Letter – Richard Peck to Nicholas Walton – 21 Apr 1744

A SURVEY OR VIEW of Scremerston & Berwick hill Collierys made the 16th April 1744 By Orders of Messrs Walton & Hugh Boag by us Richard Peck & Amos Barnes Viz:



We this day descended the first Coale pitt in Scremerston Liberty & there viewed such of the open workings as are adjoining to the water Levell the Coale being all wrought in that pit which can be got to the rise within the Inscribed Pricked Line Square on the map A & found the water Levell secure & a Drift drove to a new Pitt No.5 which is now sinking there being no Coales working at present in Scremerston Lordship.  The Levells or winning of Scremerston we find to be at the most proper place as it is begun at the Sea banks at High water mark at the nearest distance from the first Coale pitt No. 4 as may be observed by the map having regard to the distance between the Sea Shore & the Eastmost red Line which was the supposed water Levell taken at any other place but where the Levell was begun & the red line before mentioned, and with regard to the Draining of Berwick hill Colliery we find the Stone so full of partings that we think it woul’d have been Equal at any Distance.  And had it been executed at any other place it is our opinions the Consequences woul’d have been the same to Berwick hill & an Expense Increased to the Hospitall very greatly in proportion to the Distance from the present winning.



The Coale being wrought in Scremerston Liberty within the Inscribed prick’d line Square A boundering upon Berwick hill we could not discover more than one hole or outstroke into Berwickhill which Mr Armorer the present Tenant as we are Informed or his agents made by which a Small part of Berwick hill Colliery described in the map by the Long Square B is freed from Water ,  he according to the Best Information we cou’d get before this outstroke was made the water drained from Berwick hill thro’ the Hill & Roof into Scremerston & also thro’ the Severall sorts of Stone which communicated with the Levell Shafts in Scremerston We are also informed an outstroke was made by Stephen Redpath & Ptners during the time he wrought the Colliery but that where this home was made there was no water it have been drained thro’ the Hill & Roof & other vacancies in the Stone into Scremerston Colliery & it is our opinions that whether any outstrokes had been made or not Berwick hill Colliery wou’d have been drain’d of water by Scremerston winning.  And as by that Colliery being so drain’d, the Coale will soon be wrought out we are of opinion Scremerston can receive no damage thereby, but that on the Contrary while Scremerston is lying & the Rents pay’d for the same and the Coale preserved it must be a very great advantage.  And we are of opinion that as by these two Collierys being in two different hands Berwick would be of longer continuance….. so neither cou’d be valuable during such continuance & that in the present & future situation Scremerston Colliery have all the advantages which cou’d be wished for by all appearance & must in Course be of long continuance.



We find a winning was begun by Mr Armorer the present Tenant of Berwick hill Colliery within that Liberty at High water mark as is described in the Map No 7..8.. &9 & a double Line and was Carried on to within twenty five yards of the Coale in Berwick Liberty & would have been finished in about two months.  This winning was begun as we are informed in February 1741/2 & was discontinued in February or March 1742/3 upon Mr Armorer taking Scremerston, But is to be observed that before this winng was discontinued Mr Armorer had been working Coales in Berwick hill Eight months by means of the water draining to Scremerston as is before mentioned.  This winning wou’d in our opinions have been very Effectual to Berwick hill had not Scremerston winning been made and must have rendered Berwick hill in such a Situation in a separate undertakers hand that Scremerston during her working would have been of very little value.  Whereas as the Case now is the Coale in Berwick hill will be wrought out in about 3 months wch makes Scremerston of much more value.



Upon the whole we think nothing can Prejudice the winning or working of Scremerston Colliery from what has been done, but we recommend proper Care to be taken to Oblige Mr Armorer to Clean out the present Drift & future Water Levell from time to time & to leave 8 yards of Coal between the Water Levell Drifts & the workings as the same shall extend thro’ the whole Colliery given under our hands this twenty first day of April 1744.

      Richard Peck   Amos Barnes