Journal Entry – William Hooper – 15 Feb 1833

Friday 15th February 1833



Had a long interview with Mr Fenwick, and conferred with him as to the several tenants in Arrears, agreeing with him as to the measures to be pursued to preserve the interests of the Hospital, without creating alarm. – Saw Mr Bell the late Bailiff of the Hartburngrange District, and gave him positive directions for the immediate settlement of the dispute between Wardle and Lenox, adding that if it was not arranged by this day month, I would certainly pay Wardle the £45, and charge it as an imprest against his retiring allowance.



Met Mr Leadbitter the Solicitor to the Duke of Northumberland, and informed him that since making the proposal I was before instructed to do, I had discovered the Hospital’s claim to the tolls of Bellingham fairs, commonly called Hareshaw tolls, and also that the Hospital possessed a close of five acres at Wark, which I should desire to add to the purchase for a fair consideration – Mr L. offered no objection to the latter, but thought the tolls were properly manorial rights – I contended, however, that they had been severed, and purchased separately by the Hospital for £130, and unless that sum was added to the Purchase money they must be still reserved, and to set the matter at rest, I would propose to include both the tolls and the Close for the addition of £450 to the consideration money, but on no other terms: and he promised immediately to communicate with the Duke through Sir David Smith, and give me an answer. – After some demurring about the reservations, he seemed to agree to the excluding from the sale the Manors etc. enumerated, but wished to expunge the precautionary clause of ‘or any and all other lands etc. within the Barony, of which the Hospital may now stand possessed etc.’ – upon the ground that it might in some distant future day lead to disputes – but I told him, that while I believed that by the addition of Thorngrafton and Grindon, which I had put in the list, all that we did possess was included, yet as it was possible we might have some other property <returning?> into the Manor, I must insist upon the clause standing in its fullest and most comprehensive sense. – Upon this understanding we parted, and I wait to hear from him.



Examined all the Books and Papers which the Clerks had assorted and arranged, and packed, several boxes for London, and others for Hexham. – Arranged with Mr Rewcastle to join me at Haydon Bridge on Monday to bring up the Books of last year, and gave Mr Martin directions to expedite the delivery of the Lead sold to Messrs Walker.  In the evening returned to Haydon Bridge.