Report – Thomas Dodd – 14 Jul 1810

      Nenthead 14 July 1810

Hon[oure]d Masters



      After a general examination of the Company’s Mines under my care on the 25, 26 & 27 June I lett the Bargains, a list of which I have annex’d. The Mines in a general way are poor, and I have lett the whole on the lowest terms I can, both the Ore Bargains and those in Dead Work. 

      Rampgill & Scaleburnmoss are both poor, and employ fewer hands, for many of the places have got so exhausted, that they cannot be wrought at the prices given. Wm Teesdale & co are cutting across from the Vein to find a North String, and will soon be done. Robt Irwin & co are driving the Horse Level. Jon Shield & co are driving a Horse Level in a different Branch of the Mine. Thomas Readshaw & co are driving an upper Level by the side of the Vein & intend to sink between that & the Horse Level for a Communication of fresh Air, & raising Ore in the upper Stratums. Scaleburnmoss is very much failed, by the North Vein scattering, and separating into small parts, and from which Vein we have been raising the principal part of the Ore, however we are using every effort to find the Vein where the scatter’d parts are collected together. Thomas Bell & co are sinking a Sump in one of those parts in the Great Limestone. Matthew Hall & co are driving the Horse Level, and Thomas Humble & co and John Richardson & co are both driving a deep Level to drain effectually Rampgill & Scaleburnmoss Mines, and which will cut several veins by the way.

      Smallcleugh Mine is much poorer than for some time past, the Flatts having failed in the leading workings and the other parts very much exhausted, though I trust the foremost workings will revive again by the intersection of fresh Strings. John Stephenson & co are cutting across for the discovery of such Strings. Miles Irwin & co are driving one of the Horse Levels. John Bowman & co are sinking a Sump for the convenience of the fresh Air, and is a hard difficult job. Thos Hewitson & co are also sinking a Sump for a circulation of Air though a different part of the Mines, & raising Ore in the Great Limestone.

      Middlecleugh Mine is poor. Chr Elliott & co are driving one of the Horse Levels in the Limestone & is prodigious hard. Thomas Thompson & co are driving a Level under the Great Limestone to drain the Vein. Robt Elliott & co are driving another of the Horse Levels in a different branch of the Mine. Wm Hall & co are sinking a Shaft from the Surface to cause a circulation of air through the Mine.

      Hangingshaw & Caplecleugh are both still poor. John Hall & co are driving the deep Level at the former, and Robt Dickinson & co the Horse Level at the latter. Browngill Sun Vein is poor, except the foremost Bargain in the list, which is now raising a good deal of fine Ore. Joseph Vipond & co are driving a Level to open more of that part of the Vein which is now successful. Joseph Hall & co are driving one of the Horse Levels. Wm Tomlinson & co are driving a Level in the Vein, and will occasionally sink into the Vein, where I believe they will meet with success. At Browngill Jas Dickinson & co are driving the Horse Level. 

      Tynebottom is poor. Jos Wanless & co are driving an upper Horse Level by the side of the Vein, and will at convenient points try the same for Ore, Isaac Teasdale & co are driving the deep Level to drain and prove the success of the Vein as they go on. Broomsberry & Gudhamgillmoss are principally under trial. Thos Walton & co are driving the Horse Level which will by & bye relieve the Vein of present difficulties. Jas Thompson & co are opening & repairing an old Level & will soon raise some Ore in the old Workings. Stanhopeburn Mine is raising small parcels of Ore, tho’ being poor required high prices. John Vipond & co are driving the Level for the benefit of the Flatts. Thos Wilkinson the Horse Level (please to see the last report.) 

      Middlehope Mine employs a great many hands, and raised a great deal of Ore, though several parts of the Mine is poorer than last year. The new String to the Westward is still doing well, & especially in the upper part of the Great Limestone, in which are the three foremost in the Middlehope Bargain list, but the bottom part of the Limestone is poorer and hard, which is generally the case with all Veins. Beaumont’s people were in our Mine last Thursday, taking their plan, but no observations were made by the parties. Chas Maddison & co are driving the upper Horse Level for the benefit of working the upper Stratums, and to form a necessary communication with the deepest parts of the Mine, as we ascend the high mountain in which the Vein takes its direction to the Eastward. Cuth Vannon & co are driving into the little Limestone, and will shortly raise Ore. Jno Liverick & co are driving the deep Horse Level, & Cuth Watson & co are sinking a Sump between the two Levels as an accommodation of fresh Air thro’ the whole Mine.

      There is little alteration with Ireshopeburn Mine since last report. John Kidd & co are driving the Horse Level. Lodgesyke Mine is doing vastly well, and the Ore of a productive quality. Jas Bainbridge & co are driving the Horse Level & John Pinkney the deep Level as a general drain to the Mine, and to try the deep Strata in the Vein. Thos Temple & co are repairing a Level. All the other parts of Teesdale Mines are very poor & some of them under fresh trials. Chr Pinkney & co are driving the deep Level at Wiregill for the discovery of veins, & John Nixon & co are driving the Horse Level which by & bye will relieve the Old Soles, which will raise a good deal of Ore, but requires patience & perseverance. John Watson & co are driving the deep Level at Flakebrigg which is yet some distance from the Vein. Geo Allison & co are opening an old Level at Brokergill, as I want to see a Vein work’d many years ago in that place. 

      I am & 

      Thos Dodds Senr