Report – George Crawhall to Martin Morrison – 1 Jul 1814

Coalcleugh Mines



       The Mines at Coalcleugh etc are poorer at this time than they were last Bargains, & many of the best workings last quarter require an advance of the price per Bing the ensuing quarter. We are pushing the Dead Work as rapidly as possible to get proper communications into the Eastend Workings but have not yet effected any more than what was done last quarter end. The number of Men employed raising Ore in the East end flatts & Sun Vein are 6 Men at 20s per B[in]g. 6 at 30s. 4 at 36s. 12 at 38s. 26 at 40s. & 6 Men at 42s per Bing. the West End workings are poorer than last quarter, & a part of the Men that were raising Ore are under the necessity of leaving their situations on account of being so much wrought out and poorer than usual, 4 Men are raising Ore at 30s per Bing. 4 at 35s. 8 at 36s. 18 at 40s. & 8 Men at 42s per Bing.

       There are 6 Men raising Ore at 40s per B[in]g & 24 Men at 42s in different parts of the old Workings, those places in general are very poor. We are now making better progress in opening out Low Coalcleugh Vein than last quarter, yet a great distance from having her on a regular footing to make an attempt to search for Ore. Barney Craig Level, we have holed this Level to the Borehole that was putting down for Air, which I expect will afford a sufficient supply to drive her up to cut Low Coalcleugh Vein; we have also cut a weak Vein in this Level but have not got convenience to make any trial for Ore. Furneyshield, we have made an effectual trial in the Limestone, where we cut the Vein, & found her to carry no Lead that is worth prosecuting so of course she is abandoned. 

       Wellhope continues very poor & only 6 Men raising Ore at 42s per B[in]g & have employed a P[ar]tners[hi]p of Men to drive the East Level forehead which has stood many years, & make a trial into the Limestone which will take 4 or 5 Months to open out a length.

       Hartley Cleugh is something better than last quarter but still very poor, the North forehead is now producing some Ore, which had been quite dead for sometime past, the other workings are much the same as last Bargains, there are 10 Men raising Ore at 40s & 6 Men at 30s per Bing. 20 Men are employed in driving Levels & making other Trials.

       I have begun two new trials since Ladyday Bargains one at Kiersley Row where we have set out a new Level, the other at Bateshill where we are opening an old Level; these are both places that formerly have been productive in Ore, but have not been prosecuted for 40 or 50 Years; in 3 or 4 Months I expect to be into the Vein at each Place, & be able to form an idea whether they are worth persevering in or not.

I remain Sir Y[ou]rs

Geo: Crawhall