Journal entry – John Grey – 18 Jul 1833

Thursday 18th July 1833

	I received from Mr Bell some Plans of the late workings of Stublick Colliery, which I shall hand to the present Lessee. Remitted the Rent (£95) of Tarretburn allotment up to the 12th May last, to Sir M W Ridley’s Agent, which had been received at this Office by mistake – Wrote to Mr Gibson fixing a meeting with the Hexham Road Trustees at Riding Mill, as they propose, on the 8th August to consider their intended change of road near Dilston. Also wrote to Mr. Hooper on various matters, enclosing Mr Storey’s account for valuations at Stublick & Langley Mill, with his report, and a copy of the resolutions of the Alston Trustees – I then went to Newtonhall & after a close inspection of the present buildings & a little contrivance, convinced the Tenant, that many of the outhouses, though not good, might with some repairs be made to last his Lease, & that by dividing his Fold yards with Sheds to shelter his Cattle, they might be very comfortable, though the whole would not look so compact & uniform as the entire new set of Offices that had been designed for him.   He is perfectly satisfied with this arrangement, as he will be saved much leading of materials, there being old walls sufficient to supply all the Stones required in this case. This will cost very little compared with the other plan – and I propose merely to build the walls of the Sheds at present laying some Wood across, so that he may build corn upon them, to cover his Cattle through the winter, & by next summer, I hope to have our own Wood seasoned for roofing.