Journal entry – John Grey – 28 Nov 1833

Thursday 28th November



Received from Mr Nairn, Lessee of Waren & Spindleston Mills an account of the renewing the Kiln & Wheat Screen at Waren which repairs being urgent, Mr. Brandling advised him to have done, not doubting that they would be allowed.  The charge for the Kiln amounts to £20.12.9 and that for the Cylinder for dressing Wheat to £17.9.3.  He has also forwarded, as I desired, Estimates for the new flooring of a part of the Granaries & the Mill at Waren, both of which I found to be very bad, when I examined them on the 16th October.  They amount together to £63.9.7 but I see he has omitted to include the expense of new Spouts round the building to keep the rain from the roof from blowing in by the lattice windows, upon the Corn or floor, & also the repair of Stairs, both of which he & Mr Hooper decided upon as being necessary in my presence in April last.   The whole would probably amount to £70 but perhaps Mr Nairn might be induced to undertake them at a less sum to be allowed him at the next rent day. I shall await the Boards instructions upon these points, requesting to have the accounts & estimates retained.  



Also received a Letter from Mrs Thomson of Glororum, to whom I had communicated the Board’s decision to treat with her for the Farm upon a revaluation stating that she had consulted her Co-Trustees & that they decline to engage in a new Lease, having lost much of their Capital by continuing in the Farm, but returning their thanks to the Commissioners for the offer made to them, & hoping that under all the circumstances, they will not press for the Arrears.  This extensive Farm then will be to let as well as Chesterhill in that District, & I am exceedingly anxious to lost no time in making it public, having had several applications by Letter for the latter Farm, and fearing that as most of the farms are to be settled for in December & some in the end of their month, we shall lose the choicest tenants.  It will be necessary that I should go and examine those Farms, never having done so by Glororum, with a view to letting it, so soon as I am in the mode of proceeding.



I received from Messrs Bones of Throckley the half years rent for the public House & £180 towards that of the farm.  They continue to speak favourably of the Coal which they have got & expect that it will prove beneficial.  I visited the Embankment, with which the Workmen are proceeding satisfactorily & examined all the Wears & sloping of the Shores of the Tyne above & below the junction of the Devils Water.  The Wears are doing remarkably well, strengthening themselves & the bank, by a deposit of gravel at each flood as I anticipated.  The shores where the slope had been recently made & the materials sandy are out a little in some places by the lash of the Water when high & will require to be attended to & kept smooth, till they get a sufficient cover of grass, or dwarf willow, to protect them, the injury however is trifling.