Journal entry – John Grey – 20 Nov 1833

Wednesday 20th November



Met by appointment, Mr Silvertop and the Surveyor of the Gateshead roads, to consider of the best line for the proposed improvement, & to decide upon the mode of compensate to the Tenants.  The first point was easily settled, as we were agreed upon the best line.  The second admitted of more discussion as tenants are generally found to look to the present years more than to future improvement, & to be very much opposed to any interference with their arrangements, Mr Leadbitter declaring that he would not hold his farm, if they entered upon the intended alteration.  Mr Armstrong was named by the Trustees, & Mr Sample on the part of the Tenants, to assess the damage done to the Crops during the progress of the work, & also to fix the difference of value, if any, between the land to be restored after the old road is broken up, & that which will be occupied by the new, the Trustees engaging to make the new fences and branch road; and to remove the old ones, to my entire satisfaction.  Small as the change is, it happens unluckily to interfere with three different farms, and the most difficult part of the arrangement will be, as the fences must in some measure, be altered to reconnect the respective tenants to the exchanges which will be necessary - as each invariably believes that he gets the worse.  I had an interview with Mr Johnson, who gave me an undertaking to receive in April £80 on account of carriage of Ore by our tenant of Gairshield, which I am glad to have got. He also mentioned to me Mr Crawhalls wish to purchase the small farm of Eadsbush, if it were to be disposed of & requested that I would obtain for him the information.  It consists of only of 26 3/4 Acres - is completely detached from any other property of the Hospital & being joined to Mr Crawhalls, makes it likely that he would give more for it, than its value to the Hospital.  The Common Allotment at present let along with it, though at a considerable distance, would go better with Gairshield to which it is nearer.  A similar application was some time ago made to me by the Dean & Chapter of Durham, who have £100,000 to invest.  Should the Commissioners entertain an idea of dispersing of property to any great extent, the Estate which is contiguous to property already possessed by the Dean & Chapter, & one which they would likely give a good price for, is Newlands & Whittonstall.  It is also unconnected with any other of the Hospitals Estates & let at a rental likely to suffer considerable diminution from its unfavourable situation.  I attended afterwards a meeting to let the Tolls &c of the Trustees of the road leading from Elsdon to West Auckland, in which I had previously qualified to act.