Report – Thomas Dodd – 25 Mar 1816

General Report of Mines in Alston moor &c Ladyday 1816



After viewing a part of the Mines myself my Health preventing me, the remaining part was view’d by my Son, & others so that the service suffer’d no loss.  I therefore let the Bargains as follows viz

From 18/- to 28/ p Bing 80 Men

     28/- to 35/        58

     At 35/            120

Dead work               42

Total                  300 Men

which is fewer than last quarter by 40.  This method may do for some time but not long as some of the Greenwhich Hospital Leases stand exposed.



Rampgill Jos. Wallace &c at Rampgill are rising into the Vein in the great Limestone & will raise Ore Mattw Thompson &c are sinking a Sump out of the upper Level to the deep one both for opening the Vein in the little Sills (Little Limestone) Coal Hazels &c) which will raise Ore & also to accommodate the Mine with fresh Air



ScaleburnMoss Mine will raise Ore so as to preserve the same from Loss having only 4 Men in Deadwork.  Jno Richardson &c are driving the Horse Level which prepares the Vein for raising the Ore



Middle Cleugh Is also raising Ore in such quantities as to be preserved from loss.   Geo Robinson &c are driving the Horse Level & by alternately sinking & rising from said Level the Ore is got.



SmallClough Flatts Tho extensive, yet are harder & poorer than formerly, being principally the Pickings of the sides after the best parts have been taken away.  The Ore being of a superior quality makes it appear that more hands are employed in Pickings in this Mine than any others in the Moor SmallCleugh Engine Level having arrived at the first of Middle Cleugh Veins Jos Spark &c are rising out of said Level into the bottoms of Middle Cleugh Vein to bring the Water off <&> raise the Ore long since left there Mattw Hall &c are sinking a Sump from the Horse Level into the deep Level to drain the Vein & raise Ore.   I expect the places which have been lost for a great number of Years by being overpowered by Water contain considerable quantities of Ore & we are in the direct Road for bringing them to light for the success depends in a great measure on the properest mode of going about the Trials



MiddleCleugh X Vein Is not doing well as might from the first appearance yet is a good & hopeful Trial and will prove satisfactory, tho present situation requires a good deal of Dead Expence which by & bye will get reduced.   Wm Irwin &c are sinking into the Vein in the great Limestone and will soon raise Ore Jno Milburn &c are driving the Horse Level from the Northmost Boundary Southward to meet the Horse Level driving from the South end & going Northward Jas Bell &c are cutting aCross to a String laying <4> Fathoms off the Vein to the West & trust will prove successful



Garrigill Mines Are still poor but having little Dead work upon them will eventually do better.  



Thos Cain &c at Browngill Sun Vein are driving the Horse Level & Adam Walton &c are driving the Horse Level at Tynebottom



Middlehope Mine continues to do well.  Richd. Hutchinson &c are driving the upper Level to prepare the Vein for raising Ore in the upper Stratums & causing fresh Air to circulate through all the Workings of the advanced part of the Mine.   Thos Hudson &c are rising out of the Horse Level into the Coal Scills for trying the Vein.

	I have as above let Bargains in the Moor to 300 Men and according to the Courts direction I have let Bargains at 

Middlehope                    82

Stanhope same as Last Quarter 20

Irishopeburn &c                4

                             106

In the Moor                  300

                             406

Just 50 Men reduced in my department which I trust the Court will approve & which I trust they will seriously take into their consideration at Mids[umme]r as several Leases cannot be coverd with so few hands, The Workmen who are out of employment are very much distress’d & would gladly work for the company if they were permitted.  I see nothing for them but to apply to their respective Parishes for Support, If the Court think not proper to employ them at 35/- p[er] Bing.   

      I am no better in my Health am &c Thos Dodd Senr



NB the Courts Letter of the 7th March could have been acknowledged by my writing on the 10th but I hope the Court will excuse for not doing that on the Sabbath day of which my conscience would have accused me.



[Table of bing-rate and fathom-rate bargains follows. See spreadsheet ‘NEIMME LLC/40 Bargains’ which can be downloaded. It also indicates ‘fathoms’ which suggest either a target distance to be driven in the next quarter OR the amount driven in the earlier quarter. This is not explained further in the report. Total men is given as follows for Alston Moor and Weardale:]



258 p[er] Bing [rate]

42  do  Fathom [rate]

96   do Bing [rate]

10 do Fathom [rate]

Total 406 Men