Journal Entry – William Hooper – 18 Apr 1833

Thursday April 18th 1833



I called early on Mr Fenwick and found that after examining into the question of the Whittonstall Roads he was of opinion that the Magistrates Certificate, which is necessary to throw the roads upon the Township, cannot be obtained, unless the roads are widened to meet the conditions of the Inclosure Act – Under these circumstances I suggested that it might be better to get an undertaking from the Tenants that in the event of one putting the road now into repair, they will bind themselves to keep up a certain quantity of Statute Labour annually for the remainder of the present Lease, and in all future lettings to introduce a covenant to this effect.  Mr Fenwick said this plan would be most satisfactory if the whole of the Townships belonged to the Hospital; but he shrewdly observed, if so, why was an Inclosure Act necessary? –



I smiled at this very natural question, which had suggested itself fifty times to me before, but to which I can find no answer – The truth is, there is a part of the Inclosure which did not belong to the Hospital, but to the Glebe, and I believe, without considering at how small a sum the consent of the parties intended might have been obtained, the land itself might have been purchased at less cost than the Inclosure Act. – I obtained from Mr Fenwick the Draft-Lease of Langley Mills.



Settled Accounts at the Bank, and afterwards called on Mr Leadbitter, who had not received the Duke of Northumberland’s answer respecting the Close at Wark – In the evening returned to Haydon Bridge.