Journal entry – John Grey – 22 Nov 1833

Friday 22nd November



Had an interview with the Lessee of Fourstones Colliery who produced a sketch of the Workings, explained that the Seam was cutting off and becoming very thin & bad to the east & mentioned the intention of the party to begin working by another Shaft farther to the West.  This I conceive they are intitled to do, but I reminded him that they must work out the Coal in such manner as to be satisfactory to the Hospitals Viewer upon his inspection of it, & that it would be at their risk if they did otherwise.   I cautioned him also against carrying their workings below the farm offices at Fourstones, to which they are now near, for the Seam not being very deep ‘a break’ of the Ground might injure the Buildings.  I examined his books by which it appears that they are still considerably within the quantities fixed, both in the Coal & Lime.  The low price of Grain & the introduction of bone manure have a tendency every where to reduce the sale of Lime.  This subject causes me again to take the Liberty of reminding the Board of the necessity of having the different Collieries examined and reported upon by a practical viewer.  The badness of the day rendering it impossible to do any thing out of doors, I was employed in writing a variety of Letters & attending to Office business, also arranging with Mr Hunt the plan of management & covenants for each of the Farms to be let.