Report – Robert Stagg – 4 Jul 1814

General Report of the Teesdale Mines 4th July 1814

Flakebridge Mine, The Engine shaft, sinking to try the Strata below the Old Workings, has been compleated during the last Quarter The Crosscut to the Vein is now prosecuting, and the Vein is expected to be cut by it in a few Weeks.



Wiregill High Level We are opening out the leading part of the Old Level to enable us to judge of the best mode of Sinking the proposed Shaft; This was necessary for the purpose of obtaining accurate Dialings for the setting on of the Shaft, as well as to ascertain whether the unwatering of the Workings could be effected after the sinking of the Shaft, without the lower Level being brought up; and as these Workings would have been open out at any rate, to cause a circulation of Air in the event of the lower Level being continued, we judge it proper by opening them out now, to prevent the possibility of disappointment in our proposed plan of sinking a Shaft to try the Vein forward in the upper Workings prior to the Continuation of the Level.   we expect to compleat the opening out of these Workings very shortly, when we shall be enabled to come to a certain conclusion as to the best future mode of prosecuting this trial, which we are still of opinion will be by sinking the Shaft as proposed last Quarter, provided no obstacle occurs, on our getting in to the Workings in Question, to prevent its practicability.



Wiregill Low Level This continues to be driven under exactly similar circumstances as when the last Quarterly Report was given



Lodgesike This mine is somewhat poorer poorer (sic) than at the letting of the last Quarterly Bargains; the prices, however, the Court will observe, have undergone very little Alteration.   We calculate that about 1100 Bings of Ore have been raised, during the last Quarter.  The Crosscut undertaken last Quarter, for the purpose of unwatering the upper Workings and thereby getting quit of the Pumps, which have been costing so heavy an annual Sum, has been prosecuted with the utmost vigour, and we are now sinking from the upper workings to meet it, which, when Compleated, will enable us to set aside pumps to the Amount of £400 p[er] Year and also to Air the Low Level.   We entertain sanguine hopes of accomplishing these desirable objects during the present Quarter.



Coldberry By the Hush set on last Quarter this Vein has been discovered, and we have in consequence turned the direction of the Level to cut the Vein much earlier than it would have been done by its former Range.  and also contracted with a partnership for £5 to cut it by a Level near the Hush which will enable us to try it at a very easy expence, and at a considerably lower part of the Strata, we have now every reason to hope that this Trial will be brought to a conclusion shortly; & as we have met with very fine Specimens of Ore in the Hush we also hope to find a productive Mine on Cutting the Vein.



Brockergill Mr Barnes, Lord Darlington’s Agent, having, by a Written document, guaranteed to the Company the Renewal of the Lease of this Mine, and also authorized us to commence the Trial, we have opened out an Old Level & have commenced the Trial of this Mine as was proposed in my Letter of the 25th April last

      R Stagg