Letter – William Westgarth to John Erasmus Blackett – 9 Mar 1773

								Whiteleeshield March 9th. 1773.

Sir

	I have been either so unwell of a Pain in my Head, or so very busy, since I waited on you at Newcastle Octor. the 14th. 1772, that I have never been able to get properly forward with the calculations relating Fallowfield – lead-mine, and, but for the above reasons, should be ashamed to offer my thoughts now, so late.   However, I have at last taken all the pains I can, and find, from what I have observed, and have been informed of, from time to time That

 

					Westward

From the Engine Shaft, - which is 63 1/2 fathoms deep.

   To – where Acomb level cuts the Vein           fathms    Bank level

      at a Shaft Called Nook Shaft, it is            259        12 

       Nook Shaft 27 fa: deep.

   To where Mr.Walton propos’d an Engine, 

      mark’d D, in his plan                          547        27 1/2

       Which is not so deep as Acomb-level 

       by 11 1/2 fathoms

   To North-Tyne -level mouth                        973        51 1/2

   To Ditto       level forehead                     736

And from Acomb level-head, at Nook Shaft 

   To Tyne level forehead                            477

Now                                                             fathms

   The Bank-level from the Engine to Tyne, being                51 1/2 

   The Bank-level from the Engine to Nook Shaft                 12

      And the deepth of Nook Shaft                              27

   Makes the level, from the Engine Shaft top, 

      to Acomb-level head at Nook Shaft foot                    39

   Which, deducted from the depth of Tyne-level 

      51 1/2 fa: shews Tyne-level to be, deeper 

      than Acomb-level, only                                    12 1/2

   Of which probably has, and will be lost, in 

      driving up the sd. Tyne level to Nook Shaft                2 1/2



So that, the difference at most will be only about 10 faths. gain’d, by driving, or bringing up Tyne-level 477 faths. at 3 or 4 £ a fathm. provided you keep clear of all misfortunes.

      From the above measurements &c. the ground west of the Engine, may, in my opinion be sufficiently tryed, with an Engine fix’d at Nook Shaft, called, The new statical Engine, being such a one as we mostly use in this Country now, as they are, not only the cheapest, but answers the purpose best where the fall is great, as at Nook-Shaft; or indeed any fall [above] 5 faths. and is the only one I know of that would ansr. the purpose there; which I think it would do, with the Water afforded by St. Oswalds Colliery and the other feeders you might collect to work it with.

	It is a trial, like the others, that I would not be fond of Encouraging you in, tho’ it is certainly the most promising of any about Fallowfield-mine, that I know of, done at the least expence <an>d undoubtedly in the least time.   The Engine may be mostly made from the Materials of the old one, if you choose to take it out; And Acomb-level and Nook-Shaft might soon be opened out; which Shaft with a little alteration would Ansr. for the Engine Shaft, as well as a drawing and climbing Shaft.

	Your present feeders at Fallowfield is about 65 Ale-gallons pr minute in Summer, and 104 in Winter; which feeders, tho’ not great, are considerably greater than I expect you would have at Nook Shaft; feeders I expect (I mean Nook-Shaft feeders) the New Engine would draw from the deepth of 25 or 30 faths. below Acomb-level, where she would land her water; but the deepth would be more, or less, in proportion to the quantity of water you would meet with.

      I am Sir Your most obedient huml. Servt. to command

      Wm. Westgarth