Letter – Nicholas Walton to Robert Williamson – 12 Jun 1793

1793 June 12th				Case

       The Commissioners and Governors of Greenwich Hospital are possessed of various Lead Mines lying within the Wastes of the Manor of Alston Moor of which Manor they are Lords and they are also possessed of various Lead Mines lying within many of the Inclosed Grounds which are held under Lease from the Hilton family for 1000 years. See Copy of one of the Leases left herewith [marked in margin as ‘No.1’]. The Lessees of Greenwich Hospital who work the Mines have till within a few years past taken the Lead Ore from the Mines both upon the Common and the Inclosed Grounds by means of Horses belonging to Ore Carriers who have certain Prices for carrying the Ore from the Mines to the Lead Mills, without any interruption and the Agents of Greenwich Hospital have by Carriers in like manner taken the Duty Ore without interruption till of late years. Some of the Lessees under the Hilton family are now become very troublesome to the Ore Carriers and when they observe any of their Horses Grazing near the Mines tho’ upon the Common they attempt to impound them but have hitherto been prevented by the Ore Carriers resisting their attempts and forcibly keeping their Horses for the purpose of carrying away the Lead Ore. No such attempts have been made till within these two or three years last past. On the <8th> May last (ie. ult) one Isaac White a Tenant of a Person who is intitled to a Tenement under the Hilton family on Lease for 1000 years on similar conditions to those contained in the Lease of which a Copy is left herewith severely

hounded some Horses belonging to a Carrier employed by the Lords of the Manor and by doing so lamed one and injured the rest but did not attempt to impound any of them. See Acc[oun]t of this transaction left herewith [marked in margin as ‘No.2’].

       As the interruptions given to the Lessees and the Lords of the Manor are likely to prove very disadvantageous Mr Williamson is requested to consider this business very attentively and to advise what kind of conduct sh[oul]d be observed by the Lessees, and the Agents of Greenwich Hospital and their <respective> Ore Carriers upon the occasion and also to advise whether any and what

Action or Actions it may be proper to commence against the Person or Persons who have given or may hereafter give interruptions to the Ore Carriers in taking the Ore and in particular to advise in what manner it may be proper to proceed against Isaac White on acc[oun]t of hounding the Horses on the 9 Ult. It is to be observed that no such interruptions as the above mentioned were ever experienced during the time the Radcliffe family possessed the Manor of Alston Moor that ever Mr Walton Senr heard of [added in margin: ‘he is now 90’].

       By the long Lease the Lessees Covenant that it shall be lawful for the Lessor his Heirs and Assigns to enter into any part of the demised Premises to dig and seek for take have and convert to his and their own Profit Benefit and Use all the Mines and Ore of Lead that shall happen to be found in or upon the Premises and to have free egress and regress with convenient way and leave for the carriage and taking away of the said Pre making recompense to Lessee his Ex[ecu]tors and Assigns as set forth in s[ai]d Leases.

       In some instances Smiths Shops have been erected within the Inclosed Grounds held under such Leases. Mr Williamson is desired (as Smiths Shops are necessary for Sharping the Tools made use of in cutting Levels sinking Shafts and working the Ore) to advise whether the Lessees of the Lead Mines under G Hospital can justify the making such erecting on the Grounds so held as being necessary appurtenances to the Lead Mines tho not specifically set forth in the long Leases.