Journal entry – John Grey – 4 Dec 1833

Wednesday 4th December



Left Newcastle at six o’clock and was met at Belford at eleven by a servant and horses from Milfield Hill. Proceeded quickly to Outchester where I examined the Cattle Shed & draining the boggy Field which I had directed my son to get executed.  The former is nearly finished & will be good accommodation.  The latter is in progress in a very satisfactory manner & will greatly increase the value of the field.  Went directly on to Glororum & proceeded to a minute inspection of every field, getting the Farm Steward to accompany me, in which I was engaged till dark.  Seeing a light in the Mill at Waren as I passed on my way to Belford, I went in & examined the state of the floors, which are certainly much in want of relaying, being full of holes & very thin.  During the evening I made a practical valuation, from Notes taken on the spot, of Glororum Farm, first by the a acre, according to the quality of each field or of parts of fields, & then by the more certain but very lengthened process of computing the annual average amount of each distinct kind of produce according to the rotation laid down for the management of the farm, by the average prices of the last three years, & then making the necessary deduction for every kind of expense.  One mode produced a rental of £725 and the other of £716.10.  I therefore fixed us the rental of £720.