Journal entry – John Grey – 4 Aug 1834

Monday 4th August



I had frequently applied to the Railway Agents to have their determination respecting the Line at Allerwash Mill as I have hitherto abstained from making any repairs which are wanted, lest they should eventually be taken down, and as they requested to know what might be the value of the Buildings, before they could decide, I sent Mr Benson to examine & measure them, being rather desirous that if they would give a fair value for Housing & Machinery & compensate the present Tenant, they should take possession of them & run the Railway over the site, for besides the cost of keeping up old Houses, the Hospital has more Mills than afford them Interest for the outlay they require.   Bensons valuation of the Buildings is £180.8. which I communicated to the Agent of the Railway, at the same time stating that if they determined upon taking them, the proper way of ascertaining the value of both Housing & Machinery would be by valuation of persons mutually chosen.  Having dispatched my Letters & Office business, I rode into Hexhamshire, examining the Farms of Staples, Rawgreen, Turfhouse, Salmonfield & Rowleyhead, Aydonshields & Gairshield, as to the state of their fallows & the application of the Lime allowed by the Hospital, having stipulated, as a condition of that allowance, that their Land should be well worked, & prepared for the reception of the Lime in a satisfactory manner.  On two of the Farms I had some draining to inspect, also went through some of the Woodlands with the Woodman & saw the Bark that had been collected in that part, amounting probably to 12 Tons.  In a general way their fallows are in a creditable condition, but I was surprized in these times of Roads & Wheels, to find upwards of 20 Ponies still employed in carrying Lime upon their backs, to this high district from a Kiln about 8 miles distant, a proof of the expense which attends its conveyance.  I wished to have seen old Thorburn to know if he was prepared to pay any part of his Arrears, as if otherwise, I should think it necessary to take possession of the Corn growing upon Mirehouse, as his Away going Crop & sell it by Auction.  He was not at home, but his daughter undertook that he should meet me at Hexham Fair on Wednesday next.  The Crops in that cold district, not having been affected by the Drought, are better than usual.