Journal entry – John Grey – 28 May 1835

Thursday 28th



      Rode up the vale of the Nent, examined Mrs Cowpers Cottage & Ground which had been damaged by working the Crow Coal, her Son having accompanied me.   There are several small rents in the House and the timbers are loosened from the Gable at one end, the House however had not been a good one at the time of the occurrence, and the occupier had been very culpable in having the operation going on under it, and holding intercourse with the people digging out the Coal, without ever acquainting the owner till the shrink took place.  On account of this connivance, I would not admit that the Hospital was bound either in Law or justice to repay the full amount of damage, for if so, every one wanting to be paid for rebuilding an old house might allow the Crow Coal to be dug under its foundations.   I made him an offer of £5.. which he refused to accept, and there the matter rests at present. As the Vestry, to whom Mr Hooper gave the Coal for the use of the Poor, entered into no engagement, I fear they cannot be compelled to make good any damage.  And even now, that notice has been given by Hand Bill throughout the Manor, that no person has authority to work Coal without first obtaining the consent of the owner of the Soil, I fear we shall not be free from trouble respecting it, as the proprietors tell me that they will not undertake to prosecute every Miner who comes for trespass, & many of them will not be forbid.  I obtained the name of one individual who persisted in digging after being warned off, saying that the Crow Coal was free to everyone, and I gave it to Mr Bainbridge, showing him the necessity of making some examples for the sake of bringing these misguided people under some restraint.  

      After looking at the sad condition of the fences in some high Allotments on the mountains between the Nent & the Tyne returned to Lowbyer and saw many of the Tenants attending Alston Fair, on different subjects.  Too frequently to complain of the state of houses or fences, & all anxious to know when they were likely to have an opportunity of retaking their Farms.  As the whole of that district will be out of Lease at May Day next except Spency Croft, Lowbyer Inn & Nursery, I find it necessary to bring the subject under the consideration of the Board & to ask their direction respecting it.  The farms are so small, & the buildings & fences consequently so numerous, & besides in such a wretched condition that I feel afraid to encounter the attempt to make them tenantable. The people are generally industrious and respectable, & with a few exceptions strive to pay their Rents honestly, but complain of the last short Letting for four years, that, things have got worse, as they could not, in the uncertainty of retaking, do any thing in liming their benty Pastures or draining their low meadows.  This is true, and if the Commissioners approve, I would recommend to let them for 15 years from next May. I see you, that it will be absolutely necessary that I should choose a convenient time during the summer, (for there is no doing anything satisfactorily in that county, where even now there is still a quantity of Snow on Cross Fell, in short days and bad weather) to stay a fortnight at Lowbyer & make a minute examination of each small tenement as well as large Allotment, to ascertain the eligibility of each tenant by his management & circumstances, & to decide how each set of buildings may best be refitted, and what Stone Fences it is indispensable to rear again, and what may be dispensed with.   This will be attended with a good deal of labor, but it must be done, & if I have the authority of the Board, I shall at the same time ascertain whether such of the Tenants as I may find it advisable to treat with, will offer such rents as I can recommend to be accepted.  

      In the evening walked over the line staked out for the new road at the west end of Alston Bridge, now being built, (which as a part of Mr McAdams road that has never yet been made, but now rendered necessary by the altered situation of the bridge) for the purpose of advising the Committee as to the sum they ought to offer for its purchase.   Mr Hodgson is much opposed to this line through his ground & determined to extract the highest price for it.  I met at the Bridge our Surveyor of the Roads & the County Surveyor of Bridges.  He examined the different lines that seemed practicable and as we thought hit upon one which might obviate Mr Hodgsons objections without public inconvenience.