Journal entry – John Grey – 22 Jan 1834

Wednesday 22nd January 



Received from Greenwich the Agreement with the Duke of Northumberland for the sale of the manor of Wark & immediately examined all the Plans & documents I could find, to obtain information as to the situation of the allotments of Thorngrafton & the manner in which they are now connected with the farms & occupied by the tenants of the Hospital. This is a subject which I have never before thought it necessary to investigate & in which I have felt no immediate interest, having been led to believe that the Duke was to take possession first in May last & then in November. Having found the situation of the said allotments & their connection with the Hospitals Farms in the West, it will be necessary to examine the Tenants themselves to ascertain how far their interests are likely to be affected by yielding the disputed clause in the Agreement. 



Having had yesterday a very heavy flood in the Tyne I went round the banks today to see if any damage was sustained, & to know in case of the embankments standing good, as I doubt not they will in future, to what amount the tenants are likely to be injured by back water from the flood Gates, which are placed as outlets for small streams, which in time of high floods are of course stemmed back upon the land until the fall of the river admits of their escape.  When the river subsides rapidly, little injury can ensue, and it rarely happens that the Tyne continues beyond its banks for more than 24 hours at a time. I then met Mr Hunt at Dilston for the purpose of examining, marking out & measuring the present road leading past the site of the present house, & the line of that which I propose to substitute, also the course by which it will be best joined to the piece of road which is now in progress by the Gateshead Trustees who are bound to the expense of extending the said road to their piece of turnpike.  If they will go on with my views, it will be seen by the accompanying sketch [not included in surviving journal] that a straight line with a very easy & gradual ascent, will be substituted with a very crooked one, in which many parts are steep, the proposed line from A to B being shorter by 140 yards than the present one; consequently the Hospital would eventually gain by the alteration, the land contained in 140 yards in length by 10 in breadth, and the estate as well as the public, would have a shorter and easier road. The part which would have to be done by the Hospital from (B to C) would cost about £42 of which £12 would consist in leading materials, which might be obtained in part by the tenants, as making the road better & shorter would eventually save them statute labor.  Were I the tenant of Dilston Hall Farm, having horses & Carts, I should not scruple to do the whole.  I have written to the Surveyor of the Gateshead Turnpikes asking him to acquaint me previously to his coming that I may meet him for the purpose of arranging this matter.  The Commissioners have already sanctioned the proposed change from B to C - but without informing me whether the expense was to be allowed as a general improvement, or was to form a part of the £2000….. allowed for the House & Appurtenances. If the latter then the Receiver will be paying at the exorbitant rate of £5 Per Cent interest, for an improvement which he will only enjoy in common with the public but by which the Hospital will in the long run be the principal gainers.  But even this I should prefer to not having the Road altered, should the House ever be built there, & I happen to be its occupier.