Journal entry – John Grey – 4 Jan 1834

Saturday 4th January 



The morning being promising, to escape the interruptions of the Office, I set out in good time to make an excursion to the west, examining in my way the repair of the barn & building of some conveniences at Highside, now finished, the fences & draining at Woodhall, advising the tenants respecting some draining necessary at the Rattenraw Farms, inspecting the new buildings just now completed & measured off at Haydon Town Farm, which is substantially done.



Returning by Brokenheugh, to see the alteration of a most inconvenient piece of road & water course close to the farm Offices, which Mr Hunt had let to Workmen, then coming down by Allerwash & Fourstones, reached home after a pleasant ride of nine hours without rain, which is remarkable in this extraordinary season.  When at Haydon Bridge, I examined the two fields containing 11 Acres, hitherto occupied Mr Coats, for which Hetherington, the landlord of the Inn, agrees to give £24 which I value them at, after May day next.  That added to his present rent will make it £114 when he comes into possession of this land, it will be better that he should have an agreement of some sort, drawn up & executed.  At present there is not a single line for the bargain made by Mr Hooper & him.  I also waited upon Mr Coats Junr, & insisted upon a settlement being made with Peacock & Hetherington his successors in the farm of Esphill & those fields, respecting the proportions of manure which each is intitled to. As they allege, & I believe with reason, that he has used upon his own land, some which should have been reserved for them. After some discussion & altercation, I got the parties to name two Arbitrators to settle the matter between them.  I also examined 4 small fields hitherto occupied by Mr Reed, along with a timber yard and work shop at £22.0.0. These we shall use as a depot for the Hospital Wood, & saw yard for that part of the property.  Two of the fields I offered again to Mr Reed at a rent of £14 which he agrees to give.  The other two I intend, according to Mr Hoopers promise, to offer to old Mr Coats, in consequence of his being deprived of the land laid to the Inn, but shall defer doing so till I get all matters settled with his Son, who seems inclined to be a little too keen in his dealings.  I have no doubt of getting as much for the fields as Mr Reed paid altogether, & having the wood yard & Cow House besides.  As yet I have had no application for Mr Routledge’s house, although I have had for the land appended to it.