Journal entry – John Grey – 29 May 1835

Friday 29th May



      Road early to Whitlaw Well Farm on the Brampton Road, to see a Lime Kiln that had been built for the use of the Township and is to be paid for by a general collection on the scale of the Poors Rate, which the tenant claimed to be allowed.  The Kiln burns Lime well, & as he has only one years of his Lease, I could not expect him to pay the Share, small though it be, of £2.6.0 & therefore allowed it.   He called my attention also to the diversion of a stream that had come for many years through his ground but had lately been turned into another channel by a neighbouring farmer,  in bringing the parties together, it turned out, as is often the case, that the action arose from some private misunderstanding together with a complaint against our tenant for not clearing the Water course, and allowing it to overflow the adjoining Land.  Having got the difference between these parties adjusted, I was called by the tenant on the opposite side of the Farm to look at the state of the Hospitals boundary fence which was so bad that he said that he could get no good of his land on account of it.   It was indeed no fence, but a few loose Stones laid together.  The hospitals Farm of Whitlaw Well consists of 23 Acres.  This adjoining one of 14.  The owner is anxious to sell it, and should the Commissioners be in any instance inclined to purchase, this affords the following inducements.  That separately, they are too small to occupy even one Man.  Together, with their combined right of Common, they would do so, that a new boundary fence would be saved, also a dwelling house, that in the Hospitals Land being almost past repairing, while that on the other is very passable, and lastly, that it is likely to be sold on reasonable terms.

      Returned to Alston - accompanied the Committee to look at the line of road, showing my Plan for another line - this was considered and finally approved, having first ascertained that in this case, Mr Hodgson would give the land as it would not interfere with an intended building site.  This altered line will save at least £160 to the Trust, which it would have required to purchase 1 1/2 Acres of Land and make the necessary fences.  Came to the Inn and was busily engaged with the Moor Master, his brother, a Surveyor in Alston, and Mr Stephens, in receiving rents and comparing the Ore deliveries with the Books of the respective Companies till evening when we had as usual on such occasions a large party at dinner.