Journal entry – John Grey – 16 Feb 1835

Monday 16th Febry



       Having had intelligence that Mr Tweddle’s Woodmen had cut some Trees supposed to belong to the Hospital in Elrington Wood, I sent Mr Parkin some days ago to ascertain the fact, who informed me this morning that 17 Trees had been cut upon what he understands to be the Hospitals Ground, though the opposite party claim it on an alledged change in the course of the Burn, which is the Boundary through Elrington Wood.  I immediately wrote to Mr Armstrong the Agent to the Property, complaining of the aggression and demanding payment for the Trees.  

       Rode to Fourstones to look into an injury alledged by the tenant to be caused by the Railway, in sending water over his fields, but found that instead of harm it had done good, the cut for the railway in that part having opened Springs which by being drawn off, will dry the land below; and the only injury sustained arose from the collection of Water caused by his having allowed the ditch to get filled up that should convey it to the Tyne.  Went on to Allerwash & at length prevailed with the tenant to undertake to advance £10 a year upon  the rent of the Mill, on condition of the Machinery being renewed & improved, & his house & stable repaired.  Proceeded by Brokenheugh Colliery & farms to Haydon, marked out by the line of Fence for the Plantation to be made & gave directions respecting it.  

       Met Benson there by appointment & rode to Beamwham, the extremity of the Hospitals Estate on the ridge of hills to the north of the Tyne.   This farm in a high country & only calculated for keeping Stock, requires no buildings save a Shepherds house & some Cattle sheds & Cow houses, but it had been accommodated with a Barn, Threshing Machine, Stable and Granary, apparently before it was discovered that the soil & climate not admitting of the growth of Corn, rendered them useless. The Machinery has long ago gone to pieces, & I sold the last of the Wheels I found laid in the Yard, last year, to the Foundry for old Metal. The buildings are generally, especially the roofs in a very bad state.   One side of the square, which is the worst & can be dispensed with, we decided should be taken down, the Stable which is the best building, converted into a Shed for cattle, & the joists & flooring of the Granary taken out to be used in some other situation, which will go far to defray the cost of repairing the roofs of the remaining buildings.  

       Came to Grindon & examined the Bogs that were drained last summer by the man I had from Dumfriesshire, according to the cheap mode of sod draining used in the Sheep districts in Scotland, & found the land much firmer & a great quantity of water issuing from the drains.   I intend to get a set of Tools for the purpose, as with them, the men here might do the Work as well as a Scotsman.  Found that the young Plantation made last year at this place, had taken well.  Reached Dilston late at night, after a very long ride.