Journal entry – John Grey – 28 Jan 1834

Tuesday 28th January 



A dismal day of rain, everybody kept within doors.  Engaged in writing letters, & Office business - conferred with Benson on the buildings at Whitechapel, Lees & other places, which must be undertaken this year, as to the most economical arrangement & mode of execution, as well as the probable cost that the Board may be informed upon it.  At two, the Tyne having risen higher than I ever saw it before, I walked round the embankments to ascertain their condition & efficiency - the water in a high flood, affording the best test of the correctness of the levels.  I found & marked just two places where water made its way through the Bank, by mole holes, which must be attended to.  It was within two feet of the top in the part which has not yet been added to, which work has been of late suspended on account of the Season - had it risen higher, it must have done immense damage, but just then it was at its height.  As soon as we get settled weather, that work must be proceeded with. In consequence of the repeated overflowing of this most turbulent river, it will be proper to defer filling up the plantations between the Shores & embankments , till as late a period in the season for planting as possible, & also, I think instead of putting in young nursery plants, which would be in danger of being destroyed by floods, to remove plants of some years growth out of other plantations where they are too thick, which I have no doubt will take readily enough, as the Soil is of fine quality & the situation a sheltered one. 



I omitted to mention in my journal on Saturday night, that I had looked when at Grindon, at the Fir Plantation which had been partly destroyed by fire near a year ago by accidental communication from the burning Heather in the Allotment adjoining. The Woodman had told Mr Hooper that because the firs had made so little progress hitherto, it was not worth planting again, but I am not of that opinion - the fire has destroyed all the rough Grass & heath which impeded the trees & left a covering of Ashes on the surface which being put into the Pits along with the Plants would greatly promote their growth.  The expense of fencing off the Land has already been incurred & the remaining parts of the Plantation are there to afford shelter to the new.  I would therefore recommend filling up the Ground with Oak & Birch, as the most likely to take, in such a situation, which is also Mr Parkins opinion. The Ground is not of great extent.