Journal entry – John Grey – 13 Mar 1834

Thursday 13th March



Rode through the Farms of Highside, Bagraw and Longhope & then to Woodhall to examine some new Fences just made there.  Proceeded then to the Farm of Lees now let upon a fresh Lease, where we are making a boundary Wall at the extremity of the Hospitals Property in that direction. Having seen the Wall & another fence that is in progress & conferred with Mr Watson about some draining & the site of the new Farm house, I returned to Haydon Bridge to meet by appointment, the Moor Master & some Parties who, stimulated by the advance in the price of Lead, had made applications for the Trial of some Veins that are known to run through a part of Grindon Allotments in the Langley Barony.  There being some doubt as to their priority of claim as well as to the particular veins to which their application referred, I thought it best to have a meeting of the whole, that after a full investigation we might come to a proper understanding & avoid future disputes. The result was, that leave was given to make three separate trials of Settling Stones Vein and branches, which exist on the Hill about three Miles to the North of Haydon Bridge & adjoining the Dukes Boundary   This matter settled, I set out on foot to go through some Woodlands at Esphill, which though I had often seen, I had never traversed.  The Wood is in a thriving condition & coming fast forward to be useful in the low part, but falls off very much as it approaches Langley Mills partly owing to the poorer quality of the Soil & partly to the injury it receives from the Smoke of the Mills, which is destructive of both animal & vegetable life.  I returned across the farms of Langley Castle, Lightbirks & Land Ends, reaching the Anchor Inn after dark, which is a most comfortable place & getting into good repute. I found however that the Storms of the Winter had driven through the Western Wall & made the paper in the best Rooms very damp. I have since directed Benson to have it examined. The Walls being of dressed Free Stone, the application of Roman Cement to the joints may probably cure the evil.  Mrs Routledge having declined to participate the field annexed to her house with any one, I agreed with a Surgeon in Haydon Bridge, called Barwick, for the part designed for her at 3 Guineas Per Acre, or £4.14.6 Per Annum.  Having had no offer for Mrs Routledges house except one from a Saddler at £13.13 rather than allow the snug parlour to be converted into a Shop & pulled to pieces, I agreed to take her offer of £13, for the House & half the Garden.  The Chimnies & Spouts of both houses, require repair. I have taken written acceptances of the Premises from the several parties making in all, Mr Hutchinson £21, Mrs Routledge £13, Mr Barwick £4.14.6 = £38.14.6.  The present Rent being £35.  I have also Mr Reeds Acceptance of two of the fields now occupied by him at £15.0.0 and Mr Coats for the other two at £9.0.0 being £24 the same as now paid by Mr Reed for the Fields Wood yard & Work shop in Haydon Bridge, leaving us the latter for a depot of Wood & Slates - and as it will be necessary that some one should have the charge of it, I have directed that the end of the Work Shop be fitted up for a dwelling House for the Woodman of that district, which can be done at little Cost, & will save the rent of his Cottage.