Journal entry – John Grey – 21 Jan 1834

Tuesday 21st January



Bell, whom I had informed, when he previously came to inquire, that his was the highest offer for Aydonshields & Mirehouse & would likely be accepted, came to the office to enquire into the account of Crop to be sown by the present tenant, the quantity of land for fallow etc.  He complained with reason of the condition of Mirehouse & the small quantity of manure upon both places, & was very urgent that a part of the allowance for lime, should in this instance be commuted for bone manure to be applied to the growth of turnips, that the dung might be reserved for the wheat fallows.  I admitted most readily the wisdom of such an arrangement, but it was question whether the tenant ought not to purchase that description of manure being intended for the production of an immediate crop, for himself, whereas the time allowed by the Hospital was more with a view to the future improvement & permanent amelioration of the Soil.  At the same time, if such a commutation should be admitted by the Commissioners in any case the circumstances of the present one, would fully justify it, for one year at least, & I promised to submit it to their consideration.  Received an application from Mr Taylor for £150.1.7 on account of Salary as mine Agent & Postage, which I accordingly remitted. 



I then rode out to examine the state of a good many fences around the woodlands, which are not in good order, as this is the reason for cutting & dressing Hedges - also examined some pieces of waste land by the lane side towards Slaley, which have been left out at the time of enclosing the ground, & serve no purpose but to grow whins & rubbish & to harbour Gipsies & their Asses.  To take out the old hedges & include those pieces of ground in the adjoining fields would cost a good deal, & might be complained of perhaps, but when we are planting in the Dipton Wood, near by, there would be little expense in putting in a few trees & running a railing of the small fir wood which we have going to waste, along the side of the road. The situation would grow wood, & would afford shelter.  Having received no directions respecting a list of Arrears which I forwarded to the Board formerly, and which for the reasons annexed, are shown to be hopeless  I beg to repeat the question, whether they had not better be removed from the books, as Mr Hooper also recommended.