Journal entry – John Grey – 15 Feb 1834

Saturday 15th



Went over the Farms at Scremerston.  Saw that Mr Pringle had already renewed the platform around the Tower of his Threshing Machine, which was indeed indispensable & that Mr Hogarth was proceeding with filling up & restoring to land, two Acres which had been rendered waste by old Quarry heaps, for doing which, he has obtained a proposal so low as £24, which I fear, even with the help of Barrow-way rails from the Colliery, will afford the men very small wages.  The money however will be well spent, as the perpendicular sides of the Quarries endangered the lives of Cattle & being near the house & road were a great eye-sore.  The cleaning out & repairing the roof of the old Water Level from the Colliery is an awkward undertaking, so foul & also dangerous, from the decayed state of the Wood & Props formerly used in it, that Men can hardly be prevailed upon to venture into it, a few of the worst parts, the Lessee has wisely secured by a rough Arching of Stone, which is let down by some old Pits by means of a Horse Gin.  In a short time I hope a free passage will be secured for the water, and then the whole may be safely explored, but should much of it be found afterwards to be in a ruinous condition, it may be worthy of consideration whether it had not better be abandoned and the water drawn up by an Engine.  It is evident that the Steam Engines been in use when this Level was made, as they are now, such a mode would not have been resorted to.  The Market for Corn at Berwick is remarkably low, & Mr Thomson & indeed all the Tenants there, say it will be impossible for them to make up their Rents.