Journal entry – John Grey – 19 Sep 1833

Thursday 19th September 1833



Teasdale 

I sent Mr Hunt today with a letter to Teasdale, the tenant of Dilston Hall Farm, saying that as he had done nothing to reduce the Arrear due by him to the Hospital, amounting to nearly a years rent previous to last May, if he did not do so very soon, or bring very satisfactory security for the payment, I should feel myself bound to take measures to secure the Hospitals interests.  The poor man evidently has neither capital, knowledge nor method for the management of a Farm - his Horses are unable to work the land, which is in a state of extreme poverty & the Crop he is now cutting is as bad as possible.  I fear there must eventually be loss by him & probably the last loss to the Hospital & the least injury to him would be to take possession of the Corn as soon as secured & before he has the opportunity of disposing of it. [annotated in pencil in margin: ‘certainly’] 



Planting

Went to inspect the works on the Tyne banks which are proceeding very satisfactorily.  Saw Parkin the Woodkeeper, who is recovering, & desired him, as soon as he should be able to attend to it, to make a list of such ground as ought to be planted in the ensuing season.  Besides the Pieces at Alston for which I have the Boards order, there is a spot on the Tyne in Dilston Estate, unoccupied with trees that is of no other use.  But the chief thing is the part of Dipton wood which has been sold and cleared.  The rubbish ought all to be burnt off & the whole newly planted.



Leadbitters Water

I next went after repeated applications from Mr Leadbitter to examine a plan which he proposes for getting water to his empty reservoir, which is to make a small dam in the plantation near the source of the Spring, so that the water might be set off in such a quantity at a time as would force its way to the other dam.  At present the run is so small that it entirely disappears during its course homewards.  This I think is likely to be of considerable use and is a much more feasible plan than his former one, of attempting to bring a small spring from a great distance over a rocky bottom.   I examined all the situations in which such a dam could be made, & upon a rough guess I shd say it might be done for £20.  It is provoking to think of laying out more money upon a machine, which has already cost £540 besides all the leading done by the tenant, as much probably as would have obtained him a sufficient machine for his purpose, without the Hospitals outlay at all - the question however now is, what is best to be done as matters stand.  This is a high rented Farm, & it is so in part from the only situation producing the first Corn in the market, but that advantage is lost to the tenant if he must delay his thrashing till the rains of winter have filled all the springs & land with water.  If we should not have such falls of rain shortly as to give him a supply which on other accounts is not desirable, I fear it will be necessary to try this experiment. 



Railway

I afterwards had a meeting by appointment with Mr Blackmoore of the Rail-way Company, respecting my application to them to set out the line through Westwood and Allerwash, before letting the Farms.  I find however, that there is no intention of proceeding beyond Hexham for some time to come so that the farms must be let, subject to the formation of the Railway, and a valuation of the land which it will occupy.  This will defeat the Plan of making the Railway the division line between Allerwash Farm & Mill Grounds.