge, giving easy access to all the Fields, with a good set of offices centrally situated, and an abundant supply of Water for Thrashing. This would make the Haugh Farm about 390 Acres.  I would then lay the remainder of the North Farm & the South Farm together, the supply of Water and the excellent new Machine at the North Farm being fully adequate to both & the situation centrical, except that I think it likely that a high rent might be obtained for one Field or perhaps two, belonging to the North Farm, but at a distance from the homestead & most suitable in point of Soil, & convenient as to situation for Garden Ground, much resembling the Land near Biggleswade & part of the Vale of Evesham.  There is already a good deal of Garden Ground near Corbridge, the produce of which is sent to Newcastle, but this would have the advantage of being close by the Rail Way, both for obtaining Manure & sending off the Produce, whereas the others are on the opposite side of the River.   And if it could be let to persons living in Corbridge, without the expense of erecting houses it would be an advantage.  It would be advisable to ascertain what could be had for those Fields for this purpose, before deciding upon the propriety of severing them from the Farm.  In this way the South Farm & the part that would be left if the North Farm, would consist of something more than 400 Acres - a part of it very good land & a part on Snokoe Hill very poor, which would go better together than separate. There are some spots consisting of old Quarries & broken ground which are of no use to the Farm, though included in the measurement of 6 or 7 Acres, which ought to be reserved & planted.  There would be then left 140 to 150 Acres of poor land, much of it in Heath & stinted Wood, which formed the extreme part of the Hall Farm before it was let into the same Hands as the Hall Farm. They would be occupied with equal convenience by any one of the Dilston Tenants, & I should recommend that offers should be taken for it separately, as might suit the Capital and inclination of the parties without prescribing what particular Farm it should be connected with.  It ought to be used as a rough Pasture for young stock with but little Tillage, which could be easily managed by any Tenant occupying one of the neighbouring tillage Farms.  After much consideration I consider this the best arrangement for the Dilston Lands, & preferable even to that which I formerly thought of, by keeping the Park & Haugh Farms united, especially as it continues the Park Farm at a higher rent than I could anticipate for it in future.  The other Farms would have abundant Water for Threshing, dispensing with the old Horse Machine at the South Farm & they would be of sufficient size & quality to deserve the attention of Tenants of skill & capital. The only thing in the way of building which would be wanted, would be a Cottage or two at the Haugh Farm which could be had at very little expense by fitting up the old Public House & Stable for the purpose. [Marginal pencil annotation: ‘In all the foregoing remarks the Commissioners must be guided by the Receiver, who does not seem as yet to have made up his mind as to the whole of the arrangement of these farms. <BHL>