Letters – Nicholas Walton to Richard Horne – 20 Aug 1756

                                                                                 Ravensworth Castle August 20th 1756

Sir

      Inclosed we send you the Moor Masters Account of mines wrought and unwrought, with the quantity of ore raised <etc> in the mannor of Alstonmoore from Christmas to midsummer last, which be pleased to lay before the Board.

      We have lately received some Information,that a discovery of a Lead Mine has been made in Hexhamshire in the Common or <parish>, belonging Sir Walter Blackett adjoining the Hospitals Estate at Rawgreen. We have lately viewed the Hospital Estate at Rawgreen, and the place where this discovery is said to have been made, & think the prospect of a Lead Mine not very promising, but as a tryal may be made for about ten or fifteen pounds, we think such tryal adviseable; especially as Sir Walter Blacketts Agents have Intimated the Estate at Raw Green being Coppyhold and that Sir Walter has a right to the Royalty; a thing we have never understood, but on the contrary that the estate at Raw Green is a Freehold & that the Hospital are owners of the Royalty. This Tryal by the Hospital we suppose will be an Act of Royalty [missing: page torn] Sir Walter upon claiming, if he thinks he has a right. In the mean time it [missing: page torn] [w]ell to look into the title Deeds of the Hexhamshire Estates to see how this matter stands. We suppose Raw Green was a part of the purchase of Aydon Shields, & are 

      Sir Your most Obed[ien]t Serv[an]ts

                  Nicho[la]s Walton

      Hugh Boag



<Sir> Richard Horne Esq  



[annotated in a differnet hand, presumably by Horne:]                                                                                                                    20 August 1756  Messrs Walton & Boag.



Relating to a discovery of a Lead Mine in Hexhamshire desire the Deeds of that Estate may be examined in relation thereto.

Inclose the Moor Masters Account for Six Months ending mids[umme]r last.



Rec[ieve]d 23rd   } August 1756

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