Journal entry – John Grey – 20 Jan 1835

Tuesday 20th



I got them up to £420.  Their present rent is £342. They are to be, as will appear by the Agreement which I wrote out and obtained their signatures to, at the sole expense of new Buildings & Machinery.  That connected with the Corn Mills, to be repaid by valuation at the end of their Term.  For the Bone Mill they are not to expect any compensation, but to have the Materials for a Water Wheel which we have as dead stock on hand, & to leave it in repair. The drying kiln at Spindleston Mill is in a very bad state, & has been so for a long time; it will likely require to be rebuilt, which may cost the Hospital probably £30.

       There present are two new Cottages which they wished to stipulate for, I got them to postpone for the present, as the Farm of Spindleston will be out of Lease in two years, and then should it be arranged to lay it to those Mills, as I think it would be proper to do, there would be no need to build new Cottages, as the Farm has a sufficient number for both.  When last at Waren, Mr Nairn pointed out the want of accommodation in the back part of the Dwelling House, which is otherwise a good one, for Servants, Apartments, Coal Shed etc and the state of the Garden Wall, which must in part be rebuilt.   I calculated that it would cost about £50 to do what he wanted, which he wished me to engage for today, but as he would not give all the advance of Rent I required, I would not consent to it, but bound him to do it at his own cost.  I send the Agreement for the inspection & execution of the Commissioners & trust the management may be satisfactory to them.  

       The new Tenant of Whittonstall Public House, came along with his surety to execute an Agreement. He told me that the House requires a good deal of Repair, which I do not know, never having been in it, but think very likely from the disorderly Character of its present occupiers.  I engaged that anything reasonable should be done to make it creditable & comfortable provided he would engage to keep it in a respectable  manner, & neither make it a rendezvous for poaching, Cock fighting nor Dog racing in future, which he undertook to do & I trust will, as I have a good report of him.  Walked over a part of the Dilston Estate to examine the Hedges, many of them are so nearly dead out by mismanagement, that it is hard to say what course should be taken to renew them.  At present most kinds of Work are suspended by the Snow.