Report – James Stuart – 8 Aug 1774

Monday 8 Aug[us]t



Set out early this morning and, in the course of the day, viewed the following Farms Vizt.



      Haydon Town New Lease which contains 114A.0R.20P (exclusive of the Town Green which is 4A.2R.0P ) is under Lease to Thomas Fairlam & Geo[rge] Bell, for 21 Y[ea]rs expiring in 1779 at 65£ pAnn[um] being about 11s/4d 3/4 pAcre. It consists of about 17 Acres pasture & meadow & the remainder arable of which about 15 Acres is in Fallow. There are two Farmhouses which are small & want some repairs by the Tenants which they were ordered to get done immediately; the rest of the housing is very indifferent. On the East side of Long Flat a piece of Ground consisting of about 3 roods has been set off & belongs to J Craigs of Hexham in lieu of a piece of his Freehold of nearly the same size which ran up the middle of the High Field very inconveniently for the Tenant. There are, upon this Farm some shabby Oaks past their Growth which we recommend to be taken down. The Tenants seem to be very industrious young men & have their Land in good condition, for which they are deserving of all proper Encouragement.

      Haydon Town Old Lease which contains 47A.1R.3P is in the occupation of Francis

Stokoes Representatives, under a 99 Y[ea]rs Lease expiring in 1776, at 10£ pAnn[um] being about 4s/2d 3/4 pAcre. It consists chiefly of Arable of which about 1/10th part is in fallow.

      Page Croft which contains 47A.2R.5P is under Lease to Matthew Pigg, for 21 Y[ea]rs, expiring in 1779 at 28£ pAnn[um] being about 11s/9d 1/2 pAcre. It consists nearly of 1/2 Arable, 5 Acres of which is in fallow or turnips; the other 1/2 meadow & pasture, some of which near the river's side, is covered with stones, gravel, etc & wants clearing.

      Millhills new Lease which contains 113A.1R.35P is under Lease to Mr William Wilson

for 21 Y[ea]rs ending in 1779, at 65£ pAnn[um] being about 11s/5d 1/2 pAcre. It is now in the occupation of Gabriel Wren a Sub Tenant, who has been on it only 1 Y[ea]r & gave, as he informed us 130£ for the remainder of the Lease including a small Croft worth about 40s pAnn[um]. This Farm consists of about 22 Acres of meadow* & pasture, the remainder Arable of which about 14 acres are in fallow. * a piece of about 3 Acres had just been limed, with an Intent, as we supposed, to be broke up, but we forbade it's being done. 

      Some of the meadow wants draining. The two Bean haughs, which are mostly in Tillage, being near the River side, should be laid down to Grass, and they & the field called the ‘Piece by the River’ should be well walled where necessary against the Tyne. The Oaks in Watson's Wood which are in a retrograde State should be taken down & sold & young Timber planted. 

      The Housing is very indifferent & one of the Barn Floors in very bad condition. Wren was very pressing with us to have a new one & offered, if the Hospital would let him have the Flag Stones from Grindon Common, to lead & lay them down, at his own expence. The Wood in this Farm has been lately valued at about £180.

      Millhill's Old Lease, which contains 17A.1R.18P is in the occupation of Michael Toppin & <.>, under a 99 Y[ea]rs Lease expiring in 1776, at 5£ pAnn[um] being about 5s/8d pAcre. It consists of about 5 Acres of pasture (one rood or there abouts taken in from the Common) the rest arable whereof about 2 1/2 Acres is in Fallow & Turnips. The Housing upon this farm (as upon all the 99 Y[ea]r Lease) is very mean & ruinous.

      Plenderheath which consists of 69A.0R.27P, is under Lease to Joseph Cook for 21 Y[ea]rs expiring in 1787, at £51 pAnn[um] being about 14s/9d ¾ pAcre. It consists of about 22 Acres of meadow & pasture; the remainder Arable of which about 10 Acres are in fallow. The Bog and the Moiety of Bog Close want draining; the latter very much.

      The Dwelling House & all the rest of the housing (except some conveniences made by the Tenant) are in very good condition, & make a handsome appearance; having been built new about 6 Y[ea]rs ago.

      Westbrokenheugh, contains 106A.2R.16P & is under Lease to Edward Bell, for 21 Y[ea]rs expiring in 1779, at 70£ pAnn[um] being about 13s/1 ¾ pAcre It is at present in the occupation of [space left] Henderson (who has been in, as we understand about 3 Y[ea]rs & gave 85£ for the remainder of the Lease) and consists of about 36Acres of meadow & pasture, & the remainder arable of which about 13 1/2 Acres are in Fallow. In the Hoa Dales & Gilder Rigg, which are now laid together, are about 2 Acres, & in the Middle Reins, about one Acre of Bog, which want draining.

      In high Field pasture is a Coalpit which will be taken notice of hereafter.

      The Housing on the above farm is old, but in good condition, except the Tiling, which in these exposed situations is found to be far inferior to slate. There are some old Trees near the house, going to decay, but as they are of little value & serve in some degree as a Shelter, we think they should stand, [un]til other plantations can be got up. Having finished the above Farms, we returned in the Evening to Hexham; and on