Report – Joseph Dickinson to Martin Morrison – 14 Jul 1809

Dufton  14th July 1809

Mr Morrison,



              I now sit down to give you the general state of the Lead Mines belonging to Colonel Beaumont as I found them upon examination.  Coalcleugh nearly the same as last quarter, the west and flatts to the south of Galloway level, still continues to raise a considerable quantity of Ore, one Bargain let at 24/ pBing and another at 25/pBing and others at different prices.   The flatts on the north side, not so productive, but continue to raise Ore at higher prices than the other; the East end continues nearly the same, being divided, one part is nearly 10 fathoms south of the other ( which the cross cut mentioned in my last has proved) and had raised about 100 Bings last quarter in one of the upper Sills.  The Vein in the great Lime continues poor and seems to incline more to the north than usual (the same as before meeting with the last cross vein) but continues to raise Ore at 35pBing and upwards and expect to come nearly to the last years quantity if this quarter doth not deceive us.  Welhope Lead Mine is nearly worked out, report says there are some string strings of a vein, a little to the north of the main vein which we are driving cross to in hopes there may be flatts of Ore about them.  Hartley Cleugh continues to raise small quantities of Ore but the plan laid down at Xmas last for the more effectually working the veins discovered is not yet completed and will take the greatest part of the quarter to complete them.   The trial at Greenleycleugh is given up for the present being so very unpromising in appearance at the junction with the other veins.  The great Level below Coalcleugh is driving with all the expedition possible is now in length about 235 fathoms and is now let at 170s pr fa. from the rise of the under Sills and we are not willing to lose any level for fear it should be wanted afterwards which I have so often seen to be the case and may be proved by Coalcleugh which is losing hundreds every year.  The level in Swinhope is now driven about 160 fathoms a shaft and water blast  is now wanted and then we can drive the level to Swinhope Head and from the vein in the great Lime.

      Allenheads Lead Mine continues nearly the same as last quarter, at the west end the vein west of the shaft let at 20 p Bing and the other side let at 35pBing,  the flatts at Craig Shield whimsy very poor and is obliged to give both by fathom and bing to drive forward in hopes alteration for the better.   The North Vein in the east end poor and likely to continue some time or until some strength from the north comes to her relief, the principal part of that vein being gone in small strings to the south vein which at present is likely to raise a considerable quantity of Ore this quarter being let at 30s (reduced 5s) p Bing, the rest of the Mines being nearly as before and let at different prices all the way to 50s p Bing which we have not exceeded neither here nor at Coalcleugh, except at some particular places a little dead work that was necessary to be done.  I fear Col. & Mrs Beaumont when they visit the Mines, will think there is too little progress made in creating the Crushing Mills, both here and at Coalcleugh and likewise the convenience thereto, the cause assigned for the delay is the Weather. 

      Weardale Lead Mines continue poor, and the prices in general advanced, except the 50s pBing which is never exceeded for raising Ore except upon speculation.



Breckonsike   about 100 Workmen, 76 of whom to raise Ore at 50/pBing  8 @ 40/, 8 @ 48/ and 8 driving low level at £10 p fa.m

Burtree Pasture  about 88 Workmen, 42 of whom raise Ore at 50s , 36 at 40s p Bing, 8 driving level ay 140s p fm and 2 drawing water at £26 per Quarter.

Killhope 24 Workmen all raising Ore at 50s pBing

Sedlin 48 ditto   ditto

Middlehope Shield 48 Workmen all to raise Ore at 45/pBing the other 40 all by fathom but more by far being so very hard to work.

Slitt 60 Workmen, 22 of whom are driving levels and the other 38 raise Ore at 50/pBing

Longsike 24 Workmen all raising Ore at 50/pBing

Greenlaws 38 Workmen, 22 at 48/pBing and 50/, the other 16 driving level & opening an old Sump

Level gate 18 Workmen, 8 driving level and 10 raising raising Ore at 50s pBing

Langty Head  50 Workmen all at 50s pBing with some little dead work

Black dean 44 Workmen, 28 at 50s pBing& 16 principally by fm.

Crawlah  24 ditto  6 at ditto& 18 by Bing and fathom

Wolfcleugh  47 ditto 15 principally at 50s pBing with some small addition for dead work, 32 by the fathom principally.



The above are the whole of the Bargains let the time I was there, several more will be let afterwards so moving men out of employment, some of them would be taking what they had before refused. Weardale containing so many Mines have described them as above in hopes that you & whoever looks them over would understand them better than altogether.   I remain

      Jo. Dickinson