Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Dickinson – 19 Jun 1792

Mr Dickinson 								Farnacres 19th June 1792



       We have rec[eive]d your Letter of the 16th w[i]th the Rec[eip]t of Ore raised last year inclosed, and are glad to have so agreable an amount relative to Browngill Sun Vein Small Cleugh Cross Vein and Nattrass North Vein and to hear that you are likely to let the next Ten Fathoms of Nent Force Level for less money p[er] Fathom than we have paid for some time past. 

       By James Johnson you will receive this Week 85 Posts Six feet long each 2 Mallets to drive them and some square hoops to put upon the heads of the Posts to prevent their splitting in driving. Mr Walton intends being at Lowbyer on Wednesday the 27th Inst against dinner which he desires may be ready for five or six persons against three  oClock and it is requested that there may not be too much dinner. It is proposed that Mr John Bell of Hexham Abbey Mr Joseph Dickinson of LoveLadyshield Mr Fryer of Newcastle and Mr Walton sh[oul]d meet at Hardrig End Currock <at>

Nine oClock in the Morning of the 28th & to proceed immediately in driving Stakes at each Angle of the Long Ditch and therefore you must contrive to send the Stakes before so as that the first parcel may be at Hardrig Currock by half past 8 oClock in the morning of the 28th. The Stakes etc must be laid down as follows, and laid so as not to be open to View.



                            41 Bro[ugh]t. up

5 at Hardrig End Currock    10 at High Raise Road

9 at Hardrig End Road       11 at Salters Road East of Brownley Hill

10 at Blakelaws Cross       12 at Dod End

10 at Hearty Cleugh Head    11 at the Road from Nenthead to  

                               Coalcleugh

7 at Benty Road Cleughhead  85 total

41 Carried up

		

There must also be a small Hand Saw well set, and a small Hatchet well sharped to take with us the whole way.

The numbers in Red Ink apply to the numbers on the Plan of the Long Ditch



       You must attend but as we wish the Ore carriage not to be interfered with John Friend need not attend us. We must have some Men to take our Horses forward from Hardrig End Currock to Nenthead & as there will be Six Horses at least there sh[oul]d be three Men ordered to Hardrig end Currock for that purpose and those three Men must carry the 5 Posts, 2 Mallets the Hoops & Saw and Hatchet to that Currock & wait there ‘till the Company are met. It will be necessary to have five other Men to attend us and those five Men must carry the 19 Stakes 9 of which are to be laid down at Hardrig End Road and 10 at Blake Laws Cross and after laying them down they must come to the Company at Hardrig End Currock & be there by ½ past Nine in the Morning of the 28th. Four Stakes will be equal to <1/2 ft> of wood and that will be easily carried by one Man. The other 61 Stakes you and Mr Joseph Dickinson must contrive to get laid at the places mentioned on the otherside & we hope there is no fear that anybody will steal them but if you think there is any fear of that one Boy sh[oul]d be got to stay by them at the place where they are laid down but you must immediately consult with Mr Jos. Dickinson about that and also about providing Men to attend & let him see this

Letter, and there sh[oul]d be some consideration about contriving how we are to get the stakes drove where stone comes in the way. That we shall leave to you and Mr Dickinson. We are

       Your Humble Serv[an]ts

       Walton & Turner