Witness Depositions – Cuthbert Dryden – 2 Apr 1690

Cuthbert Dryden of Prudhoe in the County of Northumberland yeom ages Fifty Fower yeares or thereaboutes Sworn & Examined Deposeth as followeth. 

2 4 & 5	To the Second Fowerth and Fifth Interr[ogator]ys this Depont saith that he this Depont and the whole inhabitants within the neighbouring parts of the County's of Northumberland & Durham as occasion was for above thes Thirty Eight yeares last or thereaboutes to the knowledge of the Depont have had used & Enjoyed a Com[m]on high way for leading & carrying of Timber slates Lead & such like Com[m]odities with waines carts & Carriages from Hedley & other places both in Northumberland & Durham as occasion offered, in att the Moorgate or Stellagate & soe by the Bogg or Blackmires to the Peth or Peth head & soe Downe the Peth to the Two Leadhills called Stella & Blaydon Leadhills, and att other times as occasion required, in along & through the com[m]on high way aforesaid and Downe the Peth, and soe over Blaydon Burne Downe Eastwards to Blaydon Towne, and from thence to Swallwell, and this Depont saith that neither he this Depont nor any other that he knowes or ever heard of, was ever att any time dureing the time aforesaid Stopt or hindered in the usage & Enjoymt of the said Com[m]on high way in & through any the parts or places aforesaid nor was ever any Satisfaction Demanded or paid or leave asked for the usage thereof by this Depont or any other useing the same, that this Depont knowes or ever heard off, but this Depont saith that when and soe often as they laid & landed their Goods in & upon the said Lead hills for Carrying by water for Newcastle then was Two pence a Foother & Fower pence a Tunn paid to the farmers of the said Leadhills for Liberty to lay & Land their Goods upon the said Leadhills, and was called Banke money or groundings, but never any thing was for useing the the Com[m]on high way as aforesaid, and this Depont saith that when goods was brought in carriages along the said Com[m]on high way to Blaydon Swallwell or wickham, and Did not touch or land the same att the said Lead hills, then was not any Satisfaction paid or as much Demanded for the use of the said Com[m]on high way that this Depont knowes or ever heard off, though they used the same as aforesaid, and this Depont saith that both he this Depont & others have used the said Com[m]on high way with waines & carriages for leading & carrying of Iron Dales & such like Com[m]odities to Hexham & other places in the Countrey, which came and were brought by water from Newcastle & Landed att the said Leadhills.