Journal entry – John Grey – 7 Apr 1834

Monday 7th April



Heard from Mr Parker that he & Mr Crawhall had fixed the price of Lead for the bygone quarter at £16.10….  I hoped from the late advances the average for the quarter would have been rather higher than that, as I know some parties who sell by the average of the whole year, I shall try to discover how our prices agree with theirs. Taking my Son with me, I rode across the Country to the Spindlestone Estates, examining the draining at Outchester now finished, which I had given him charge of, as well as some young hedges upon that farm, which having been planted within seven years, are under our care.    These he has had scoured and dressed, with thorns set in front to protect them from Cattle, so that they will not require much  more from the Hospital.  The Cottages for Farm Servants at Glororum are old & in bad condition, especially that occupied by the bailiff, which is a part of the old Farm House & is barely habitable from shear decay.  This I fear of necessity must be taken down and a comfortable Cottage for the Bailiff built in its stead.  But before deciding upon what ought to be recommended respecting the half dozen others, I have directed my son to get them examined by a Mason & send me his report.    If the Walls are found sufficient to stand for a Lease, it may be worthwhile to have the roofs, doors, windows etc renewed, but of this I am doubtful.  The Lime Kiln at Spindlestone which is for the common benefit of the tenants, is sadly out of repair & hardly capable of being used.  I am told that it gave way soon after being built by Bewcastle, & has always been propped & patched since.  As it was full of burning Lime, I cld not see it’s Condition, but the Tenants say it wants lining with Bricks throughout, & they would like it to be done early, especially Mr Borthwick, who intends going over Chesterhill with a strong Lining at the commencement of his Lease.  Mr Nairn undertook as soon as it shd be empty to have it examined by a person engaged in Lime Works upon the Coast near Bambro’ who is likely to advise as to what may be needful.