Report – George Crawhall to Martin Morrison – 31 Dec 1814

Coalcleugh Xmass Barg[ain]s 1814

       The Mines at Coalcleugh are considerably poorer than ever they have been during this Year; & many of the Old Workings that have been raising Ore is completely wrought out, which has caused a number of Men to be out of employment at present, many others are so poor that I am afraid the Workmen will not earn their Subsistence Money. We have got the second communication completed from the Top Level to the Galloway Level at the East End which is of great benefit to the present Workings for Air, & will enable us to get forward with some fresh trials, we have begun to Sink a Sump from the Galloway Level to the East forehead in the Great Limestone which has not been put forward for several Months past for want of Air, after it is finished we shall be able to set the Low Level forward in the Great Limestone which will open some fresh ground that I expect will be productive: we have got the new Stand of Pumps thats been lying for several Years put to the Engine which I expect will answer a good purpose, but for want of a sufficient supply of water to work the Engine, from the intense frost , we cannot yet ascertain whether she will be capable of drawing the whole of the Water or not. The Ore Workings at the East End are not so productive as they have been the Flatts being much exhausted, & the Sun String considerably poorer in both the East & West foreheads; the different Bargains let to raise Ore consist of four at 28s per B[in]g, 6 at 30s, 12 at 35s, 20 at 38s, 20 at 40s & 12 at 42s per Bing. The Workings at the West End & the other parts of Coalcleugh are very poor & many of them wrought out, we have not lately met with any fresh Strings or Flatts that have been productive & the Old ones being so much exhausted has caused a No. of Men to be <out> of employment the different Bargains let to raise Ore consist of 4 Men at 30s, 10 at 40s, 54 at 42s & 10 at 200s per Fa[thom] of Lead.

       The Barney Craig Levels are getting forward very well, but have not cut any Veins.

       Wellhope is still very poor & only 8 Men raising Ore at 42s per B[in]g, we have not got the Sump that was begun last quarter at the West End down to the Great Limestone so that I cannot give any more information than the last report.

       Hartley Cleugh. The North end of this Vein has been so weak & poor for a great distance that we have abandoned it, the south end has a considerable better appearance at present than she had had for sixty fathoms back. I have let a Bargain to 6 Men in the last open’d length at 25s per B[in]g, the other Bargains are 2 Men raising Ore at 35s & 32 at 40s per Bing.

       The Trial at Kiersley Well Row is going forward, the Level has crossed the Vein where it has formerly been wrought but have not got to the places where we expect to meet with some whole Ground. We have not got much done at Bateshill since last Quarter, the Level forehead being at a stand for want of Air, untill we opened an Old Shaft which we now have in hand.

       I remain etc Go. Crawhall



Coalcleugh Dec 31/1814