Report – Robert Stagg – 31 Dec 1814

General Report of the Teesdale Mines 	31st Decr. 1815  



Lodgesyke This Mine is very little altered in its prospects since the last Quarterly Report.   I have stopped three of the leading, and two of them the best Workings under the high Level, until the low Level is got up, when they will be prosecuted to much greater advantage than they can be from the high Level, from whence they have hitherto been wrought.   The Quantity of Ore raised during the present Year at this Mine, will therefore in all probability be lessened considerably; which, however, will be no present disadvantage with the large Stock of Ore now on hand at Stanhope and Eggleston Mills, and will eventually, be a very great saving to the Company by enabling us when the low Level does get up (which I hope will be accomplished in Six or Eight Months) to raise the Ore at these stopped Workings at several Shillings p[er] Bing less than it can be done for in the present state of the Mine



Coldberry In the last Report I stated that we had just then touched upon a Vein promising in appearance, contiguous to the Hush set on some time ago for the purpose of discovery.   During last Quarter a Level has been taking up to prove this Vein, which we believe is the same, that has been working at Lodgesyke to so much advantage, and I have great pleasure in Reporting to the Court that as far as so precarious & uncertain thing as a Mine can be pronounced upon, its appearance & prospects are very flattering.   It is a Rare thing for a Vein, to be at all productive so near the surface as this is now Working, & yet notwithstanding this Circumstance, it is so Rich that you will see I have let Bargains in it to two Partnerships, at the very price of 25/-s p[er] Bing; which, in the present Stage of the trial is almost unprecedented.   This Vein has been sought by other Mine Adventurers on the same Ground, at different periods, and at an enormous expence, without success, and I have therefore the greater satisfaction in Reporting its discovery at a Cost so very trifling to the Company.   I have turned the Level set on by Mr Dodd at the commencement of this Lease into the direction to cut the same Vein at the shortest possible distance from whence it is now driving, but do not expect it will Reach it for several Months to come. When it does reach it we shall be enabled by it to make trial of this Vein in the higher Sills.



Brockergill A Level is driving here by which, in a few Months we hope to cut the first Vein, which is one of the objects of this trial and prior to which no judgement can be formed of its result  

Low Wiregill. The Sills or Strata have been rising considerably the last few Weeks, in this Level; which is generally an indication of the approach to a Vein, & as it is near to where from our Diallings the Mannergill North Vein ought to Cross the Level we expect to cut it shortly



High Wiregill We are continuing to prosecute the trial of the upper Sills or Strata here, in a few Months, to ascertain whether or not this Vein, after passing through a cross Vein which intersects it, & by which it has been much broken; will come together again and be worth further trial; which is essentially necessary to enable us to determine on the expediency of bringing up the lower Level



Flakebridge From the extreme hardness of the Stone, in which the Cross Cut is driving at this Mine, we have not yet been enabled to Reach the Vein, but calculate upon accomplishing it in a few Weeks, prior to which no opinion can be formed of its future prospects



      The Prices at each Mine have been kept as low as is practicable to afford the Workmen the possibility of making very moderate Wages

      R Stagg