Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Ibbetson – 15 Apr 1778

To John Ibbetson Esquire 						London  15th April 1778





Sir

      Before I left the Country, I gave directions to make Tryal for Coal near Deanraw, and am informed that the Coal has been met with at the Depth of Nine Fathoms and Four Feet, and that the Seam or Stratum is 20 Inches thick or thereabouts of good Coal above which there is a Stratum of soft Slatey matter of 13 Inches in thickness making in the whole about 33 Inches.  The last circumstance is very fortunate as it will enable us to work the Seam of Coal without Waste and indeed I have great hopes this Coal will prove a very Valuable acquisition to Langley Lead Mill it being no more than a Mile distant from it.  The expence of the Tryal was expected to have cost only Eight or Nine Pounds but as a Considerable quantity of Water was met with in Sinking the Pit to the Coal the whole Expenditure will amount to £16 – or £17 -.  To make the Winning of the Colliery compleat will I should apprehend not Cost above £150. I must however beg leave to postpone giving any further Sentiments on that ‘till the matter has undergone a full Consideration, and would advise that Boreholes be made without loss of Time to ascertain the proper place for beginning a Level.  If the Coal should answer on making the Boreholes, it is probably the expence of New Winning Stublick Colliery will be saved, the Board will therefore be pleased to give directions for proceeding immediately with the work.  I am

      Sir Yours etc NW Junior



PS 	The new Winning Stublick Colliery was Estimated to cost about £700 –

      The Busyness respecting the Several Bills upon which I came to Town to attend Parliament being now finished you will be so obliging as acquaint the Board of Directors therewith and that the time taken up in attending to the Corbridge Division Bill two Years ago & the four Bills this Session will amount to 65 days besides which considerably more than equal to that time has been Spent in bringing the several projects to bear and the Board will be pleased to make such allowance as they shall judge proper on the above account.