Report – Jonathan Maughan – 7 Nov 1719

May it Please your Honours:

       In Obedience to your Honours Commands, I have made the best observations on the Colliery’s, and Lead Mines I was Capable of and that the Condition they are now in; and the time would Allow of, together with the Best information, I could gaine of Persons that has had Knowledge of the Same which are as follows, viz

       

       Stella, Freehold Colliery 

       There are Three Seam’s of Coals in the Said Pitts; which hath been wrought in Many places, and that there are Several Batts of Coals that Lyes unwrought of the Stone and five Quarter Coal, as the Workmen informs me, but the water being Risen So high through the Neglecting of the Water Ginns and the bad Repair they are in, that I could not go Downe the Pitts to view the Same, there being Six fathoms and one half of Water Standing in the Waist, that must be Drawne out, or any part of the Stone Coal or five Quarter Coal can be wrought, John Smith who looks to the Ginns Saith that if Mr Midleton had kept the Ginns in Repair; [Marginal note in another hand: ‘M to answer’] in the Spring when there was plenty of Water to Draw the water with, that all the waist water might have been Drawne out, and the five Quarter Coal might have been wrought this Summer that the water has Risen in the Waist Since the Tenth of March five yards, and that it now rises one half yard per Week, through the Dryness of the Season, that the water that now comes to the Ginns, will keep them going only 6 ½ or 7 hours in 24 hours.

       I have viewed all the water Courses, and think there is water Lost by the badness of the Water Courses, that might keep the Ginns at worke 3 or 4 hours more in every 24 hours, if the Ginns were to Lye unwrought that the water would Rise to the Day that the Freehold Colliery would be entirely lost, and that Brockwell or Winlaton Colliery would Some part of it be in danger of being lost thereby; but haveing not Levelled the Ground I can make no Exact Judgement of that;  With Humble Submission it is my opinion that if the Ginns were in good Repair and the water Courses made Good that the waist water may be Drawne out, but it will Require a Considerable time and a great Expence before the Stone Coal and five Quarter Coal can be wrought, As to the Geet Coal which is [Marginal note: ‘Stella new Seam’] the Uppermost it is but a Course Coal, and att the Pitt Called Eline Pitt where Mr Midleton wrought, it is about 20 fathom Deep The Stone Coal 25 fathom Depth, which he also wrought and is tollerable good Coal, the 5 Quarter Coal, which is about 30 fathom Deep is Reputed a very good Coal; there is as Mr Silvertop Sayes another Coal which no part of it has been wrought that is about 10 fathom Deeper then the 5 Quarter Coal, which by the Common Observations in Colliery’s; it must be the Maine Coal which alwayes is Esteemed the best, but to Winn this Coal it would be very Chargeable, by Reason of the great feeder of Water that in all probability would Certainly attend itt, (There was a Covenant as I am Informed by the Workmen and Several of the People in and about Stella) Viz That the Owners of the Grand Lease was obliged to take all the Coals Lord Widrington could gett or Cause to be gott within the Colliery’s of Stella Freehold at £3:10:- per Tenn and to Lead them att their owne Charge from the Pitts; (which if the Covenant be So and in force) may give encouragement to Working of the Geet Coal and the Stone Coal.



