Journal entry – John Grey – 15 Jan 1834

Wednesday 15th January 



Received the Tender for Farms from Greenwich - made a list of those for each farm, writing letters & instituting other means of inquiry into the Character & circumstances of those who stand foremost on the lists, with whom I am not acquainted, that I may as speedily as possible communicate my opinion to the Board.  I went by appointment to meet Mr Grace, Mr Bainbridge’s Agent, at Newton to fix upon the new line of boundary fence between his property & the Farm of Thornborough High Barns, which is at present quite useless and in a situation on the edge of a Brook where it is impossible that it should ever be made to stand.  We agreed without difficulty upon the proper line, choosing firm & level Ground on one side , & then crossing over to obtain the lime upon the other, leaving quantities of land to each, & access to the stream for all the fields.   Mr Hunt met me on the spot as he returns from looking after some draining etc on Newtonhall, & received directions as to the manner of raising the fence & planting the hedge, that he may let it to Workmen.  We then returned through the three farms of Thornbrough seeing each of the Tenants & looking into the state of their fences, tillage etc.  Such visits even if there be no definite object in view, are useful in keeping tenants on the alert to have things in good order.  On reaching Corbridge finding that we still had time before dark, I took Mr Hunt to some parts of the Dilston Farms to see the manner in which I had directed the hedges to be dressed & cut, that I might be certain of his understanding my Plans & orders respecting them.   He is quite as sensible of the abominable treatment which the fences have received as myself, & will do his best to assist in promoting my Plans for their restoration.