Journal entry – John Grey – 2 Jul 1833

Tuesday 2nd July 1833

	Rode to Westwood, which is let to Mr Snowball for one year – This is a compact, pleasant little Farm of 147 Acres, of land generally good quality and well situated for Shelter & climate, but too small in size to be managed to advantage – The appearance of the present crops, does not warrant he high rent which has been usually given for this farm, & which leaves strong indications of want of rest – The House is new and neat. The Offices in good repair – The boards of the Cattle cribs in the fold yards have been carried off by the late Tenant (owing) which can only be designated as an act of theft – but I understand, he is nt worth following.

	William Stokoe. A Blacksmith rents a cottage, forge & Garden from the Hospital at £10 a year, which compared with other similar buildings, does seem to be a high rent – The roofs are in very bad repair, & he says Mr Sample has engaged to have then mended – but having only a ground floor & a large family, he is also desirous of. Raising the walls to get a room above – I told him that unless he was prepared to give considerably more rent, that would not be thought of, but as now holds only from year to year, if he would undertake to make the addition himself, I thought it likely that the board might grant him a lease of the same duration, so that he should gave the certainty of enjoying his improvement; he being bound to keep the house in repair – This he is to consider of – Went to Highwood, occupied by Mr Temperley, this farm is much inferior in. the quality of the land to Westwood & equally so in situation & buildings, some of which are in very bad condition – The house, though small is quite adequate to the size of the Farm – One hovel is nearly without roof, & the horse house wheel of the Thrashing Machine entirely so – As this Machine belongs to the hospital & the Tenant found it in the same condition on his entering to the Farm, there seemed no alternative but to cover it, & as the season for pulling heather for the purpose will soon be past, I engaged to allow him £5 for doing so, which will pay for laying the heather on, leaving him to bring it to the spot.

	Being Market day at Hexham I saw several of the Tenants there on my return, who are all very desponding – Reed of Plankey Mill – Curry of Eadsbush – Dodd of Thornbrough & Dixon of Aydon Shields have sent in applications to be released from their farms.

	I had an interview with Mr Walker, manager of this part of the Rail-way, & with reference to the damage done to the Road upon Dilston South Farm, by leading Stones to the Railway Bridge, urged upon him the justice & absolute necessity of protecting the Hospital tenants from such injury – He was inclined to reference to the Contractors for building the Bridge, but I told him that I looked solely to the Railway Company & their manager & could have nothing to say to any subordinate party. He undertook to examine the Road & enquire into. Its previous condition, and to meet me upon it, with every wish to do what I should consider right and just.