Journal entry – John Grey – 18 Dec 1833

?Wednesday 18th December 



I had sent Mr Hunt yesterday to attend a Sale of Mr Pearson’s effects at a place 20 miles westward, that he might obtain payment of the Fee Farm Rent due to the Hospital from that property, which he effected, engaging that I should meet him at Haydon Bridge this morning, where also he had to collect the rents of certain cottages due in November last.  But was detained, first by Mr Blackburn, who came to signify his acceptance of the farm of Wooley, which he had previously declined, at my valuation of £150 on condition of that farm being included in those to which the allowance of lime is to be made in Hexhamshire, which I had always intended, for though it is not actually in what is called the Shire, it is in the adjoining parish of Slaley, & in as miserable a country as any man need to farm in.  



Next came Mr Harrison from Whittonstall.   I had valued his farm at £254 from which on more particular enquiry, I found it necessary to deduct £12 more than I had allowed for Tithes, leaving £242 as rent.  He was unwilling to give more than £230, but finding me determined at length acceded to my terms both as to rent & covenants.  He is to purchase the Machine also.  Poor old Teasdale next came to ask if I did not mean to give him an offer of his farm.  This request was too ridiculous to help laughing at.  The poor man looked astonished & asked if I had not got the power to make offers of the farms by valuation.  Yes, I told him, to deserving Tenants, but that he was one of the worst in the world, as the state of his farm indicated, that I was sure he could not live upon & put it into condition, though he had it for nothing & that the Hospital would suffer sadly in the next letting by their connexion with him.  That he could not be too thankful for the lenity already shown him, & must now look out for himself.  I have now gone through all the farms which it is in my power to let (of which a list shall accompany this, showing the present & future Rents) except those of Coastley, Woodhall Mill, and Newlands Town, respecting which I shall hope for the direction of the Board.  The reduction of Rents will appear great, but it is not greater, I feel satisfied, than is commensurate with the reduction in the price of produce, nor greater than might have been anticipated even by public tender, as may be seen by reference to the letting of West Allerwash & East Deanraw, last year, one having come from £170 to £100 and the other from £403 to £260.  The covenants upon which they are now let, will have the effect of improving their condition instead of increasing their poverty & exhaustion, and of saving, besides the capital & cost of maintaining Machinery, much outlay to the Hospital, at all events I have exercised my utmost judgement & discretion, in endeavouring to act for the best, under all the circumstances, & it will be a matter of deep regret if my conduct should not meet with the approbation of the Commissioners.  The reductions that are taking place in the high rented lands of Lothian are still greater than these.  And one farm in the north part of this County has fallen from £2200 to £1500 and another from £900 to £650.  



Having dispatched matters with these tenants I proceeded to Haydon Bridge & along with Mr Hunt insisted the farms of Lightbirks & Esphill, now united, and Woodhall, both entered to last year upon Agreements for covenants, so contradictory that they cannot be acted upon.  In the former, many fields are prohibited from tillage, for no good reason, that I can see & then permission is given to have in cultivation a larger quantity than remains.  In the latter too, some incongruities exist, but I anticipate little difficulty in arranging matters with the Tenants, so as to put them on a proper footing.  The fields at Esphill have been so much cut up & altered by the Alston road, that one can make nothing of it by the Plan, which may have contributed to the confusion in the covenants & it wd be well to have a Surveyor to measure the fields as they now are & lay them down correctly.   At Woodhall the old Stone fences by the side of the road now nearly discontinued are in ruins & Mr Hunt put up a Notice at Haydon Bridge, that on Saturday he would meet workmen there to show them the manner of their being renewed, & take in their proposals.  It will be better & cheaper to replace a great part of them with quick hedges.