Journal entry – John Grey – 13 Dec 1833

Friday 13th December



Received a Letter from Mr Grace respecting a claim which he has against the Hospital on Account of a Survey which he was ordered to make of a line of Road, in no way beneficial to the property of the Hospital that I can see, but to which Mr Brandling was a Subscriber, in his capacity as stated of Receiver.  I shall forward the Letter to the Board.  Had also a long conference with Mr Wallis, who has examined all the Limestone on the Allerwash Estate, of which there is a great quantity, with a view of forming a Company to burn it & carry it down the railway to Newcastle.  He proposes not to interfere with any of the Hospitals Lime Kilns for supplying the neighbourhood, & that the Commissioners should not grant leases to any other party on the line of Rail Way.  After ascertaining at what price he could be supplied with small loads from the Hospitals Collieries of Fourstones & Brokenheugh, which would be an advantage to them, & making his calculations, he offers to pay the Hospital 6d Per Fother of 8 Bolls, which is 2d Per Fother more than the rent paid by the Lessees of Fourstones lime kilns. This appears to me to be a good offer, & should not be lost sight of, one which will turn the rocks at Allerwash & the rail way, which has been a troublesome concern to us, to good account.  Mr Wallis is anxious for an early answer that he may proceed to form his Company, & also to apply for other Quarrys, which if falling into other hands, might interfere with this. Should the Board wish for further time & information, before deciding, perhaps it might serve Mr Wallis’ present purpose, to have their promise that they would not deal with any other person for the same object, until he has declined such offer as they shall see fit to make. [Annotated: ‘Approved’] His proposal shall accompany this.  Went to meet the Surveyor of the Gateshead road, setting out the alteration at Dilston and contriving with him the best arrangement for the private roads connected with it.  Proceeded afterwards to the work at the embankments, on my return found the tenant of Allerwash for whom I had sent.  The rent they give this year for the farm is £510. My valuation of all the land of farm and Mill is £530, for the Mill in its present condition & after the loss the tenant has sustained I did not expect much.  But on getting them to promise £585 for the whole I did not think it safe to delay concluding a bargain.  I had some wish to induce a tenant from the northern part of the County to take this farm & give us the benefit of his example, but feared that I would not succeed in bringing one over at that rent, nor indeed could I have advised it, and as one of the Robsons has some property where he lives, & the other professes an anxious wish to farm to my liking & in compliance with all the covenants that I may recommend, I must try, with Mr Hunts assistance to put them and keep them in a right method, so that it may pay them; but I am afraid they will find it a high rent.