Journal entry – John Grey – 5 Oct 1833

Saturday 5th October 1833



Heard from Mr Fenwick, Colliery Viewer, that he had written to Major Johnson & Mr Thomson informing them of the price at which he considered the Coals for burning Lime, should be charged to the Tenants.  Wrote to Mattw Bell Esq MP soliciting his attention to two years Arrear of rent due by him to the Hospital for Moors in the Barony of Wark.  Rode to Shawhouse to fix with Armstrong the prices at which he is to do the Roofing at Newtonhall, to obtain his signature to an Agreement for it & direct him to get the Wood cut out at Dilston & laid up to season.  Proceeded to Whittle.  The farmhouse is new roofed with blue slate & the additional Dairy & Kitchen finished, which make it a commodious and comfortable house.  I hoped that the old Gray Slate from it would have sufficed to cover the Cattle Shed & Stable but on examination I found them so bad, broken and unequal, that most of them that are fit for use will be required for the former, & that it will be more prudent to cover the new Stable with blue at once, reserving the gray, should any be left for future repairs which such roofs require every year.    Returned to Corbridge & afterwards went to Snokoe Fell to examine the road which is now repaired as far as the quarry to determine what proportion of the expense ought to be borne by the Railway Company and what by the Hospital.