Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Ibbetson – 10 Jul 1778

To John Ibbetson Esquire 						Farnacres 10th July 1778



Sir

      You receive herewith an Account of the Produce from Langley Lead Mill from the 29th March 1777 to and with the 11th April last at the foot of which we have the Pleasure to observe there is a Balance of £1128:14:6 in favour of the Undertaking.  You also receive a Paper accompanying the above Account which shews the Quantity of Ore that remained at the Lead Mines for Duty to Michaelmas 1777 after finishing the Carriage of last Year and desire you will lay both before the Board.

      On the 13th of November last Messrs Walton & Smeaton acquainted the Board of their having had a Visit from Mr Gilbert the Duke of Bridgwaters Agent who appeared strongly inclined to recommend a Navigable Sough or Level to be carried on by Lord Carlisle and Company much beyond what has yet been done or attempted in Alston moor by any private Company of Adventurers both as to the Mode and Extent, and that they hoped in consequence of what had passed between them and Mr Gilbert and Mr Gilbert [sic] a Proposal would be received.

      When we were in Alston Moor, Mr Gilbert gave us a Meeting upon the above Subject at which time the inclosed Proposals were drawn up and Signed by him, and indeed we have much satisfaction in the Pleasing Prospect to the Hospital from the Works proposed to be made by Mr Gilbert as by means of the Level from How Blagill Syke the several Veins from Gally Gill Syke to Greengill Sun Vein will be effectually unwatered and tryed to much advantage, and by the Extending of the Level from Middle a large tract of Country will be laid open in which no Tryals of consequence have ever been made and in a great part scarce any thing attempted.

      The Board will be pleased to take Notice that those Proposals differ very considerably from the Common Form, which is necessary by way of giving an Encouragement adequate to the object of the Undertaking, we have therefore taken up the Subject upon such an Idea as to do that amply and at the same time in such manner as to be most likely to be beneficial to the Commissioners & Governors of Greenwich Hospital, and we now take the first opportunity of transmitting the Proposals to the Board since receiving a Plan which we thought it absolutely necessary to order, by way of fully explaining to the Directors the Situation of the Ground wherein the Tryals are proposed to be made; which Plan you will receive in London by the Newcastle Coach on Tuesday Evening and now that this Proposition is got so farr forward we must beg leave to recommend it to the Board that the most early determination may be had upon the Proposals the carrying of which into Execution we cannot but think to be likely to produce a lasting Benefit to Greenwich Hospital and to which we look forward with the greatest pleasure especially as we cannot help flattering ourselves that the above Scheme being brought thus forward has been greatly to our and Mr Smeatons unwearied Attention to the Busyness.

      On the 17th January last Mr Robert Percival on Behalf of the Governor and Company for Smelting Down Lead with Pit Coal and Sea Coal made a Proposal to the Moormaster for a North and South running Vein of Lead Ore discovered in a Level carrying on for the use of Scaleburnmoss Vein, to contain in Length One Thousand Two Hundred Yards Northward from the Point where discovered.  As the Boundary Extended towards the Ground in which it was expected Dr Hall & Company would would [sic] make a very effectual Tryal, it was thought

proper to return Mr Percival the Proposal ‘til there was time to consider the matter more fully, which having done when last in Alston Moor, we acquainted him that as Dr Hall & Company were carrying on very considerable Works and the Granting his Proposal would be a discouragement to the prosecuting thereof, we could not advise the Commissioners and Governors of Greenwich Hospital to make a Grant to the Governor & Company which was in it’s effect likely to produce a Discouragement to Dr Hall and Companys proceedings and that therefore the Boundary of the Ground proper for the Dr & Company to have must be reserved entire but that it was very proper for the Governor & Company to have such part of the discovered Vein as lay to the South of that Ground. 

      In order therefore that the Propositions of Dr Hall & Company might be clearly understood we put that Company upon stating their intended Operations by way of Proposal & in consequence have received the inclosed upon which we have to observe that by the extending the Level or Drift which was taken from Nells Well, Eastwards to the Boundary of the Manor all the North and South running Veins which lye to the East of it’s present Forehead will be discovered, and an opportunity given of Working the same and by the continuing Guddam Gill Burn Cross Vein Low Level Southwards to the Extent of the South Boundary described in Dr Halls Proposals all the East and West running Veins which run a Cross its’ Course will be discovered and may be effectually tryed besides which it will enable the Dr & Company to Work such North and South running Veins as lye near its’ Course not only effectually but advantageously.  And after this Level is extended to the said South Boundary, the Directors will

see by looking upon the Plan No. 3 that it will be so near the Governor & Company’s Veins of Scaleburn Moss, & Rampgill that it may easily be extended to the same which will most assuredly be a great advantage to that Company and of Course to Greenwich Hospital, and in fact this was the main Object in pushing the Carrying forward of Guddam Gill Burn Cross Vein Low Level, for the Board will be pleased to take Notice that Rampgill Vein has been properly considered as the Sheet Anchor of Alston Moor for many, very many Years and Scaleburn Moss is at this time one of the best Veins for Produce in the Manor of Alston Moor and those Veins will be laid dry by means of extending Guddamgill Burn Cross Vein Low Level at a much lower Level than by the present Level which the Governor and Company have.

      By Mr Walton & Mr Smeatons Letter of the 30th of May 1777 it was recommended to the Board of Directors to have the whole Of Lowbyer Housing Rebuilt before the Expiration of the Term of the present Lease and in consequence of the Boards Direction and some time previous to Mr Waltons coming last to London he gave Mr Hilton orders to proceed in that work, and to provide Materials, so as there might be no delay in compleating the Work.  Mr Hilton proceeded but not further than to give us an opportunity of altering the Plan.

      We now beg leave to go into a full View of the matter. We consider that we are rebuilding a Capital Mansion House where the Manor Courts are to be kept that it may be made the place of Resort for Gentlemen who are Lead Mine Adventurers and others who will be led into this Country in consequence of the Great Works now in Agitation and carrying on and by the opening a Communication by a Turnpike Road; And there being no Houses in the Town of Alston for the Gentlemen Adventurers to go to, when they come to see their Works, and make their Lead Mine Pays but what are extremely inconvenient & unfit for their Reception without giving trouble to private Families; that it would be proper to make such a Building at Lowbyer as will be fit for the accomodation of the Lead Mine Adventurers etc and which Mr Gilbert Dr Hall and others have expressed their wish to have done.

      Those Circumstances have induced us to enlarge the Plan & by throwing the Offices partly underground and raising an Attick Story, such a House will be got as to answer the Purposes wanted and which being built by Greenwich Hospital cannot fail having a good effect as shewing an attention to the Convenience of the Several Lead Mine Adventurers in Alston Moor, and as we are so perfectly satisfied that the enlarged Plan of this Building is not more than adequate to what will be necessary & that the Execution of the Work will be attended with Consequences to Greenwich Hospital far more than equal in value to any Extra Sum which will be expended, we doubt not the Board will approve of our having proceeded with the Work upon that Idea and of our compleating the same this Season

      We are Sir Your etc

      NW Junior J.C.T.



PS We are glad to acquaint the Board that Nentforce Level is proceeding very well