Report – Joseph Dickinson to Martin Morrison – 11 Jan 1813

Martin Morrison Esq. Newcastle						Dufton 11 Jany 1813.



       Yours of the 23 Dec last I rec’d in <c…..> & if the times had allowed two or three shillings per Bing more, for some poor places, would have been very acceptable; The Workmen have no place to fly to, & cannot live without some employment; I fear several of them have taken Bargains, which at 42s per B[in]g will not cover the usual allowance, of advance Cash, & will of course increase (what we may call your National Debt) and according to my judgement of the Accounts, you will find something of that [at] the ensuing Pay. I believe the principal part of the Workmen work regularly six days in every Week therefore must be the poverty of the Leadmines which I find in general poorer than last Quarter, which will appear by the Bargains.

       Coalcleugh. 6 Men at 28s per B[in]g. 8 Men at 30s. 4 Men at 32s. 14 Men at 35s. 4 Men at 36s. 18 Men at 38s. 10 Men at 40s & 106 Men at 42s per B[in]g. besides some others that hath not appeared, being at a considerable distance, do not come for their Bargains at this Season, untill they come to begin work, between 30 & 40 Men driving Levels at different prices. 

       Allenheads Lead Mines. Except two or three Bargains at East End mostly poor and let at high prices; we have sunk under Level at East End into the plate at the top of the 4 fa[tho]m Limestone, & expect to prove the Vein in that Sill in a little time. 16 Men at East End at 27s per B[in]g. 6 Men at 34s per B[in]g. 8 Men at 35s per B[in]g. 6 Men at 36s per B[in]g. 8 Men at 38s per B[in]g. 18 Men at 40s & 60 Men at 42s per Bing, besides about 30 Men driving and sinking in Dead Work.

       Weardale Lead Mines. In general poorer than last Quarter which you will see by the Bargains.

Breckonsike & Burtree Pasture. 8 Men at 34s per Bing. 8 Men at 35s. 8 Men at 38s. 16 Men at 39s. 16 Men at 40s & 64 Men at 42s per Bing, besides 28 or 30 driving & sinking in Dead Work.

Kilhope. 12 Men at 42s per Bing.

Sedlin. 106 Men at 42s per Bing, beside about 22 Men driving sinking & dead work.

Company’s Vein. 4 Men at 40s & 6 Men at 42s besides 6 Men driving Level at 180s per f[atho]m.

Middlehope Shield. 8 Men at 40s. 24 Men at 42s per B[in]g besides 8 Men driving Level.

Slitt. 34 Men at 42s per B[in]g. & 16 Men driving Level etc.

Levelgate. 13 Men at 42s per B[in]g. & 16 Men driving Levels etc.

Greenlaws. 10 Men at 42s per B[in]g. & 8 Men driving Level.

Allercleugh. 20 Men at 42s per B[in]g. & 8 Men driving Level

Black Dean. 46 Men at 42s per B[in]g. & 12 Men in Dead Work.

Barbary. 4 Men at 42s per B[in]g. & 6 Men opening a Shaft.

Longtyhead. 6 Men at 42s per B[in]g. & 8 Men driving Level

Wolfcleugh. 18 Men at 42s per B[in]g. & 8 Men driving to North Vein.



The other Bargains at Crawlah, Yewtree, Peakside, Harehope Gill, & Brandon Walls, are all let by the Year some by F[ath]om & others by the Bing. The above are the Bargains now lett, but expect there will be alterations before the end of the Quarter, & hope they will be for the better, & remain etc

Jos Dickinson