Journal entry – John Grey – 1 Jan 1834

Wednesday 1st January 1834



This being the Quarter day, I inclosed cheques to the several Parties for their Pensions or Salaries.  Received various Proposals for planting the ground in Dipton Wood.  I think it better to let the making of the pits only, by the thousand, & to have the planting done by our own Woodmen under the immediate direction of Mr Parkin, both that it may be more carefully done, & that greater attention may be paid to the selection of the kinds of trees best suited to the variations of Soil and situation.  The competition for work is such, that I fear some of the proposals are too low to afford the men adequate Wages.  The small quarry at Whittle Mil, being found very inadequate to supply the large Stones which are wanted to place the rails upon along the Rail-way, & the parties being very urgent to be allowed to try for them elsewhere, having thought of Whittle Dean, as likely to answer their purpose, I went there again today, where Benson was engaged in measuring the new building, & explored all the Wood & Dean for the purpose.  The Rock is abundant & from its situation can never be of use to that property.  It would therefore be well to turn it to account for the Hospital, as well as to advance a public work, but being in the bottom of a deep glen, the expense & difficulty of getting the Stones conveyed away, will I fear be an insuperable objection, as I could only agree to it on condition of the road which was through the wood for carting out the timber, being first laid with stones, to prevent trespass.  There is a piece of rock in the Glen close to the Bridge on the Newcastle turnpike, which I suggested to them to try.  Should it be found to answer, the blocks might be raised by a Crane into the Turnpike & taken away without injury to any thing, but I have doubts of its quality.  I have heard of a Stone in Newtonhall Estate very near the Newcastle Turnpike, which I intend to examine.  If it will work of sufficient size, I have no doubt that they will pay a good consideration for it.