A Computation what may Repair the Water Ginns at Stella Freehold Colliery

Imprimis The low bobb Ginns 2 Setts of Pumps 

  18 fathom Each: viz 216 foot @ 2s 6d per foot         £27  -  -

The Chaine Ginn one Sett of Pumps 

  7 fathom: viz 42 foot @ 2:6 per foot                   £5  5  –

The High Ginn one Sett of Pumps 

  10 fathom: viz 60 foot @ 2:6 per foot                  £7 10  –

4 Working peices for the Pumps 

  12 foot each viz 48 foot @ 2:6 per foot                £6  -  -

                                                  Pumps           £45 15  –

The Chaine Ginn one New Chain 10 or 12 Cwt of Iron etc  £18  -  -

100 Deals to the Low Levell £7 Workmanship of Ditto £8  £15  -  -

One New Bobb for the Low Ginn                            £5  -  -

A New Water Wheel for the Low Ginn                       £8  -  -

A New Ragg Wheel                                         £1 10  –

One Sett of New Trunnell heads for the Strong 

  Axle Tree at the Chain Ginn                            £1 15  -

Coggs and Rungs for the Chain Ginn                       £0 10  –

1/2 Dozen Boxes @ 2s per piece                           £- 12  –

100 Deals for Repairing the Trowes etc                   £7  -  -

12 Balks 60 foot for Spears                              £3  -  -

Iron Worke and Nails                                     £5  -  -

Repairing the Shaffts at the Engines                    £10  -  -

Cleansing the Damm where the water is kept 

  to Supply the Ginns                                    £4  -  -

                                                                  £79 07  –

                                                                 £125 02  -

To Repairing Water Courses and Damms      £10 -s -d p Ann.m

A man to look to the Ginns 3s 6d per week £22 - - per Week 

besides Drawing the Spears and Other Contingencies      £32  -  -

  [the sum £22 is struck through (A year at 3s6d/week 

   is £9 2s)but the incorrect £32 sum remains standing]



       This Colliery in Stella Freehold lyes very convenient for Water Carriage; Elme Tree Pitt which was the Pitt wrought by Mr Midleton being from the Staith at the Water Side, where the Coals are taken into Boats or Keils about 400 Yards: I am of Opinion the Coals may be Wrought and Laid on Banke; (the Water Charge Excepted) for 40s per Tenn; That they may be led to the Staith for 6s per Tenn and the Waggon ways and Waggons Repaired at 3s per Tenn. Note that 15 Scores is a Computed Tenn; and 25 Waggon Loads is Reckoned to a Tenn and one Tenn will produce about 16 Newcastle Chaldrons 

       

       Jessemond Colliery 

       I am Apprehensive it will be very difficult to come to A Right Knowledge thereof; I went to waite upon Mr Gill who is viewer of the Said Colliery for Mr White; and Acquainted him that Mr Midleton being Discharged from the Mannageing of the Forfeited Shares there; And that (your Honours) had been pleased to Appoint me to Inspect the Same, I would take it as a perticular favour if he would please to informe me what Share or Shares thereof Mr Hodgson was formerly entituled to: Mr Gill told me that the Colliery was formerly wrought in Common amongst the Partners: and that Mr Hodgson had Two Sixth parts; the Duke of Newcastle which is Now Mr Harleys one Sixth part, Mr White One Sixth part; Esqr Brandling One Sixth part, & that the Towne of Newcastle had One Sixth part thereof; Mr Gill further Said that for about Nineteen Years Last past every One of them had wrought in his owne; and that Mr White had the whole in Lease; That Mr Hodgsons Share was Mostly wrought out that could be wrought for many Years; And that most of the Coal that was to worke, was in Mr Harleys Share: I could not finde how to Reconcile his Argument first to Say that it was wrought in Common; and then that it had been wrought by every partner for these Nineteen Years Last past; in every Mans owne Ground or Share and I could not Apprehend by him that any Division ever had been Made; I then Disired him that he would please to Shew me which Grounds the Shares that was formerly Mr Hodgsons Shares was in; and what Pitts was in the Same, and what Quantities of Coals had been Wrought, and what was Due to the Publick for the Same; Mr Gill told me that he had not Opportunity to go with me, and that they had Lately Delivered an Account to Mr Midleton, I went also to Mr Whites Staith man, that Delivers the Coals unto the Keils & boats, and Desired his Accompt of the Coals that came from these Pitts; that was now wrought that Mr Hodgson formerly had Shares or parts in; he told me could not without Mr Whites Orders, but that one Mr Collison could give me an Accompt I went to his house but could not be Admitted to Speake to him, being that he lay Dangerously ill as they told me, and that there was no other person could give me An Account thereof I then Consulted with Mr Took and we thought it impropper to go into the Colliery to make any observations; least it Should Alarme them; till these Shares Mr Hodgson was Entituled to And the perticular parcells of Ground these Collierys that was his is in be made further known;

