Report – James Stuart – 24 Aug 1774

Wednesday 24 Aug[us]t



We proceeded this morning to view Coastley & its Appurt[enance]s; and in the first place came to

      Baggraw, which Farm containing 118A.3R.36P is under Lease to George Jackson's Representatives for 21 Y[ea]rs, expiring in 1779 at 32£ pAnn[um] being about 5s/4 1/2d pAcre. It is now in the occupation of Edward Atkinson a Sub Tenant, & consists of about 30 Acres of meadow & pasture, some Woodland, and the remainder Arable, of which about 12 acres are in fallow or Turnips. Included in the above quantity are 40A.2R.17P. which was an Allotment upon a division of Hexham Common some Y[ea]rs ago. There are some shabby Oaks in the High Wood & Low Wood which should be taken down & sold & the Bushes cleared away from the former, which if drained, will then make an excellent pasture.

      The Wood upon this farm has been lately valued at £210. The Housing is all very good, and there are a Cottage & 2 Byers which are almost new.

      From hence we entered the adjoining Farm of Longhope which contains 224A.2R.3P & is under Lease to Mr Mills Representatives, for 21 Y[ea]rs, expiring in 1779 at £61 pAnn[um] being 5s/5 1/4d pAcre. It consists of more than 1/2 meadow & pasture, the remainder arable of which about 20 Acres fallow and some Wood, and is now in the Occupation of Rob[er]t Dixon a Sub Tenant. Included in the above quantity are 68A.0R.33P being an Allotment from Hexham Common. There are some good Oaks in Longhope Wood & room for more, we therefore recommend the vacancies to be planted with acorns & the whole to be well  fenced in.

      The Housing belonging to this Farm is not very good, except a Cottage & Byer built about 9 Y[ea]rs ago. From hence we went into the adjoining Lands of

      Coastley which Farm contains 482A.2R.23P. and is under Lease to Thomas Bates for 21 Y[ea]rs expiring in 1779 at 200£ pAnn[um] including a Mill valued at 10£ pAnn[um] which brings the Land to about 7s/10 1/2d pAcre.

      The Land is most beautifully diversified with hill, dale & wood, & at the same time, commands an extensive, charming prospect over the Tyne & the adjacent Country. It consists of about 1/2 excellent meadow; pasture & woodland; the remainder arable, of which a part is in remarkably clean fallow & some Turnips. The whole of this Farm is in very high order (except a small part which wants draining) and does great Credit to the Tenant, who is therefore deserving of any proper favor which can be shewn him by the Board. A Fence should be made next the Burn in Coastley Park Intake and Mill Field; & the Vacancies in the Banks planted with Oak, Ash etc. the low banks of Coastley Walk, and the lower part (or even the whole) of Gateness Hill, should be planted in like manner. Included in the above quantity are 127A.0R.28P.being an Allotment from Hexham Common.

      The Wood growing on the above farm was lately valued at 387£.15s.0d. The Dwelling House & other Buildings are ancient & in but indifferent condition. There is another set of housing on Coastley Common for the use of the Allotment; consisting of a Herd's House with a granary over it, a Barn,  helm & sheepfold, which have been built since the commencement of the present Lease & are in pretty good order. From this Farm we entered that of

      Heckford [Hackford] which contains 126A.0R.29P & is under Lease to Elizabeth Smith for 21 Y[ea]rs  expiring in 1779 at 38£ pAnn[um] being about 4s/7d pAcre. It consists of upwards of 100 Acres of meadow & pasture, some Woodland & the remainder arable of which some part is very clean fallow. Included in the above quantity is 40A.2R.17P being an Allotment from Hexham Common. The Bank in Woody Bank, and also in Wigley's Leeses next Darn Burn, to be planted in the Vacancies & fenced in.

      The Wood in this Farm (amongst which there is a good deal of Birch & Alder) was lately valued at £287. The Housing is very good & the greatest part almost new, having been rebuilt since the commencement of the present Lease.

      We had the pleasure to find the above farm which is managed by Mrs Smith's Son, in very good condition; the Tenant following the laudable example of her Neighbour at Coastley for which she is also deserving of all proper favor. Having finished with this farm Coastley & its Appurtenances, we proceeded to Westwood & its Appurtenances; beginning first with

      Highwood which Farm contains 495A.2R.34P & is under Lease to Rob[er]t Martinson for 21 Y[ea]rs expiring in 1779 at 110£ pAnn[um] being about 4/5 1/4 pAcre. It consists of upwards of 200 Acres of Wood, about 80 meadow & pasture, and the rest arable, of which there is a good deal in fallow & Turnips.

      The Wood which is called Highwood, is by far the finest we have seen or expect to see upon the Estate, containing a large quantity of remarkably tall strait young Oaks in a most thriving state. But it gave us concern to find it lett to the Tenant with the rest of his Farm, as that means, it is not only open to his Cattle which browze upon & spoil the young plants which spring from the Acorn, but also to himself & Servants who, upon their account, have a pretence for going, at all times, into every part of the Wood, from whence it is easy to conceive much inconvenience may arise; We therefore recommend, as the Farmer told us, he had no objection, that the above Wood be taken into the Hospital's Hands, and a proper allowance made to him in lieu during the re mainder of his term; that it be then fenced round with a stone wall, cleared, drained, dug & planted where necessary, and such Trees as are unfit to stand, taken down & sold. As a proof of the thriving state of this Wood, the Timber upon it in the Y[ea]r 1736 (as we are told) was valued at no more than 460£; and by a late computation, it appears to be at present worth between 7 & 8000£.

      The Housing in the above Farm is pretty good. The Dwelling House having had an Addition of 2 good rooms and 2 new Barns (one of them at Highside) with 3 Byers having been built for the use of the Tenant within these 10 Y[ea]rs. From hence we returned to Hexham, viewing some of the adjoining Lands of Westwood as we went along.