Report – James Stuart – 2 Aug 1774

Tuesday 2d Aug[us]t 

      

      Proceeded this morning up the west side of Nent River & were shewn, as we went along, several places where Trials have been  made for the discovery of Lead Ore. Went on to Greengill west end mine which is under Lease to Lord Carlisle (who has 3/4ths), & Mr Cleaver. This mine is a very rich one and the Leases are likely to make great profits by it, [Marginal note: ‘quite failed’] & so they ought, having, as we are informed, expended upwards of £8000 & not rais[e]d any Lead till Candlemas last, since which it has produced upwards of 700 Bings. The Vein is a remarkably fine one as we understand from the Secretary & the Receivers who descended the shaft & went to the Forehead of the mines. The Lead produced from the Ore of this mine is said to be very Rich in Silver yielding about 18 ounces pFodder. From hence we proceeded onward, passing by several other mines which are working by the Lead mine company with great spirit; and also by the

Hospital Smelting Mill which is in their occupation; and afterwards by several other Mines under lease to Messrs Errington & Wilkinson amongst which are Capel Cleugh N[orth] Vein which employs a great many persons & produces much ore, and also Capel Cleugh & Capel Cleugh Sun vein the Lease of which was purchased by them of Sir Lancelot Allgood the day we arrived at Alston. All these Veins are working with great spirit. Passed thro[ugh] the workings of Middle Cleugh Sun vein to Middle Cleugh deep Level Mouth, where Mr Hicks & the Secretary, accompanied by Mr Brounton, the Receivers, & Mr Hodgson the Lead Company's Agent, went up in one of the Waggons, or Vogues as they are called here, 1000 yards, near to Middle Cleugh 2d Sun vein & saw some of the workings of the little Limestone at near 40 fathom perpendicular depth from the surface; This & the adjoining veins are working by the above Company to great advantage; upwards of 400 persons being employed, in & about Middle Cleugh alone, and 150 more on the 1st & 2d Sun Vein. The Ore of Middle Cleugh, tho[ugh] more in quantity, has, within these 2 y[ea]rs last past, not been so good in quality, being very stubborn & refractory in the fire & consequently more difficult to smelt; which has obliged the Lead Company to pay an advanced price for it to the Smelters. 

      We were then shewn Carr's west of Nent under a particular grant to Mrs Loraine of Hexham but now forfeited by her not working it agreeable to the terms of the Lease. Saw also Carr's E[ast] of Nent & the Trials making at Rampgill head by the above mentioned Messrs Errington & Wilkinson at a very considerable Expence. We then returned thro[ugh] Nenthead to Alston between which places the communication is now made very good & a Bridge built across the Nent. Were shewn a piece of road which was made a few Y[ea]rs ago at the Hospital's expence in the neighbourhood of the former, where the chief of the mines are, in order to connect the principal pieces of road which had been made by the Lead Company & other Adventurers who had expended upwards of £400 in these improvements; It having been thought reasonable that the Hospital, since its commencing Smelting, should contribute as well as the others towards making Ore Carriage roads. The above piece of road is an exceeding good one, it is about 1/3 of a mile in Length & cost about £50.