Journal entry – John Grey – 18 Jun 1833

Tuesday 18th June 1833

	I returned to Mr Jay my own Bond for £5000 and those of my two sureties for £2500 each together with a statement of the Accounts.

      I then went to Whittle farmed by Mr Spraggen, who seems to be a very industrious man & keeps his land in good condition – having been formerly in two Farms, the Buildings are inconvenient and unconnected, and a part in a very dilapidated condition – The Tenant is by no means desirous of having more done than is absolutely necessary – Stones have been in part provided for building a Stable for four Horses and a small Fold & Shed, but which has not been gone on with – It ought to be done before Winter, as part of his Horses are very ill accommodated, as well as his young Cattle – The Thatch of an out house is in bad condition & some other trifling repairs are wanted, to put the place in such order as to require him to maintain it in future.

	I proceeded to Throckley – The South Farm, in the occupation of Mr Stephenson, consists of land of a strong body – in part rather steep & heavy to work, but in good cultivation & the Crops most promising – The most valuable part of the farm is subject to be overflowed by the Tyne. A negociation is at present going on to prevent this, by an embankment to be made by the joint contributions of the Hospital, the Duke of Northumberland. Mr Clayton & Mr Bates, Mr Bewick & Mr Blackett are both in the same predicament, but decline taking any part in the work; in which Account, if proceeded with, it will be necessary to turn the embankment across the Haugh at the West end of Mr Clayton’s property, which may have the effect of driving the Water back upon Mr Bewick’s land. Before commencing this Work, two things appear to me, ought to be especially attended to. One that the proposed embankment shall not have the effect of increasing the floods upon the adjoining property, so as to give the owner a claim for damages against the Hospital – The other, that the Parties now joining to raise the embankment and their Heirs & in all time coming be bound by Deed to contribute in the like proportions to its future maintenance.

	The House and Offices on this Farm are magnificent, having cost, it is said £3000 a good deal of which might have been saved without any detriment to the Building, by having the Walls built in the ordinary way, & only the coins, windows and doors of dressed Stones, whereas the whole of the Walling both here and at the north Farm is of hewn work – The Thrashing Machines upon this property all belong to the Hospital & are all drawn by Horses. Upon a farm growing so much Corn and so near to Coal, there would have been a great saving to the Tenant in working by Steam.

	I found the North Farm occupied by Messrs Bones in better order than previous report had led me to believe. They seem to be making considerable exertions – The Buildings are in good repair – those connected with the Trashing Machine, quite ne & extravagant in dimensions & execution – The boarded floors of the Barns both here and at the South Farm, tho’ comparatively new, are fast decaying, from being laid so low in the ground, without any Drain to keep them dry, or any means of preventing the wet from flowing in at the Doors in heavy rains.

	This Township is heavily burthened with poor, in consequence of the Collieries that had been worked formerly in it. The situation in which Bones is now boring for Coal in the Duke’s property, is not one which will create much damage, should he ever succeed so as to induce him to make a winning which is very doubtful.

	Here is a small Mill, in tolerably good repair – not capable of doing much work, & during great part of the year, having a very scanty supply of water – The Miller hold 63 acres of land, part of the lately divided Common, which though of poor quality, being fresh, produces good crops – Some of it wants draining, which Mr Stephenson the intelligent Tenant of the South Farm has kindly undertaken to superintend.