Report – Robert Stagg – 26 Jul 1819

General report of the Mines Midsummer 1819



Since the last Quarters report so little change has taken place in the state of the Mines in any of the Districts, that I might almost refer the Court to it for the Report of the present quarter



Teesdale  District                   



Lodgesyke Mine continues to be as promising and excellent as I could desire it to be, and if there be any changes since Lady Day it is on the favourable side, as the accompanying list of that Mine will abundantly testify.

      The Dead Work of Thos Bussey &c Wm Harris &c and Nathan Raw &c is what is indispensable in opening out the Mine and that by John Gedling &c John <Tu…h> &c and Charles Raine &c is for driving a New Level for the purpose of getting rid of a part of the Old Level, which requires so much Wood to support it that I have judged it better, with the present prospects of a lasting Mine (Amounting almost to a certainty) to drive a New Level at once than to continue upholding the Old One at so serious expense The Cost this new Level will be about £600. I will explain more particularly to the Gentlemen of the Deputation  the Grounds on which

I have ventured to undertake it



Coldberry. The Prospects are likewise a little improved. We have just cut a New Vein in driving in the Old Vein, and I hope the intersection may have a favourable tendency, but cannot yet form any certain judgment, of what effects it may produce. The Dead Work here is merely 

Driving the two Levels for the purposes stated in last Report.



Mannergill. The prospects have also undergone a very favourable alteration since Lady Day  We have at length got a trial made in the Vein for which we have been so long driving, and have every reason to hope that this Mine will become another Lodgesyke, as soon as we can effect, the sinking of a Sump about 20 Fathoms, for the trial of the Cut part of the Strata, which has not yet been reached. Thos Redfern &c are cutting across preparatory to sinking this Sump which I shall lose no time in pushing through. I am not a little anxious to prove this part of the Strata, for should it realize the hopes entertained of it, it will give us the Command of rais'g almost any quantity of Ore the Court may wish. Thomas Lee &c are raising Ore at 30/- per Bing in the part of Vein already proved. 



Wiregill, Flakebrigg and Hudshopehead the trials are proceeding without any alteration. I calculate that we shall raise in Teesdale this Quarter fully 2000 Bings of Ore and we have every ground to hope that we shall be enabled to exceed this quantity in future quarters, should it be  considered by the Court to do so.   This District is very decidedly the best in your Concern & its future prospects are most flattering



Weardale District   



Stanhopeburn. There is no alteration since last Quarter that can be noticed. The New Vein which we had cut at Lady Day, we are making trial of in a part of the Strata which we think more favourable than that where the first discovery was made, but in the present stage of the trial no opinion of the Results can be offered. We are continuing to search for another Vein which we have not yet met with. I entertain considerable expectations of this Mine becoming valuable on the completions of the trials in progress and in the mean time Ore is raising that will leave a very fair profit 



Middlehope continues to be very good in leading lengths, but the extraordinary hardness of the level baffles our utmost efforts to open out new places for the Workmen as speedily as they cut out their former lengths. The greater part are therefore confined to the Old pickings which are much exhausted. We have so far accomplished the objects of the Engine trial since last Quarter that we have Cut the Vein under the Quarry Hazel, (about 20 fathoms below the level) and have every reason to hope for a Natural extension of Ore Raising at this Mine, as soon as we can drive the drifts necessary for Opening the New ground which the Engine gives us the Command of. 



Coldberry trial is proceeding as usual. 



Ireshopeburn we have had an interruption by the failure of a part of the Engine which is now under Repair.  We expect however to Resume Operations at this

Mine in a Week. No other Change has taken place since last Report.



Alston Moor District



Rampgill continues to Raise Ore in the Old ground opening out by the Levels driving by Robt Heatherington &c & Robt Black &c and although poor, this Mine will leave some profit. The Levels are now fast approaching the part of the Vein where better workings are expected. John Bell &c & Luke Hall &c are sinking & Rising to prove the Strata above the Levels and to ventilate the Mine.  No change has taken place in the state of this Mine since last Report 

  

Rampgill Sun Vein continues yet to Raise Ore to great  advantage in the New lengths, but as stated in last Report, we are near Cross Veins at both ends of this Vein, and are awaiting the junction of them with considerable apprehension; This junction may however prove a benefit instead of a disadvantage. Yet as the contrary very frequently takes place, we dread that such may be the effect upon this hitherto very excellent Mine The Dead Work at this Mine is precisely the same as last quarter, and the only change that has taken place here since is the discovery of a new Flatt attached to this Vein which is now working at 22/- per Bing by Matt Hall &c which has considerable improved the prospects of this Mine, for should this Flat be found to carry as a [underlined: 'distinct Flat Vein']  after it leaves the Sun Vein (of which we do not dispair) it may become very valuable



Scaleburn. The Flat discovered last quarter continues very promising. It is uncommonly hard which renders a high price necessary, but there is every reason to expect that it will become a Mine that will work to considerable profit



Small Cleugh no change whatever has taken place since last Report. The Dead Work by Jon Irwin &c is to prove whether any part of the Flats are left between the present workings and the Vein from which they arise; the other dead work by Matthew Dickinson &c is for the purposes noticed in the Lady Day Report.

 

Middle Cleugh 2nd Sun Vein The Level driving by Thos Armstrong &c has just cut the great Cross Vein, beyond which this second Sun Vein is expected to be wrought to advantage, Thos Indian &c are driving to meet and to sink to this Level, which we expect they may accomplish in about twelve Months, after which we are all very sanguine in the hope that we shall have open an entirely new and extensive mining Field as [underlined: 'all'] the Middle Cleugh Veins are whole to the end of the Boundary and can hardly fail to raise a great quantity of Ore



No change has taken place at any of the other Mines in Alston Moor since last report that is entitled to notice.   The prospects of this District have been improved since Lady Day by the discovery of the new Flat at Rampgill Sun Vein but with this exception No other alteration has taken place beyond the advance that has been made towards completing the various and extensive trials in progress; and, in concluding, I can only repeat the Opinion expressed in the Lady Day Report, that although the Moor is at the present moment far from being in a flourishing state, Yet, there is no Reason to be discouraged; the [underlined: 'extraordinary'] improvement in the present state, and flattering prospects of the Teesdale District being more than a counterbalance to the unfavourable temporary state of the District. For [underlined: 'temporary'] I entertain great hopes it will prove to be, as the various trials in which we are engaged can hardly fail to make ample amends on their reaching their destination for the present depression in the Moor. It may be proper to remark that not one of the trials has yet arrived at the objects upon which, on commencing the Superintendance of this District, I grounded My hopes of lasting and profitable Mines being gained  - and until which time, as I stated to the Gentlemen of the Deputation who then Visited the Works. I did not calculate upon this District 

producing [underlined: 'any profits']. Nor could any profits arise had we not, fortunately, and most casually met with the Rampsgill Sun Vein which with the encouragement given to the Pickings, has given rise to all the gain that has thus far been made in this District



On a Review of the existing state and future prospects of the whole of the Districts I have never had reason to be better satisfied than at the present moments, and I entertain more sanguine hopes than I am accustomed to indulge on slight grounds of witnessing the Concern in a very prosperous state for several Years hence should Life be spared to me.  There is indeed that extreme uncertainty & fluctuation in Mining which continually baffle all Calculation, and forbids us from pronouncing with certainty what may be the Result of any trial, however promising; but, from the Multitude of trials in progress which are nearly approaching their objects, and from the very favourable existing state of those which have already reached them, I think I am justified in expressing this confident expectation of the continuing prosperity of the concern at large

                               

July 26th 1819                                           Robert Stagg