Journal Entry – William Hooper – 26 Mar 1833

Tuesday 26th March 1833



Entered into an Agreement, subject to the Board’s approbation, with the present tenant of Allerwash Town Farm, to let it to him for one year from the 12th of May next for Five hundred and ten pounds, reserving one acre of Ground which lies between the two fields now attached to Allerwash Mill, and which it is desirable to connect with them.  As this little close is now in tillage, and Robson will have his way-going crop from it, the Miller will reap little advantage this year, and I fear he must surrender it before another year from its being over-rented, but if not, I should recommend that no additional rent be required in consideration, for it will be well for the Hospital if he can stagger on as it is.  A reference to the Plan of Allerwash Town Farm will shew the position of this close, which is called West Mill side, the two pieces of ground marked ‘C Nicholson’ being the Mill lands, which, since the Plans were made, has unfortunately been purchased by the Hospital.



Mr Stephenson of Throckley South Farm came to me with the plans and Estimates for the proposed embankment, which had been made, at the consent of all parties, in consequence of my suggestion – the Engineer employed                   is considered a skilful and clever man, and he advises an extension of the plan, by continuing the embankment for another mile, and forming two jetties, on points to break the water, the more effectively to guard against accident, and affording protection to the lands of Mr Bates, and to an additional twenty acres belonging to the Duke of Northumberland.

The plan is magnificent, and satisfactory, but the estimate is £960!! – Nearly £300 is for jetties to prevent the further washing away of the lands belonging to Mr Clayton, and the Duke of Northumberland, and these two only will be benefitted in this part of the expense; but it is observed by the Architect, and with much apparent reason, that unless the banks of this property be secured by such means, there would be danger of their being so washed and broken away, that in a few years the river would reach the embankment, and destroy the whole.  This fact was evident to me, when I inspected the ground on the 30th of January last, and I then told Mr Stephenson that unless Mr Clayton engaged to slope his banks, it would be useless to commence the undertaking.  Five minutes inspection of the plan satisfied me that Mr Bates would never consent to throw the expense of these jetties upon the whole, for as his proportion of land is double that of any other proprietor, so the effect upon him would be more serious. – I felt safe therefore in telling Mr Stephenson, that if Mr Bates consented to bear his proportion of the whole, I would offer no obstacle in submitting the measure to the Board, but as I apprehended he would not do so, my advice to Mr Stephenson was to see if Mr Clayton and the Duke of Northumberland would subscribe two hundred pounds for the jetties, and then take their share of the remaining expense – upon such an arrangement Mr Bates might be likely to consent, and I had no doubt but that then the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital would also.



Mr Thos. Lambert of Elrington Hall Farm at length consented to my terms for one year’s tenancy of Elrington East Farm, and he signed an Agreement, subject to the Board’s approbation.  It was quite a relief to me to get this matter settled for I apprehended much trouble in securing a better tenancy – I have now only Westwood to recover from the present tenant, and if I can get possession of it, and re let for one year only, I shall be quite smooth again in these matters.



Received from Mr Bainbridge the Assignment and surrender of the land obtained from Mr Thos. Dickenson, with his account for drawing up the same, £3.9.7, and I immediately settled for both law and land.  Mr Dickenson’s report gives me no further information respecting the negotiations for the receiving-houses, and I can only infer from it that all who had to do with it neglected their duty; and I wrote to Mr Joseph Dickenson to say that if he would satisfy me as to when he furnished our Agents with an Abstract of Title, I would consider his claim to interest as chargeable to the neglect of the Agent who received it, but otherwise he must admit the neglect to be his own.  Mr Hunt was engaged the whole of this day in visiting the farms to the Eastward on the North side of the River, and arranging with the tenantry for proceeding with some drains and railing I had consented to.