Journal entry – John Grey – 17 Mar 1834

Monday 17th March 1834



Two men called David Gibson & John Nattrass applied to me some months ago, for leave to work blocking Stones for the Rail Way from a quarry at the village of Fourstones, offering 1d Per Block, which is the price they pay as Rent to Sir Edward Blackett & other proprietors on the line.  Thinking that we ought to have a better price here, on account of the proximity to the Rail Way, & consequent saving in carriage, I declined giving them an answer until I had considered the matter & ascertained that more could be had from other Contractors, engaging however, that they should have the first offer.  I therefore appointed a meeting with them this morning & stood out for 3d Per Block, & 1/5th of the value of any other Stone that they may be able to dispose of for Quay Walls, culverts or any other purpose, which they consented to.  This is the highest price that has been paid on the Railway, but the Quarry is conveniently situated, & being near to the public road will occasion little trespass to the property & little expense to the Lessees for damage.  And will pay a considerable rent when it comes into operation, which may not be for a year to come. 



I went today over the farms in the Estate of Thornbro’ to examine the new boundary fence that is just finished, the state of the Lime Kiln & other matters, & particularly to see Rowells of the Highbarns, who have done nothing as yet to reduce their Arrears.  As the price of Corn had this season been ruinously low & they had Granary room, I did not press to sell, and purposely abstained from doing any thing till they sh’d have ploughed the Land & sown the Seed. That will now soon be completed, & my object today was to get them to try among their connections, to obtain security to some extent to the Commissioners, otherwise I should be forced upon the alternative of attaching their effects, which I should be most reluctant to do, owing to their age & infirmity of the old people & the hardship of their case, having been literally robbed by an Agent of the Hospital. The young man promised to come to the Office in the morning & get an Account of Rent and Arrears against them, up to May Day next , that he might consult his parents as to their prospects & capability.