Journal entry – John Grey – 19 Feb 1834

Wednesday 19th February



Sold the Lot of Wood No 4 in Dipton Plantation to Joseph & George Dinning for £140, for which they are to give a joint pro: Note, payable in September & December next,  by which time the Wood is to be all removed. This is £10 below Parkin’s valuation, but I consider it a good price as wood is selling.  Had also an Agent from the Lead Company’s Mines to examine the Tyneside Lot, valued by Parkin at £220 last year, but not then sold. Since that time several Trees that stood in the way of the Embankment have been cut & sold or used upon the Estate. On this Account I offered him the lot at £200.  He said he could not come to that sum by his valuation, but would consult Mr Stagg, Manager of the Mines, & give me the best offer he could, in the course of a week.   Hearing that an additional number of men had been put to work in Throckley Quarry in consequence for the demand for Stones to the Railway, I wrote to the Lessee begging that he would henceforth make a monthly return of the number of blocking men employed that I might know what amount of rent he would be chargeable with, & wrote at the same time to Mr Stephenson, tenant of Throckley South Farm, where the Quarry is situated, requesting him to be so good as to keep a memorandum for me of the number of such men employed from week to week.  Wrote by the Moor Master who called on his way to Newcastle to the Assignees of the Arkindale Mining Company, referring them to him for an explanation of something they were dissatisfied with in the Award for damaged Ground, stating that the Hospital, as Lessors could not in my opinion be called upon to accept a dividend, they being bound to pay the whole amount to the owner of the land, & that I hoped they would see the propriety of paying it before making their final dividend.  Wrote by him also to Mr Fenwick, Colliery Receiver, sending him Mr Thomson’s Memorial & the accompanying correspondence respecting the price of Lime Coal at Scremerston, begging him to reconsider the matter & communicate with me at his earliest convenience.  So much of the day having been occupied in the Office, I had merely time to ride to examine the work at the Tyne banks & to see the planting going on at Dipton hill & some waste spots by the Slaley Lane.