Report – James Stuart – 11 Aug 1774

Thursday 11 Aug[us]t



Resumed our Visitation of the farms in the Barony of Langley, and, in the course of the day viewed the following, Vizt

      Altonside new Lease which contains 76A.0R.23P & is under Lease to Edward Walker for 4 Y[ea]rs expiring in 1777 at 52£ pAnn[um] being about 13/8 pAcre. It consists of about 30 Acres of meadow & pasture of which latter the piece called the ‘moiety of the Bank & Bog’ wants draining very much; & the remainder Arable, 10 Acres of which is in fallow. High Robber's Haugh, which is now improperly in Tillage, should be laid down again, and Watson's Close should be planted with acorns. The Trees which grow on the Bank of the River we recommend to be taken down or pollarded, as they are liable to be torn up, or <overset> by strong winds, and, in that case, do much damage; we also recommend that the same be done with respect to all large trees growing on the Banks of Rivers, Burns etc in every other part of the Derwentwater Estate where they may be likely to do damage, for the same reasons.

      The housing is very indifferent & wants some repairs by the Tenant which he was ordered to get done. There is a very good helm which was built about 13 Y[ea]rs ago.

      The Wood on this Farm was lately valued at upwards of 300£.



      Altonside old Lease which contains 72A.2R.1P is in the occupation of the Representatives of Thomas Walker under a 99 Y[ea]rs Lease expiring in 1776 at 15£ p Ann[um] being about 4/1 1/2 pAcre It consists of upwards of 20 Acres of meadow & pasture including some woodland, and the remainder arable, about 11 Acres of which is in fallow, the greatest part very <foul>

      <low> Rober's Haugh, now in Tillage, should be laid down to meadow. The Moiety of the Bank & Bog should be drained, & the Timber in the Cleugh, being past it's growth, cut down & sold; the Cleugh replanted with acorns; & fenced off.

      The Housing is very mean, old & ruinous.



      East-broken-heugh containing 330A.2R.27P is under Lease to John Watson for 21 Y[ea]rs expiring in 1779 at £105 pAnn[um] about 9s/1 ½ pAcre. It consists of about 80 Acres meadow & pasture, the remainder arable of which upwards of 20 Acres are in fallow. The piece called the Wires containing 12 Acres is very bad pasture & wants draining. There is some Timber in Hagg hill Field, Broad Wood & Hither Holme, which should be cut & sold, & the Vacancies in the former should be planted. Capon's Cleugh contains a great deal of thriving Wood, consisting Oak, Ash, Scotch Elm etc etc which, with some in West brokenheugh Farm has lately been valued at upwards of £1301. there are some vacant spaces in the above Cleugh which should be planted with acorns, and the whole should be well fenced & preserved from Cattle.

      The Housing on the above Farm is in good condition, bating some repairs wanting, & ordered to be done by the Tenant. There is a Herd's House, Barn & Helm in Highfield adjoining to Grindon Common built since the commencement of the present Lease, they stand very bleak & exposed & should therefore be screened with some plantations proper for the situation such as Scotch Firs, Elms etc

      Having finished the above Farms we returned to Hexham, viewing part of Allerwash in our way.