Report – Thomas Dodd – 18 Apr 1812

      Nenthead April 18th 1812

The Hon[oura]ble the Governor & Co,



      Having reviewed the Mines under my care in Teasdale, Weardale & the Moor, on the 24th, 25th & 26th March I lett the Bargains, and have herewith annexed a List. I have lett every part as low as possible both for the Ore and the inavoidable Dead Work, & yet after having offered 38/- per Bing & £10 per F[ath]om for old Pickings, as I proposed to the Court, many of the workmen refuse to take and are unemployed in the Moor, and several who are employed, I am afraid, will not be able to clear their advance money and other Charge. Some parts of Rampgill Mine raise a good deal of ore, and will upon the whole do well. Geo Barron & co are driving the Horse Level, and will imminately rise into the Vein in the Great Limestone which is above the Level, and will raise ore in the same. Wm Hardy & co are to drive the same Level when these above are finished. This Vein was discovered in driving Rampgill Horse Level, is whole 1500 or 1600 yards to the southward, is of considerable strength & looks hopeful. On account of the present reduced prices, Scaleburnmoss Mine employs fewer hands, and even at 38/- per Bing & £10 [per fathom] the poor Pickings will not work. Thos Humble & co are driving the Horse Level. Robt Irwin & co are sinking into the Vein in the great Limestone to prove its success. Smallcleugh Mine, in some parts of the Flatts, raises ore to advantage, but many of the old Pickings, not only in this, but also in all the Company’s Mines on the Moor, stand unwrought for want of higher prices, and may remain so until greater encouragement can be given. Should the present depressed state of the Lead Market last long, it will eventually happen, that all the best parts of the Mine will get exhausted, and the poor parts will stand unoccupied for want of price for raising the ore. Geo Robinson & co are unfinished. Please to see the last report of Smallcleugh Mine.

      Middlecleugh Mine is so universally poor that scarcely any part can be wrought under the present arrangement. Miles Irwin & co are driving a Level to drain one of the Vein of water in the Great Limestone. 

      Hangingshaw & Caplecleugh mines labour under similar difficulties with Middlecleugh and many others, & are so poor that few hands can be imployed at the prices given. At the former Thos Cain & co are driving a Level to drain the Vein in the Great Limestone, and will soon be done. And at the latter Robt Dickinson & co are driving the deep Level, which imbraces the great Trial set forth on the Plan which I left with the Court. This will be a work of considerable time, will require patience & money, but the prospect is flattering.

      Broomsberry & Gudhamgillmoss Mines are poor. Thos Walton & co are driving the Horse Level and will shortly try the Vein in the Great Limestone.

      Garrigill Mines are all poor, & it is with the utmost difficulty they can be carried on with the prices now given; the workmen <murmer> hard, & make poor wages. Jas Dickinson & co are driving a Level and have cut a fresh Vein, and which will be tried in the Limestone for Ore. Wm Armstrong & co are repairing a Level to prevent utter Decay. At Tynebottom Richd Louthian & co are driving a level in the Sun Veins where some good Ore is procured. Jas Wanless & co are driving a Level from the Surface, to prove some Strings and Flatts in the Limestone. Isaac Teasdale & co are sinking a Sump, will soon finish & try the Vein in the Great Limestone. 

      Middlehope Mine is doing well, & raises a great deal of fine productive Ore. Jno Philipson & co are driving an upper Level to prepare the Vein for raising Ore in the upper Stratum, (such as the Little Limestone and the Coal Sills) in the new String, which was the cause of the recent contention. Josh Dalkin & co are driving the Horse Level in the same string in the Great Limestone. Jno Teasdale & co are sinking a Sump for the accommodation of air and way-gates. Ireshopeburn is very poor. Jno Kidd & co are driving the deep Level. Stanhopeburn Mine can scarcely go on under the recent arrangements, being extremely poor. Jno Muse & co are driving the deep Level, & Jno Vipond & co are repairing a Shaft which is to go into the deep Level.

      Teesdale Mines – Lodgesyke is very successful, and raises a large quantity of good Ore. Jos Spark & co are driving the upper Horse Level, and which is on a Level with the principal Body of the Ore, but, as much ore sets down under the Level I therefore put forward another Horse Level by Josh Richardson & co 22 Fathoms deeper, and when it carries exactly under the high Level we shall sink between, for the purpose of draining that part of the Vein betwixt the two Levels, causing a circulation of fresh air, and raising the Ore. The other parts of the Teesdale Mines are poor, and under Trial, but few Men employed. At Wiregill Jno Nixon & co are driving the Horse Level which will by & by relieve the sole & bottom part of the Vein & raise Ore. Geo Tarn & co are driving the deep Level for fresh discoveries. Wm Allinson & co are in Wages at Flakebrigg, where we are fixing a small Engine. Please to see last Report.

      As Mr Bainbridge has the management of the Comp[an]y’s Allotment, I therefore submit it to the Courts consideration, whether it would not be advisable for to let him have the management of the Tynebottom Estate also. I name this to the Court as it would leave me more at liberty to attend to the Mineral Concerns, which at this critical junction require my whole attention, but shall always be ready to do every thing for the best, & the interest of the public concerns. I have inclosed a List of the little things at Tynebottom, as they will stand at May-day next, and beg the Court will give orders accordingly, as May-day is approaching. I rec[eive]d the Courts letter of the 9th, & have to declare that I had no knowledge of the Courts intentions respecting my Brother until their Resolutions were sent down, nor do I remember his name being mentioned in the Court from first to last, for if I had known their determination, I would have remonstrated respecting this matter before the Court.

      I am etc,

      Thomas Dodd, Senr.