Journal Entry – John Grey – 18 Feb 1835

Weds 18th February. Heard from Mr Crawhall that he intended calling on me tomorrow to have some conversation about Eadsbush, in consequence of which I determined to ride over to Hexhamshire to examine the allotments attached to it at present and endeavour to ascertain what rent could be obtained for them separately as he does not wish to rent or purchase them. I called at Rawgreen and Turfhouse, took the tenants with me & walked over all the allotments. These are the two farms to which that description of Moor Land would be the most useful & to which also it is the nearest. The interior fences consisting of stone walls, like too many on these Estates, are entirely in ruins & to rebuild them, would be to imitate the folly that first projected the division of such miserable land into Fields of fifteen acres as if it would have growbn wheat and Turnips. These tenants will take the pasture jointly, only requiring the Boundary Fence to be repaired where necessary, & it does not want much, having been better built at first & of necessity rebuilt by the occupiers when it fell. But they only offer £17 for the whole 147 acres or little more than 2s3 ½ d per acre. It is chiefly covered with poor heath & where it is not the grass is the coarsest possible. Having engaged Benson to follow me into that district we examined such buildings as want repair. At Slamon Field a regular square of new farm Offices had been set out, but only in part completed. We found that by a little pointing & thatching the old Houses might be made to last for a few years still, & these times offer no encouragement for spending money, merely that the buildings may be square and compact. At Rowleyhead the same thing occurs, but matters are worse, for the old part is so thoroughly bad that there is a doubt of some of it standing over another year. It must however I suppose take its chance as the tenant does not wish to have any trouble with building unless he gets a lease, and that I would not recommend at present, as it is almost certain that by next year Gairshield will be at liberty to be annexed to Rowleyhead, which would make a better farm and save some building. The rent we fixed on Rowleyhead for the ensuing year is £110 if approved by the Board.