Letter – Andrew Dickson to Richard Chandler – 28 Apr 1732

      I am informed Mr Hutchinson is not to take a Lease of my Lords lott Oar for a certain Sume but only to buy my Lords lott Oare when it is drawen, so my Lord will be at the Charge and truble of imploying one to draw it. Mr Mowbray told me this day he pays fiftie shillings a Bing for all the Oare he buys in Weardale.

      When Peter Whitfield was proposed to me for a proper person to take Account of my Lords Oare I wrot to him that he wou’d give me the Nomber of Mines, their Names, and distance from each other I here give an extract of his letter. 

      According to your request I have sent you the places and distance of a great Sort of the Lead-mines in Wearsdale which is now Wrought, but shall Ommit all them that is not wrought. I shall take my distance from the New House where Mr Blackett Steward lives for it is near the Center & he who takes my Lord Bishops lott Oare must be near that place to be in readiness when they give notice. There is <3> separat vains near that place two which is wrought called by name of Allerclough & Rakes vains. The next to the Northwest is Sedeling vain<2> miles from the center. Killhope 6 ms west from the center but there is a great many of them I doe not know th[ei]r names. Rountreesike one mile south east. Green Loes 2 ms South east. <Jo>nglyshead 4 ms sow-west. Whesenhope 4 ms So-east. Shaftwell-head 7 ms So-east. Nueleaeside 5 mls So-east. Lincsgarth 4 mls Nor-east. Westgateheight 2 ms Nor-east  Richard Hall vain one mile Noe-east. by Reason here is so many, so far distant there must be notice given some time before hand, or there cannot a right Account be got by reason they are so far distant & so many Carryers & diferent Smelt Mills which the Oare goes to that the Man which is Imployed shoul’d be well skilled to distinguish which is right good Oare, or he may be Sure to get the worst. And it may be allowed one to have liberty to goe down into the Groves to See if they are fairly Wrought for fear they Lett the best working Stand. One shou’d have liberty to view their Acct. Books at the Smelt Mills for fear some Carryers take the Oare when none sees. There must be conveniences made for keeping the Oare after it is taken.

      I forget the Groves wch the New-Castle Gent hath taken of Mr Blackett which all pay lott Oare, there is About 6 of them in Rookhope None of them is wrought but Risby which hath got a great quantety of oare it is near 4 miles from the Center likewise Wolfcleugh 4 mls. 

      I thought proper to insert Peters letter not knowing but it may be of some use to you. In my last of the 14th Inst I Advised you Mr Blackets people had brock ground in Stanhope parke and in that place which is called the Deer Park there since they have cutt a vain about a yeard wide but it is what they call a dead or deaff vaine having little oare in it. Munday next [I] shall order the man who keeps the Parke or pastorage and lives at the entry into it to have a Strick [strict] eye on them and take a particular acct of of what loads of Oare they bring out if any.

      If the two Parks be not lett to lease I desire to be informed that the persons who takes the Parks be to pay to my Lord 20 sh per Binge of Oare and have the Oare to themselves or that they are to have 20 sh per Binge from my Lord and my Lord to have the Oare. If my Lord have the Oare from the undertakers there is none in this Countrie will take lease at that Rate. I also begg to be informed of the Circumference of Stanhope Parke if it be all with in the walls or the intack ground commonly called the Park Quarter then the Circumference is large and I believe will take in Some of the Mines wrought by Mr Blackett.  hoping you will pardon this long epestile [epistle] doe beg leave to continue as 

      Your most Humble Servant 

      Andrew Dickson



Wolsingham the 28 Apr 1732

PS I have none of yours since the 1st Inst. 



[Address on reverse:] For Richard Chandler Esqr Att the Excise Office London