Report – Thomas Dodd – 19 Apr 1806

Nenthead 19th April 1806



Hon[ourable] Masters

      Having surve[ye]d the Lead Mines under my care, on the 25,26 & 27th, I Let the sundry Bargains, & have annexed a List of the same, which I hope will prove successful – Rampgill & Scaleburnmoss Mines in point of success are much the same as last quarter, but a great number of hands are at each, & they will ultimately do well - T.Humble & co as [per] List, are Driv[ing] one of the Levels at Rampgill Mine, this Mine consisting of various branches, Veins, Strings & flats render it necessary to drive several Levels to form proper Communications between the different parts – J[ohn] Dickinson & co are Driving another Horse Level & J[ames] Stobbart & co a third one, all in the great Limestone & contiguous to the several Veins-

      J[ame]s Blalock & co are Sinking a Sump from an upper Level into one of these deep ones, to produce a circulation of fresh Air thro[ugh] the Mine. – At Scaleburnmoss Mine Caleb Dryden & co are driving a Level in the great Limestone, but will finish it this quarter & raise Ore. Tho[ma]s Cain & co are Driv[ing] a Level upon the Limestone, & will shortly sink into the Vein – Ern[es]t Nattrass & co are Driving the Horse Level.

      Middlecleugh Mine continues poor, & from such a number of Veins comprehended under the name Middlecleugh, renders a great deal of dead Work necessary to preserve the Veins in a proper Working State, having a manifest dependency upon one another  - 

< Matt[hew]> Cousin & co & J[oh]n Hutchinson & part[ners] are each driving Horse Levels in the great Limestone to prepare Veins for rais[ing] Ore. – R.Elliot & co are Driving a Level upon the little Limestone & will shortly Sink into the Vein in search of Ore. – Matt[hew] Hall & co are Sinking a Sump to cause a Circulation of fresh Air in the sundry Workings, & Jos[eph] Dickinson & co are Cutting across to the Vein in the great Limestone – SmallCleugh Mine employs more hands than for some time past, a part of the Soles being relieved by the Engine & will of course raise Ore advantageously –  J[oh]n & W[illia]m Richardson & co are both Cutting across to the Flats & when accomplished will raise a good deal of Ore; these Flats are at the distance of 40 fath[om]s from the Vein, which 40 fath[om]s are to be Cut in solid Limestone –

      Wm Wharton & co are driv[ing] the deep Level from the bottom of the Engine, it is very difficult to Work & requires a great price. – Garrigill Mines are all poor, tho[ugh] some parts of them are in a hopeful way of reviving, being under eligible trials – At Browngill Sun Vein J[oh]n Harrison & co are driving the deep Horse Level, & J[oseph] Dickinson & co are driv[ing] an upper Horse Level which will prove the means of rais[ing] Ore in the upper Sills or Strata.-

      At Browngill Mine J. Davidson & co are Sinking a Sump which will be 22 fath[om]s deep into the Horse Level, & as it will relieve the Coal Sills, great Limestone & Quarry Hazel of Water, will of course open a fresh field & prove the means of raising a considerable quant[ity] of Ore.

W[illia]m Thomason & co are driving the deep Horse Level – 

      At Tynebottom Paul Readshaw & co are driv[ing] a Level in the upper Sills to open the Vein for rais[ing] Ore, & Jo[seph] Stanhope & co are Sinking a Shaft from the Surface to accommodate the deep Level with fresh Air & to try the Vein in the great Limestone.

Hangingshaw Cross Vein & CapleCleugh Mines are raising Ore to advantage. – J[oh]n Dickinson & co are driving the Horse Level at the latter.

      Broomsberry is Working to advantage & Rudgill Mine is yet under a small & frugal Trial.

      Boltshaw & Jeffrys Mines are still extremely poor, & if some parts under Tryal at Boltshaw don’t turn out well, it is probable that mine may be abandoned at the expiration of Mr Shotton’s Leases.

      W. Hudson & co are Driv[ing] in the Vein in expectation of some Strings intersecting the same, which may discover some Ore – Jos[eph] Vipond & co are Driv[ing] an upper Level & will shortly Cut a fresh Vein – A <S> Jeffrys Jos[eph] Gibson & co are driving a Level & will be done by the end of this Quarter.

      Stanhope Mine is much the same as last Quarter J. Vickers & co are driv[ing] a Level to Cut the Vein in a fresh part where we expect to meet with some Ore-  J. Bainbridge & co are driving the deep Level which is excessive hard & goes slowly.

      Weregill as I inform’d the Court in my last report, is getting poorer, tho[ugh] still rais[ing] Ore to great advantage – H[enr]y Robson & co are Sinking a Sump between the upper & the deep Level, for the convenience of fresh Air – Miles Walton & co are Cutting across to the north to a String which runs parallel to the Vein & which I suppose will be productive.

J[oh]n Nixon & co are driving the Level as an accommodation to the whole Mine, & G. Allison & co are driv[ing] the deep Level for the discovery of fresh Veins & will shortly cut one –

Mannergill & Lodgesyke are both Working to advantage; I have ordered fresh Leases of them to be prepared – J[oh]n Watson & co at Flakebrig are driving a Level which goes in a north direction in about 18 months will Cut Flakebrig old Vein, which will raise some Ore, & then be continued in the same direction for fresh objects such as Wiregill Vein etc

      Middlehope Mine is doing well & raises Ore to considerable advantage – R[ichar]d Walton & co are driving the Horse Level which is the general convenience to the whole Mine & by which all the Ore & Rubbish are convey’d. H[enr]y Coulthard & co are Sink[ing] a Sump from an upper Level to the deep one for Air, & to try the Vein in the Coal Sills- J. Kidd & co are driving a Level in the Quarry Hazel which is intended to drain the upper part of the great Limestone now troubled with Water.

      I have Let these Bargains as low as the appearance & nature of things would admit, but the Idea of great Wages runs so very high in this & every Mining Country that it renders the business troublesome.

      After informing myself as much as possible respecting Lord Strathmore’s Mineral Grounds, I conclude that the Court have nothing to do with them.

Mr Bainbridges report on Mr Shotton’s business will be sent up to the Court this day Week.

      I cannot buy the Cowhill Ore under £7.12 the expenses as follows:



3 B[ing] 7 C[wt] makes the fother of Lead @ £3.12  £29.09.00

Carr[iag]e of 3.7 to the Mill                           1.02

Expense of Smelt[ing] the same at N[ent]head Mill      14.09

Carr[iag]e of afo[resaid] of Lead to Stella          1.18.11

[annotated in a different hand:‘Shd be £32.3’    £31.13.10



If the Court have resolved on the Bishop of St David’s Business, should be glad to have it in my power to give him an Answer – When with his Lordship I told him that I expected the Court would give him an Answer in a Month’s time; so that he might be at liberty if the Court did not approve of the Mineral Ground.

      I am etc

		Tho[ma]s Dodd