Letter – Nicholas Walton to Hugh Boag – 6 Apr 1738

To Mr Hugh Boag 						Alston Moor   6 April. 1738



Dear Sr

	As your Call to London was upon so short Notice, which prevented your having so particular an accot. of the State & Condition of the Lead Mines, in this Manner as you intended we take this first opportunity of acquainting you thereof in as particular a manner as the nature of the thing will allow of in this way.

	At Thorngill there has been sev[era]ll Old Shafts opened in order to Discover the Condition of that Mine, which is found in so poor Condition in the Upper Cills that a low Levell has been thought necessary to Win the Low Cills, It has been some time at work is now Drove about 120 yards and will Effectually Win all the Low Cills of that Mine.

	<Goring> Gill Levell is also pursuing in the proper manner but is not yet finished and Lough vein is Sinking into the Low Limestone, in order to make a judgement whether a Lower levell than the present one is necessary or not. The present levell has been opened , and severall Shafts and Sumps opened since G L Esqr and his partners began work. 

	Nentsberry Haggs now raising a Small Quantity of Ore, a level having lately been Drove to loose some Deadwater and severall shafts has been sunk and opened too for the Convenience of working that mine.

	At Blagill there has been severall Cross Cutts made as a preparation for getting ore, and it is now under consideration what other Methods may be most proper for the Effectual carrying on that Mine.

	At Brownley hill there has been an old levell opened and a shaft has been also opened in order for getting ore.

	There is a Levell carrying on to win Fair Hill and Redgroves at the Lowest levell that can be got, and from the same Levell, the Shaw, Peatstack hill Bright Burn & Dowgang will be all Effectually woan, it has been a great expence and will yet cost to winn all these mines £1000 or upwards there has been at Peatstack hill a New Shaft Sunk and sev[era]ll Sumps Sunk in order that the greatest Quantity of ore might be raised till the Low Levell be brought up to that mine.

      There has been sev[era]ll shafts and a Levell opened at Carrs and Cowslitts in order for getting ore and the necessary steps are taking for working these mines.

      There has been a Levell Drove at the East End of Longhole head and sevll. Shafts sunk, one whereof upon the vein, which is now Trying in order to get ore and a Sump is intended to be sunk into the low Cills to try these also.

      A Levell is pursuing towards the west end of Longhole head and severall shafts has been opened thereon, this Levell has been great expence, has cost in some parts £3-10-0 per fathom and is now Driving at 57s/6d per Fathom.

      A Levell is pursuing towards Browngill which will winn not only that mine but Thortergill and Browngill Moss it is about 600 yards in length and will cost abt. £500 there has been sevll. Shafts also opened to try the workings in Browngill Mine which Discovered an overcharge of water and consequently could not be wrought without the above mentioned Levell which will be an effectual Winning.

      A Levell is also Carrying on to win Bents field or Taylor Syke and Thortergill foot which will be an effectual winn. 

      At  <Fletcheress> sev[era]ll shafts and an Old Levell has been opened and a new one is intended to be begun for the more Effectual Winning of that mine.

      At Redgroves at Nattress a Levell has been drove and sev[era]ll <stmples> sunk and the level is now proceeding to cutt the vein upon the Top of the Low Limestone, there is also a Cross Cutt making towards the sun string.

      At Galligill sike has been a Top Levell Drove and a Low Levell is Driving for the more effectual winning that mine, and there has been sevll. Shafts Sunk and Opened.

      There has been sevll. Shafts opened and a level opened also at Greengill and a Cross Cutt is now making in order to Cutt the Sun vein.

      <Rookhill> mine has been at work since Christmas last a new shaft is sunk, and a Cross Cutt is made to the vein, where a sump is sinking in order to get into the low Limestone, and a shaft is sunk in order to trial at Cowperhole head to get ore.

      	

      These are all the mines at work or proceeding to by levels within this manor and upon the whole we must observe that the works are carried on with all the expedition tht is possible, That the severall winnings or Levels are proceeding in a very fair regular manner, That the great expence that has accrewed shows that no time has been lost in the putting in practice what was intended and we hope it will evidently appear how much the Comissioners have acted in and how much the Colonel has had the Interest of the Charity at hart. 

      Inclosed you have an abstract of the pay bill showing the Total  Disburst to the 25th of March last Amounting in the whole to £4383-16-8 ¼ …. And we are  Sr Yo[urs] &c NW.





An Accot. of Money expended for and upon the accot. of Led Mines in the Derwentwater estate let by the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital to Geo. Liddell Esq. and Partners from the 1st Feb 1736/7 to and with the 15 March 1738 as appears by accot. viz:



Expended by George Liddell Esqr.

In raising ore by Bing          £599  6 10

In Dead Charges                 2312  5  1 1/2

In Building a smelting mill 

   and Utensills thereof         325  8  9

In Building a Refinery at Team   271 14  9 3/4

Salarys and expenses             316  9 11 1/2          £3825  5  5 3/4



Expended by the Govern[or] & Comp. for Smelting &c

In Dead Charges Exclusive of raising ore by Bing          298  7  9 



Expended by Thomas Hayley esqr

In Dead Charges Exclusive of Raising ore by Bing          260  3  5 1/2

                                             Total      £4383 16  8 1/2



	Alstone Moor the 6 April 1738

We have Carefully examined the sevrll. Paybills of Geo. Liddell Esqr. from which the above abstract of his and his partners Disbursments are made, as also  the accost. Of the Govern[or] and Company for Smelting down Lead and Thomas Hayley Esqr. and find the Disbursments on Accot. of Lead Mines let by the Comissioners of Greenwich Hospitall to the said geo. Liddell Esqr. Amount to Four Thousand three hundred and Eighty three pounds Sixteen shillings and eightpence farthing Witness our hands  N.W, J.S