Journal Entry – William Hooper – 28 Mar 1833

Thursday 28th March 1833



I dispatched Mr Hunt in the morning to complete his survey of Westwood Farm, and to inspect the draining etc. in several of the adjoining farms.



Received of Mr Bainbridge £60 as the second monthly instalment from the Alston Trustees.



Rode to Hexham and transacted business with the Bankers there, after which I examined some premises which had been offered me, but they proved totally unsuited to us.



Mr Todd the tenant of East Brokenheugh paid me Eighty pounds to complete his promised instalment of £100 before the 31st of March.



I am still delayed, and now made anxious, by not receiving Mr Fenwick the Coal-viewer’s report upon Stubblick Colliery, and upon the actual state of agreement with Mr Beaumont as to the Lease of Low Stubblick Colliery.  I ought to have had this two or three days ago, instead of which I have only a letter from Mr Fenwick to say that Mr Beaumont’s Agents seem disposed to require the conditions of the Lease to be fulfilled on the part of the Hospital, but that I shall receive his report and their decision in a day or two. – I should certainly prefer having nothing to do with it, tho’ with care I believe the Lease would be worth as much as it will cost us, notwithstanding the loss of the three first years of the low rent.



Wrote to the Board on the subject of the Newlands and Whittonstall Roads, and suggesting the propriety of obtaining a legal opinion as to the measures necessary to throw the liability of the repair of the Roads upon the Townships.  Sent to the Board the Deed of Surrender received of Mr Bainbridge, and also forwarded the Agreements for Allerwash Town Farm, Elrington East Farm, and Whitley Mill, for the Board’s sanction.