Journal entry – John Grey – 9 Jun 1834

Monday 9th June



Mr Green the Architect from Newcastle came up to examine the Work of the new House which we went over together, & found it to be all very well executed.  I was then engaged in Office business & looking after the various works going on upon this part of the Estate.  The party building the Saw Mill waited upon me to inform me of their wish to rent a small piece of Ground cut off from Dilston North Farm in the shape of a triangle between the new Turnpike & the Railway, which though Inconvenient to cultivate is most convenient as to the site of a Depot for Wood & other commodities, going by the Railway, & also for a Public House instead of that now occupied by Hind, which the change of road will leave quite out of the way. Their proposal is to rent the Land from the Hospital & erect the Buildings at their own cost, except the home grown Wood which may be used, and at the end of 21 Years, to have the option of renewing the Lease, or to be paid a valuation for buildings, the Wood excepted.  I desired Mr Dickinson to go with them & Measure the Ground, that they might give me a definitive proposal.  As the suitableness of the Ground for such a purpose, has often occurred to me before, & it could not possibly be in better hands than those who have the Saw Mill upon the Estate, as they are Men of Property & both occupances could be included  in one Lease. 



I have had today also, an enquiry respecting the Limestone at Allerwash, to which I replied that as the Lease of Brokenheugh Colliery was near an end, I was of opinion that both the Allerwash & Carrstones Limestone works should be let with it to one party, the Colliery being situated between the two.  And that instead of reserving Lime & Coal for the private Working of the Tenants on the Hospitals Estates as at present, it would probably be better to let the whole, & bind the Lessees to supply the Tenants with Lime at a price to be fixed, at the cost price of burning.  I have abstained hitherto from expressing a decided opinion upon this subject, wishing to have the viewers report of the state of the Colliery & supply of Coal that may be reckoned upon for the work.  This I shall have shortly, when I shall communicate that & my own ideas respecting the letting to the Board.