Letter – Joseph Hilton – 15 Oct 1778

                                                                            	Nenthead 15th Oct'r 1778



Memorandum     We the undersigned having been requested to make Diallings and Measures for enabling us to fix the Boundary of Rampgill and Coal Cleugh Vein in the Great Limestone immediately underneath where it crosses the Middle of the Long Ditch, which said Ditch is cast and agreed upon to be the Boundary between the Manor of Alston Moor and the Regality or Manor of Hexham, and having carefully and at different times each of us made Diallings and Measures, and this day having jointly examined the same do agree that the whole is accurately done; in consequence of which we have this day fixed a Stake at the distance of Forty Eight Feet or thereabouts Westward (in the direction of the said Vein) from the Middle of the said Ditch, which Stake is agreed upon by us to be directly perpendicular above an Iron Wedge which we also this day fixed in the Eastmost Sump Sunk by the Governor & Company for Smelting down Lead Ure into the Great Limestone in Rampgill Vein, and which said Iron Wedge is driven into the Rider on the North side of the said Sump Five feet below the bottom of the Great Limestone Tumblers, and it appears to us by this days examination that the said Governor & Company have in some parts of their Great Limestone Forehead worked into Sir Thomas Blacketts Liberty and in other places not quite to it, and that the Workings must be frequently examined as they are Worked deeper, which will be very easily done as the Stake and Iron Wedge are admitted to be right fixed. 

      Jos'h Hilton Moor Master

      Jos Dickinson Principal Lead Mines Agent to Sir Thomas Blackett Bart