Journal entry – John Grey – 4 Mar 1834

Tuesday 4th March



Mr Green the Architect, having come up with the Plans & Specifications of the House, I accompanied him & some Contractors to Dilston to fix upon the precise spot & see how the Plans as now arranged would fit the peculiar situation, as I was anxious to take every possible advantage of the picturesque character of the place, consistent with convenience & economy, & to save some Chestnut Trees, which after much contrivance, we were able to accomplish.  I then left the Contractors to form their Estimates, that they may be submitted along with Mr Greens Plans to the Board, & went to examine into & give directions respecting some repairs at Teasdale’s farm, which it is in vain to look to him for, in his impoverished condition.  The Garden & Stack yard walls are all in ruins, & the road from the lane to the house almost impassable on foot, everything in fact both inside & outside the house, in the greatest state of disorder.  These, must needs be put into some decent condition.   I next went along the Tyne Banks to see the work of securing them, at which we have not done anything for some time, rather waiting to see the floods over before finishing it off.  I think it may now be completed, as the weather is remarkably fine & I trust we shall not have any heavy falls of Snow on the mountains to cause inundations by their melting.  They are going on with the change of road at Dilston which will be a great improvement both in appearance & reality.