Report – Thomas Dodd – 8 Apr 1815

To Honble The Govr: & Compy  					Nenthead. April 8th 1815



Sirs

      After a general View of the Companys Mines under My Care and direction, on the 30th & 31 last, I lett the Sundry Bargains a List of which is annexed.   Some parts of the Mines look more prosperous and other parts worse since My last list of Bargains was sent to the Court, but I have taken all the pains in My power to lett the whole as low as the Nature and situation of them would admit and have Reduced the highest prices in every Mine 2s/ p[er] Bing namely from 44 to 42/ and the Dead Work in proportion, which I trust will meet the Courts approbation.



Rampgill Mine employs a vast Number of hands, yet by the principal Workings in the late good Vein getting excavated & much cut out and the leading Forehead not Reviving Renders the whole much poorer than formerly.   John Elliott &c are driving an upper Level, to try the Vein in the upper Stratums.   Thos Thompson &c are driving one of the Horse Levels.  Robert Houps &c are driving a Level in one of the Cross Veins, which is a hopeful trial, as it will cut several East & West Running Veins when it arrives at a certain point.   Wm Irwin &c are driving the deep Horse Level and Thomas Hewitson &c are Rising from the Horse Level into the Great Limestone to try the Vein afresh



Scaleburnmoss Mine is much the same as last Report.  Thos Humble &c are driving the Horse Level.



Middle Cleugh Mine employs few hands, nor can more be done with prudence until the several Veins of Middle Cleugh be cut by the deep Level from Small Cleugh Engine.   Geo Robinson &c are driving the Horse Level



Middle Cleugh Cross Vein (connected with Blackashgill) we have at last under many difficulties got into this Vein, and are now raising Ore vastly well by 22 hands, as the Court will see this List.   Probably the Court will remember that this was a favorite trial with me, when I recommended the purchase of it to the Court, and have no doubt but my expectation will be realized.   Jacob Peart &c are sinking into the Vein and will soon Raise Ore.   John Milburn &c are driving the Horse Level from the North end of the Vein to meet the Workings at Blackashgill, & there being a vast extent of Ground & several fair Running Veins to cut by the Way renders the whole a very agreeable object Wm Teasdale &c are opening & Repairing an Old Level



Blackashgill Lease is under trial but the prospects not good, yet cannot be entirely abandoned on Acct. of the connection between this Mine & Middle Cleugh Cross Vein.   John Elliott &c are driving a Level upon the Little Limestone 14 fa[thoms] above the Great Limestone, both to try the upper Stratums  and occasionally to sink into the Great Limestone.   John Vipond &c are opening an Old Level to prove what has been formerly done (by what is commonly called the Old Man) in order to open a communication between and occasionally to rise from the one & sink into the other for two Levels.



Small Cleugh Mine is doing well in the Flatts, and the Ore of a most extraordinary quality.   Wm Cowing &c are repairing a Level.   John Hall &c are sinking a sump into the great Limestone to try the Vein.  Jos Spark &c are driving the deep Level from Small Cleugh Engine to Relieve Middle Cleugh Veins & Thos. Stephenson &c are sinking a Sump into the Flatts.



Garrigill Mines There is no material alteration with



Browngill Sun Vein since my Last Report.   Robt. Bowman &c are cutting a Cross to the South from the Old Vein, where probably some Ore will be got.  Jno Archer &c are driving the Horse Level.



Tynebottom Mines are at present now hopeful, and raising more Ore than for some Years past.   Thos Cain &c are driving the Horse Level.



Browngill Mine is poor, and the hands employed only keeps the Lease from forfeiture.  Jos Hall &c are driving the Horse Level 



Broomsberry & Gudhamgillmoss Mines extremely poor, and the hands employed will keep the Leases.   Wm Armstrong &c are sinking a deep Sump into the low Level, to answer the purpose of a drain to the Mine.



Middlehope Mine employs many hands and raises a great deal of Ore, tho’ no part of the Mine can be wrought at as low prices as some time past, for fluctuation and change is very common with all Lead Mines.   Geo Temperley &c are driving an upper Horse Level to prove the Vein in the upper Stratums.   John Armstrong &c are driving a Level in the Great Limestone in a different part of the Mine.   John Dawson &c are driving the Horse Level Westward.  Wm Brown &c are driving the Horse Level upon the Little Limestone, and Edward Byers &c are driving the Horse Level eastward in the Old Vein



Stanhopeburn Mine remains poor, and very little Altered since my last Report.   Jos Collingwood &c are driving the Horse Level to prepare the flatts for Raising Ore.



[Marginal note: ‘Accident Boy killed by fallg down the Whimsey Shaft at Rampgill see the Books page 95’]  

			

On the 15th February last the Son of a poor Widow in this place, and who was the principal Support of the distressed family was in a moment precipitated down one of the Whimsey Shafts (at Rampgill) 330 Feet and broke to pieces.  I hope the Court will pardon me for naming this doleful event, for I know the Court had in some disastrous cases graciously condescended to bestow some small Charity upon the Survivors, this was a fine Boy 17 or 18 Years of Age The Rope had got off the Pulley Wheel which is exactly over the Top of the Shaft, and in his Attempt to put it Right he Slipped his foot & went down.

      I am Sirs &c &c

      Thomas Dodd Sen.r