Journal entry – John Grey – 20 Jun 1834

Friday 20th June 1834



The subscription for building a School House & Dwelling House for the Teacher, in the Township of Lipwood, for which the Board granted a site & Wood for the Building, not having been found sufficient, application was made by a neighbouring Clergyman, to the national School society for aid.  Their committee have subscribed £30 which will fully answer the purpose, but one of the conditions which must be completed with before the money can be had, is, that a conveyance of the site be obtained.  I am therefore applied to, to know whether the Commissioners will grant such Conveyance to Trustees, that the Subscription may be had.  Mr Fenwick would, I believe, draw the conveyance gratis. [Marginal pencil note: ‘The Commissrs have no power to alienate without authority from the Admiralty’]  



Rode to Wooley, where the Tenant at the commencement of this new Lease, is putting up a Threshing Machine at his own cost & wishes to have the Barn put into suitable repair, which it is proper to do, as well as other Offices, as he will be required to maintain them hereafter.  This I must have done.  The Roofs of grey Slate, universal in that district, are expensive to keep, & always unsatisfactory.   Rode on to Staples, to see the like repairs going on and Draining.  Told Dodd that he must produce proof of Mr Hoopers having given him the promise to recommend a reduction of his rent last year, before the Board can sanction it.  He said he would procure a Letter to that effect from Mr Sample, who was present.  Went on to Whittley Mill which being also in the first year of a new Lease, is in want of some trifling repair of the Machinery, Roofs and Fences.  Young Todd of Rawgreen in Hexhamshire, whose Father died lately came on behalf of his mother and family to know whether they would have an offer of the Farm again,& when I would go to put a value upon it.  I told him I know of no reason why they should not have an opportunity of treating for their farm again, having paid their rents & managed it fairly, but that I could not set about valuing Land till after the Crop should be severed, probably in September or October. In the mean time, although the Board had sanctioned the abandonment of the present Lease by promising them to hold the Farm for this year at the rent it may be Let for the next, I thought it better to take from him a resignation of it in writing.