Report – James Stuart – 19 Aug 1774

Friday 19th Aug[us]t



      We went this morning, in the first place, to Thornborough which farm containing 767A.0R.8P is under Lease to Paul Hall, Ralph Davidson & Ralph Wardell, for 21 Y[ea]rs expiring in 1779, at 330£ PAnn[um] being about 8s/7 1/4d pAcre. It consists of about 500 Acres of meadow, pasture, wood & clover; the rest Arable of which about 50Acres is in Turnips. The North Leadpitthills, & burnt Lands, which alone contain 157A. 1R.20P are all rough pasture which wants draining. Of what is called the Wood there are about 28

Acres in Tillage, the rest meadow & woodland including a very steep rocky Cliff or Scar covered with Bushes & underwood which extends down to the So[uth] Tyne; the meadow part  forming a Kind of Amphitheatre within the wood, ought to be planted, its situation being proper for that purpose. But, as Oak does not seem to thrive here, we would recommend the plantation to be with Ash & Scotch Elm, and that any other vacant spaces within the wood should be planted in like manner; the whole to be properly fenced & secured from Cattle. We also think that a part on the underside of South Lead Pitt Hills &

North Dale adjoining the Burn should be planted about 4 rod wide it being a very proper place for the purpose. The Holmes about 12 Acres, now great part of it improperly in Tillage,

should be laid down to meadow again. 

      Little Shildon Common, belonging to the D[uke] of Northumberland as part of his Manor of Corrbridge, adjoins to some of the Lands of Thornborough; Upon this Common is a Lough at which the Tenants of Thornborough have a right to water their Cattle, but not to depasture on the Common.

      About 3Y[ar]ds of Hathery Leases within Thornborough Bounder hedge is claimed by Mr Windship of Aydon, and something more by one Mr Read, for Scythe or Sickle, but not to eat we were shewn the spots which are now set off with bounder stones. The No[rth] & So[uth] Leadpitt Hills & burnt Lands, which contains upwards of 200 Acres, should be divided into small parcels, hedged off, & planted in different places particularly next the Common being now very & exposed. And the Farm, which is now too large, lett out to different persons when the present Lease expires.

      The Housing (of which there are 3 Setts) is, upon the whole, in good condition. A Stable & 2 new Byers were built about 6 Y[ea]rs ago.The Wood on this Farm was lately valued at 100£.

      There is plenty of Limestone and a Quarry & Kiln are under Lease to the abovementioned Hall & Wardell, for 8 Y[ea]rs expiring in 1779 at 5£ pAnn[um] who are working the same very briskly

      From hence we proceeded to view the Remainder of

      Corbridge This Farm consists of upwards of 130 <.> or small parcels of Land in both sides the Tyne containing together 189A.0R.36P, almost all in Tillage but greatly intermixt with other property, some of these parcels, particularly in the East Common Field, have been inclosed by the Tenant, other Tenants having done the like. It also contains 60A.0R.1P of

Fairnly pasture, the Leeses & Strangshea pasture being 42/405 parts of the whole. The Leeses & Strangshea pasture have been allotted by the Tenants & are now in Tillage. The whole therefore 249A.1R.36P, is under Lease to John Charlton, for 21 Y[ea]rs expiring in 1779, at 157£ pAnn[um] which is about 12s/6 1/2d pAcre & consists chiefly of Arable. It enjoys Common of Pasture on Corbridge Fell & little Shildon (of both which the D[uke] of Northumberland is Lord) containing together upwards of 3000 Acres.

      The dividing & inclosing the above Common Fields, the soil of which seems in general to be of a good quality, would certainly be of great Advantage to the concerned, as the <Parts> are very small & widely dispersed. Most of the proprietors (of whom there are a great number) are, as we are informed, inclined to a Division & there is reason to think that some steps will be speedily taken to bring it about; Should that be the case we would recommend to the Commiss[ioner]s of the Hospital to consent to, and promote as much as possible, a division upon equitable Terms; as a very necessary & desirable improvement to the Hospital's Estate.

      [Marginal note: ‘A Division of these Common Fields as well as the Common & Stinted pasture has since taken place.’]

      The Housing on this Farm is in pretty good condition, having been all of it having been all of it built within these 15 Y[ea]rs, there having been none in the Farm before except 2 Cottages. Having finished here we returned to Hexham, viewing Widehaugh, part of Dilston, as we went along which will be spoken of hereafter.