Journal entry – John Grey – 29 Apr 1835

Wednesday 29th



      Rode over to Whittonstall in the morning & passed the day in looking after the state of the farms & sundry repairs there & in Newlands, where I met Benson & fixed upon proceeding with the intended repairs at Fairle and the building a Smiths House at Whittonstall.  Examined Newlands Park Wood and a Quarry from which, being in a very retired spot, I had been informed that a Mason formerly employed on the Hospital’s Estates, had taken and sold stones without permission    He confessed with having sold three Cart Loads & intending to work out a good deal more, but also, intending to pay the Hospital for the Quarry.   As I could not admit of such proceeding, I discharged him with a threat of prosecution if he should repeat the offence, charging the Woodman to keep watch and give me information of any such attempt.   But finding that a person in Ebchester, about building a House & wanting a few corner stones, had been deceived by this person’s assurance that he had leave to use the Quarry, and that he would be put to inconvenience by the disappointment, I gave him permission to get them, on his written undertaking that he would pay such charge as I might think fit.  The actual damage is not worth naming, but it is quite necessary to have it understood that the Hospitals Quarries are not common to every intruder.  I had another meeting with Walker, the Lessee of the Brick Kilns in Dilston Park Farm, respecting some Fire Clay, or Clay adapted to the manufacture of Bricks that will stand the Fire, which he has discovered in Corbridge Town Farm.  He has the right by his Agreement for the Brick Yard to work that kind of Clay in the Dilston Estates, but the Seam having disappointed him, he was inclined to claim the right of working it elsewhere. This Seam being in a different Estate, I could not admit the right, although I thought it just that he should have the accommodation.   I reckoned at first that £4 a year would be a fair charge, he having it to Cart more than two Miles, and paying the Tenant for all trespass, but finding that on some of the Dukes Estates, from 6d to 8d per Ton is claimed as Rent charge, and calculating his probable consumption at 6d per ton I have required a Rent of £6 a year which he has agreed to pay for the term of the Lease of the Brick Yard, & also to supply the Hospitals Estates with that description of Bricks at 5s/- a hundred, being 1/3d less than the usual price.  I therefore send two copies of an Agreement for signature, should the Board approve of the terms.