Friday, September 25, 1835

1835

September

Friday 25

7 35/..

12 5/..

No kiss.

Fine morning and F 53 1/2° at 8 1/2 a.m. – Breakfast at 8 3/4 – Had Taylor the tinner at library fender, and afterwards mending handle of large tin box – Sat talking to Ann till she was off on her pony to Cliff hill at 10 – Went out at 10 1/4 – in the new farmyard –

Holt came about 11 – Walked with him to the Stump Cross Inn water cisterns, the one just made and the old one – the latter to be left open a week and tried if water tight before being pulled up –

Mentioned the Executors of the late Mr. James Walsh having called on me yesterday and what passed, and desired Holt to call and tell them that I declined having anything to do with the coal – Messers Holdsworth and Company may loose the Spiggs coal if they like (but having 40 yards breadth less than they would have had if the water course in James Smith’s holme was not dammed up) by driving a galloway gate under the road by Spiggs house to Northowram – and letting this galloway communicate with a pit 12 yard deep to the upper bed at the low corner of the Intake – This might all be done for £300, exclusive of what must be paid to Mr. Emmett or me for the privilege of going through a corner of his land or my Staups Land – must pass through one or other –

I said I would rather they agreed with Mr. Emmett – What would he ask? Holt said the Clarks had made them (the Holts) pay £500 down for just going under a hedge, and, if he was Mr. Emmett, he would have that – Holdsworth had bought Mr. Dearden’s coal under the Northowram hills at £40 per acre that Holt had valued £60 per acre, allowing for Mr. Dearden’s having no privilege – The coal if loosed was worth £100 per acre – and Holdsworth had got coal thereabouts from somebody else at five pounds! per acre (i.e. £10 per acre both beds) – Well! said I, it is only fair then that they should pay as much for the privilege of a loose as will bring their coal to a fair price, so that they may not undersell the rest of us – Holt thought this only right – Then, said I, I will have an acreage of £20 per acre.  It strikes me, however, that I had better have a sum paid down?

In passing the Lodge, looked at the Strata there – 2 throw down – From that to the upper bed, 13 yards of rag and 11 of different things, trub, basset, blacks, whites, etc. – Coming down the Godley cutting the 36 yards band (coal band) very plain on the left or easterly side – This coal band always dry – The dirt band 3 1/2 yards above it is the band for water – There would be water at the bottom of the rag – I might get this at the top of the Godley, cutting into a watering trough, and take the surplus into the Trough of Bolland wood, and might drive a drift in the dirt band at 3/. per yard  –

Holt had heard of Mr. Rawson’s putting down a steam engine to get his Rookes coal – Should pay Captain Sutherland £20 per acre for the open tail loose – Mr. Holmes likely to go into partnership with Wilson at his engine and coal – Holt pushed it on to keep Stocks out –

Home about 12 1/2.  Sat talking to Ann, who returned about 1, till 2, when Mr. Watson from Messers Gray and Son and Mr. Harper arrived.  The latter staid till 5 and the former as long –

Dinner at 6 20/.. – With my father and Marian some time – Then Coffee – Skimmed over the newspaper – From 9 1/3 to 9 3/4 with my aunt – Then till 10 55/.. wrote the above of today, at which hour F 56°.  Fine day –

Mr. Watson back here at 7 35/.. – a plantation at Windy end, Golcar, left out of deed schedule, and plan (Washington’s fault) and Captain Sutherland would not sign.  All unsettled –

Rainy night at 12 and long afterwards –

Letter this evening from Messers Rundell and Bridge, to acknowledge the receipt of £2.19.8 paid by Messers Hammersley for repairing Ann’s and mine.

Kept Mr. Harper waiting some time at first while I was with Ann and Mr. Watson – Heard read over the deed she executed, making over Lot 2 (Golcar, Bailey hall etc.) to Captain Sutherland – checked the schedule in the deed by Washington’s schedule – Found all right – Much pleased with Mr. Shapley Watson.  Ann signed the paper and Mr. Watson and I witnessed them –

Went out about 3 or soon after to Mr. Harper, who had been looking about at the Lodge bridge, farmyard, etc. and kept him till 5, consulting about farmyard and plan of future additions to and alterations of the house – A breadth of 12 yards beyond the present outside wall to the west would be enough for the buildings and 10 yards more would do for the courts of the kitchen department –

Explained what I wanted – Mr. Harper thought the kitchens and stables would cost £2500, and the cellar under the proposed  gallery and terrace would be done for £500, the gallery cost of, not named – Consulted him about the little wine cellar, and about a frame for the model of Switzerland – 8 plate glass panes would cost about £4 each, and framing about £8 (each pane to take out separately); therefore total expense = £40. Said I would wait – would make the present wood-covers slide on and off more easily and be contented with those – From 5 to 6 10/..Out – about the house – Dinner at 6 20/.. vide last page –

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/18/0102 and SH:7/ML/E/18/0103