Journal entry – John Grey – 8 Mar 1834

?Saturday 8th March 

Rode to Dilston to meet Mr Shipley respecting several claims, on Account of Fruit Trees & other things supplied by him when he made the Garden, for which he expects payment. His intention of selling manure from the Premises, I flatly resisted, especially as he had always sold the Hay made from his Land without permission & with impunity.  But that he should not suffer any loss with respect to such Hay as he might have on hand, I engaged to purchase it by the valuation of an indifferent person. Neither could I admit his claim to have all the trees, gooseberry bushes etc valued according to their present condition, as he could not legally remove them, but only consented to pay him what might be the original cost.  I offered him £3, which I considered a fair compensation for every claim he could justly make, & which I believe was his opinion too, & which he consented to take, after some repining over the things which he had taken such pains to nourish.  To do him justice, I must say that kept his Garden & place altogether in very neat order.  I should think it best that the Hospital should pay for these & any other trees that either the Receiver or Clerks Gardens may require, so that in case of change of Occupiers no dispute may arise upon such claims in future.  I then Proceeded to the Park Farm to meet the Parties to fix upon the situation for making Bricks & to prevent future disputes, by settling the terms between the Contractor and Tenant - but the badness of the day prevented their appearing.  I then went on to Highwood to examine the cutting & improving of some young hedges by the turnpike which have been ill planted & managed & will require some care to make them substantial fences.  These & other young fences by the road sides, have been attended to by a variety of hands casually employed & upon no regular system - which formed one inducement for me engage a regular and experienced Hedger from the North, who is to have 12/- Per Week & an old cottage near Dilston. He will also be employed at the Woodland Hedges & will go occasionally to different parts of the Estate, to set an example of good cutting. I then proceeded by the new Cottages building at Westwood & to inspect some young hedges that are being made at Allerwash. Then men who are planting them complain of the change of times as they are now doing for 1/6d Per rod, what they used to get 2/6 for.  So much for subjecting the work to competition.