Journal Entry – William Hooper – 7 Feb 1833

Thursday 7th Feby 1833



Examined with Mr Turnbull the person who applied for permission to carry a drain across the Hospital Premises called the Anchor Inn, into a conduit emptying into the river, the nature of his request, and finding that it might be safely and properly granted, I consented to his leading his drain as requested, on the condition that he should immediately make good or compensate the Hospital for any damage which might now or hereafter be sustained in consequence of granting this indulgence, and this condition I required him to acknowledge in writing, tho’ I cannot anticipate the possibility of such an occurrence.



Rode to Allerwash Town Farm, and accompanied by the new and old tenants rode over and minutely inspected every part of the farm, which is in a very neglected state, the stone fences are in ruinous condition, scarcely a gate hanging, and the tenant, not satisfied with this, disposed to dispute the amount of his Way going Crop, and to take land for tillage. Which is out of the usual course – he was at first disposed to be very restive, but having brought him to his covenants and convinced him I was right, I told him I would firmly resist any departure from what I had laid down; and he was obliged to admit that his only hardship was that of not being allowed to do that which the Bailiff had been in the frequent habit of allowing – it is too evident that this is the fact, and that the Way-going tenant has been allowed to take more than he might, and the In-coming tenant has consented, first not to offend the Bailiff, and secondly in expectation of the same indulgence.



After inspecting the House, and Farm Buildings, I rode to Allerwash Mill and inspected it, and then to Allerwash West Farm just re-let to Mr Watson, who has already occupied it for two terms of 21 years. I have not yet met a Tenant having higher claims on the Hospital’s consideration than this man, who notwithstanding a ruinous rent, as is evidenced by the fact that the highest of the late biddings was himself at £260, being £143 lower than former terms, as well as by the old man’s solemn assurance to me that he lost £1500 in the last twelve years, held on his lease to the last and never has been one penny in arrear; while his farm and farm buildings are all in the most creditable state. From the enquiries I have made I find Mr Watson and his Son are reputed as among the best farmers in the neighbourhood, and his keeping on the farm, at the former rent, has been the surprize of every body – He might have surrendered six or eight years ago, with the almost certainty of retaking it £100 a year cheaper, and his not doing so gives him a claim in my estimation.



Gave the tenant of Whitechapel Farm leave to pare, burn, and plough out about twenty acres of the North part of Thorngrafton allotment, covenanted to be kept in Grass, on condition of his sowing seeds and laying it down to grass again this year, and that no corn should be grown thereon. The grass is become very rank, and I satisfied myself that it was equally the interest of Lord and tenant that this should be done.