Report – Thomas Dodd – 25 Oct 1806

     Nenthead 25. Oct[ober] 1806

Hon[oure]d Masters

     Having examined the Company’s mines under my care, on the 1st, 2nd & 3rd past I Let the sundry Bargains, of which is annexed a List - Many parts of the Mines are poor, & but for the Lead’s bearing a high price, they could not be Wrought, yet at the same time several of the other parts are doing well –

     I have Let every Bargain as low as the nature & Circumstances thereof would admit, & hope upon the whole they will be fruitful.-

     Rampgill, Scaleburnmoss, & Scaleburn Mines are all raising Ore advantageously; at Rampgill T. Humble & co are Driving in the Vein, in the great Limestone, which is hard & poor, but we expect shortly to meet with better success – G. Robinson & co are driv[ing] one of the Horse Levels, -  G. Dixon & co another, & T. Nattress a third one, which are all necessary to promote the general success of the Mine – at Scaleburn Mine J. Robson & co are Sinking a Sump in the great Limestone, to form a Communication with the Vein & produce fresh Air – T. Cain & co are driving the Horse Level upon the great Limestone, & L. Hall & co are driv[ing] the Level under the great Limestone at Scaleburnmoss as a general drain to the Mine. –

     Hudgill Mine is still under Trial, but at an easy expence & raises part Ore in the mean time; - R. Bainbridge & co are driving in the vein, & as we look for a String’s intersecting the same, it will in all probability make an alteration for the better, if not, it will be discontinued.

     At Broomsberry T.Walton & co are driving a Horse Level for the upper Strata, which will be probably 18 months in finish, but after that, will raise Ore, which will more than refund the expence – 

     Middlecleugh Mine continues poor & I have reduced the number of hands on Dead Work. – Ridley Robson & co are Sinking a Sump & will shortly raise Ore – R. Briggs & co are driving one of the Horse Levels, which moves slowly, being prodigious hard – Jos[eph] Dickinson & co are driv[ing] a Level upon the little Limestone & will shortly try the Vein. R.Elliot & co are Sinking a Sump to accommodate the Vein with fresh Air, & prove the same in the little Limestone. – 

     Hangingshaw & Caplecleugh are vastly poor; at the former T. Armstrong & co are Sink[ing] in the Vein to furnish the Mine with Air, they will soon finish & raise Ore, - J. Dickinson & co are driv[ing] the Horse Level in the latter. – Smallcleugh Mine is doing better than for sometime past & especially in the flats, which are rais[ing] very good Ore. – W[illia]mRichardson & co are driv[ing] the Horse level – W[illia]m Cousin & co are Cutting across to the Vein – W[illia]m Wharton & co are driv[ing] the Level from the bottom of the Engine, which is the common drain for the Water – Mat[the]w Robson & co are driv[ing] a Level upon the great Limestone, from which the Vein will be occasionally tried. – Ra[lph] Walton & co are driv[ing] the Level at Ireshopeburn, this Mine will not admit of many hands being employed, but will raise small parcels of Ore to advantage while the Lead Markets are favourable.-

     Garrigill Mines are much the same as last report – Ja[mes] Dickinson & co at Browngill Sun Vein are Sinking a Sump & will shortly try the Vein. – J. Davidson & co are Sinking a Sump (see last report – Jos[eph] Wanless & co are Driv[ing] the Horse Level at Tynebottom, & Paul Readshaw & co are Sink[ing] a Sump to provide fresh Air & to try the Vein for Ore.-

     Boltshaw Mine is very poor & raises little Ore, & I am persuaded it will shortly become necessary to make Arrangements for leaving Derwent altogether, as there are no encouraging prospects in that Country. –

     Stanhope Mine raises more Ore than it did last year, & I hope it will do better in future – J[aco]b Vickers & co are driving a Level to the flats in the great Limestone (the Vein being subject to break into flats) where we expect to meet with Ore – J[oh]n Bainbridge & co are driv[ing] the Horse Level. Middlehope Mine continues to raise Ore pretty well, & will probably Work to advantage for Years to come. – Cha[rle]s Maddison & co are driv[ing] the Horse Level. Jos[eph] Dalkin & co are driv[ing] a level under the Limestone, which will drain the Vein of Water & prove beneficial in other respects.-

     Lodgesyke (Teesdale) at length appears hopeful – We drove a Level up to the Vein in the side of a high Mountain, & Sunk a Shaft upon the same for fresh Air & for a more effectual trial of the Vein, we hit upon the right spot & have met with a strong body of fine Ore, of which we have already rais’d 150 Bings, & I hope will do well – J. Binks & co are Driv[ing] the new Level – Jos[eph] Richardson & co are beginning a fresh level 20 fath[om]s deeper in the Mountain to communicate with the other Level & to open the Vein more efficiently, - two Bargains are Working @ 25/ p[er] Bing.

     Wiregill is become poorer – The alone Sill or part of the Strata in which the Ore was found, is almost excavated of course the Mine in that part which was successful is reduced to Pickings – But we trust Lodgesyke will prove a support when the other declines – J. Nixon & co are driving the deep Level – G. Allison & co are driving the deep Horse Level begun last year for the purpose of Cutting several Veins in fresh ground & which will Cut one during the present quarter.-

     Manorgill is poor, but raises Ore so as to prevent loss. – J. Bainbridge & co are Cutting across to the Vein, & will shortly raise some Ore.-

     Flakebrig new Level is going on by J. Watson & co in the Liberty or Lease lately obtained of W[illia]m Hutchinson Esq[uire] –

     I have received the Court’s of 16th. & observe the Contents – I have not as yet received any notice from Mr Hall respecting the Darwent Concerns.-

I wrote the Bishop of St Davids, agreeable to the Courts directions, respecting my various objections to his Mineral Ground, & named one half of the expense of the View, but have not heard anything from him –

     I am etc

     Tho[ma]s Dodd