Journal entry – John Grey – 23 Sep 1833

Monday 23rd September 1833



Road up the Derwent

Received a Letter from Mr Hodgson, MP, who had been requested as Chairman of a Meeting for promoting the new line of Road up the Derwent to Shotley Bridge, to communicate with me on the subject & request that I would state my opinion of the measure to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital, with a view to obtaining their support.  The subject was mentioned he says, to Mr Hooper, but no positive answer has been received.  The Sum required is £10,000.- that already subscribed £6,000 - and they intend to commence operations so soon as the subscriptions amount to £8,000.  In replying to Mr Hodgson’s Letter, I asked him to favor me with a list of the present Subscribers, and suggested as a matter deserving of consideration, the addition of a short branch road from Ebchester to Newlands, substituting a Stone Bridge over the Derwent for the wooden one now undergoing repair by a subscription of the Hospitals tenants.   The road would cost little, but I fear the Bridge might draw heavily upon their funds.  This would make the improvement complete as regards the Estates of Newlands and Whittonstall, but even without this, it would be an immense advantage to have a road with the gentle descent of the river all the way to the Tyne, instead of the rough and steep ascent and descent of the present one, by which one Horse would take the load of two, & with much greater ease than at present. 



[annotated in pencil in margin, apparently by a Board member: ‘<…> Mr Hooper’s letter Jany 2 183<.> I have referred Mr Grey to this letter & the Board’s Minute declining to contribute to the Road, that he may give the reasons for differing with Mr. Hooper’]



Hartburn Grange Roofs

Drove to Hartburngrange and inspected the repairs of the roofs of three farms which I had given directions for, when last there.  They were in very bad condition, the farms having all changed tenants three years ago, and having had nothing done to them then, or since.  They are now in as good a state as grey slate roofs ever are, for the best of them are constantly going wrong, with the exception of one granary, of which the timber is so bad as not to admit to fixing of any new slates in lieu of those that are broken, being too rotten to hold nails.  I have directed that it should be patched up with plaster at little expense - it may last a year or two,  and when it will do no longer, must have both new timber and slates.  One blue slate roof of recent erection, which should have been as good as new, had it been properly executed, has required a good deal of work & some hundreds of new slates- it is now in good condition.  I also examined two of the Thrashing machines for the repair of which I had obtained estimates, & agreed with Mr Davison to allow him £15.18 - and Thomas Brewis £10 upon their respective machines being put into complete repair, taking from each of them an undertaking that in consideration of such allowance they would be bound to maintain and leave them in equal condition.  Proceeded to Rothbury to Sleep.