Report – Thomas Dodd – 1 Nov 1811

      Nenthead November 1st 1811

Honored Masters,



      Having examined the situation of the sundry Mines under my care on the 14th, 15th & 16th I let the Bargains a list of which is annexed. The prices for raising the Ore being reduced to 35/- the highest, has put it out of our power to work many of the poor Pickings, of course the number of hands is fewer than last Quarter, and will be fewer every Quarter whist things remain in their present state, as few Mines will work at the price given. The Mining Countries are getting into great distress and the people are flying in all directions for employment, & none to assist them but Frederick Hall who employs all that go, in Derwent, and says he will employ a thousand and yet he gets little or no ore. He must be throwing away £20000 a year in that Country. At the same time I believe he is making himself rich. 

      Rampgill & Scaleburnmoss under the present curtailed mode of working cannot do much good, but trust they will be carried on without loss. At Rampgill Josh Blaylock & co are driving the Horse Level under the great Limestone, and the Vein looks hopeful. Wm Hardy & co are driving in the Vein in an upper Stratum, where Ore will be got shortly by the Bing. Thos Humble & co are driving the Horse Level to prepare the Vein for raising Ore. Robt Barron & co are driving a Level in the Bottom of the great Limestone as a drain to the Mine. 

      Smallcleugh Mine under the present Mode of working will raise Ore to advantage. The workings are principally in the Flatts, and the Ore of course is of a superior quality. Geo Robinson & co are driving the Level from the bottom of the Engine in a south direction, to unwater, in process of time, all the Middlecleugh East & West running Veins. Middlecleugh is poor and employs few hands, tho’ will be kept from loss, being only one Dead Bargain. 

      Hangingshaw & Caplecleugh are poor and carries few hands. At the former Thos Cain & co are driving a Level to relieve the Vein of Water in the Great Limestone & will shortly raise Ore. Jno Hall & co are driving a Level which will in the course of two years, cut some Veins by the way, bottom the Smallcleugh Engine and prove of great utility. At Caplecleugh Mine Robt Dickinson & co are driving the Horse Level, which embraces several valuable objects, both Cross Veins & East & West ones in very hopeful Ground. Browngill Sun Vein is poor, the foremost Bargain in the List excepted. This is a fresh Stratum in which the Vein contains a great deal of Ore, and will prove beneficial to all appearances when more of the Vein is laid open. Jas Dickinson & co are driving the Horse Level. The other parts of Garrigill are poor. At Tynebottom, Richd Lowthain & co are driving the Horse Level & Josh Wanless & co are driving a Horse Level in a different Vein. Isaac Teasdale & co are driving the Horse Level at Browngill & Thortergate. Josh Gray & co are opening and repairing an old Level. Broomsberry & Gudhamgillmoss is poor. Thos Walton & co are driving the Horse Level.

      Middlehope Mine raise a great deal of Ore of an excellent Quality and has the appearance of doing well for years to come. The new String to the westward continues productive but Col Beaumont’s part Eastward produces nothing. Henry Coulthard & co are driving the Horse Level in the String. Josh Dalkin & co are cutting across in one of the upper Stratums to try the new String. Ireshopeburn is not much altered since my last Report. Jno Kidd & co are driving the Horse Level. Stanhopeburn Mine is very poor. The workmen cannot make wages in the poor Pickings at the prices given; and but for the Crushing Machine the Mine could not be wrought. Thos Wilkinson & co are driving the Horse Level & Jno Vipond & co that in the Limestone Flatts.

      Lodgesyke is prosperous. The Ore is good and being raised near the surface makes it of a soft kindly nature, and must be productive in Lead; & I sincerely wish the Lead Markets wore a more pleasant aspect. Jno Pinkney & co are driving a Horse Level 23 fathoms deeper than the present workings, & when driven to a certain point, Sumps will be sunk out of the present workings, and prove the success of the lower Stratums. Geo Rain & co are driving a Horse Level in a different part of the Mine. All the other Teesdale Mines are poor, & under trial, with only a sufficient number of Hands to preserve the Leases from forfeiture. There is not any prospect at Boltshaw, & the Workmen necessary to preserve the Lease are working to no purpose & I should be glad to relinquish that disagreeable concern.

      The above (see Waste Book Fo 47) is all the Ore of which the Court request to be informed, for as there is no time given after the 30th September the Miners came out of the Mines to assist the Washers in washing up all the Ore against that day, and of course there never will be any Stock of consequence in future.

      The Court will please to observe that none of the Ore above is in this Years Accts, but will come in 30th Sept 1812.

      I am etc,

      Thos Dodd, Senr.