        With Most Humble Submission it is my Opinion that it were Nessessary that A Survey Should be made of the whole Lands and every parcell thereof under which the whole Colliery of Jessemond lyes; and a Mapp thereof taken and every persons particular parcell of Ground under which his or their Collierys lyes therein Distinguished and as each Pitt has been Sunck; and then to call a view, and Line the Pitts; and Make observations in whose Shares they have wrought, and if no Lease can be produced Setting forth their Limitations in Working, to finde if the Same be wrought fairly and According to Custome

       It Appear’s to me by the Course or Method they have Sunck their Pitts that Unfair Working has been Designed; The Colliery lyes very convenient for the Water has a large Boundry A great Quantity of Ground unwrought, A very good Coal and a Large Seam as I am informed, and great Quantity’s of Coals is now wrought there; The water Ginns are in very good working order; and if a New Ginn was Settled for Another lift, to Draw the Water to that Levell the Ginns now takes it at; the Colliery might be of much more Vallue and great Quantity’s of Coals may be wrought at Such places as they Cannot now work at the Levell they are att, I am of Opinion that the Coals may be wrought and Laid on Bank at 40s Per Tenn and Led to the Staith at £1:8s per Tenn The Coal being a good Shipp Coal and Lying convenient for Shipping in all probability every Tenn of that Coal must Allow Mr White £3 proffitt when all Charges is Paid.

       

       Jeffreys Grove 

       at this place their are Two Vaines of Lead Oar the One Called the Old vain which most of the Workings has been at, the other the Sunn Vain which was Discovered about Three Years Since, The Vaines Seems to Runn Nor East and So: West is Boundered on the East & Nor East by the Libertyes of the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Durham; and on the West & So West by a Small Brook Called Bolts hope Burn & the Liberty’s of Mr John Ord of Newcastle Joynes thereto; The old vain has been very much wrought from the Small Brook called Boltshopeburn, and the Oar Digged out as Low as the water would allow them; the Midlings are Mostly Cutt out and <Bunyand>, a great Many of the Deads buryed which is oftentimes of Evil Consequence to a Grove there is only 4 or 5 men works at this Vain the forehead lyes Unwrought, there is Supposed to be 13 fathom of Water Standing in the yards; the Water Ginn has not Drawne any Water for Some time; nor cannot be Supply’d with Water to Cause it go: being fix’d near the Midle of the workings and on a Riseing Ground that the Water cannot be brought out of the Small Brook called Boltshope burn to cause the Ginns to go: The Ginns was

Supply’d with Some Water that was Conveyed out of the Liberty’s of the Dean and Chapter

but they have not allowed them it Since the time the Groves became a Forfeiture as John Steward who is agent there informes me.

       The Sunn vain at Jeffreys Grove is Near Twenty fathom from the Old vain or North vain Running Parrallell with it, has a Considerable Number of Workmen employ’d in Working at it, A good Quantity of Oar on Bank, and Several of the forehead where the Oar is gott Appears very well with Oar in them, and the Oar in the vain Setts Downward into the Soles So far as I could Discover for Water; and in all Probability when the Water is taken of by a Levell, or Drawne out by the water Ginn; great Quantity’s of Oar may be gott in this vain; Notwithstanding att that Level which the Water now passes att a Considerable Quantity of Oar may be gott the vain being but Lately Discovered and the Ground being Mostly Unwrought (except about 40 fathom each way from where they Discovered it) Mr Wethrell and Mr Wood who <take/took> the works of Mr Grey; Letts to the Workemen Moors of Ground So Termed; being in Length 20: 30: or 40 fathoms more or Less, to Work and Winn Oar at a Certain <price> and the Sinking Shaffts and Sumps Driveing levells and Cutting Cross Cutts; being entirely at the Workmens owne Expence; (only Excepting that Mr Wetherell and Mr Wood findes them with Ropes Rolls and Timber) that the Hazard the Owners Runns is very Small and if Oar be gott they are Sure of Proffitt; The Workmen winns the

The Oar and washes it, Lays it in the Bing Steads ready for Delivery to the Smelt Mill Some at 16s per Bing others at 18 & 20: to 24s per Bing: Mr Westgarth who was agent att the Said Groves for Madam Grey Deceased: Eight years and upwards; Saith that Madam Grey and he hath oftentimes observed the Lease how long it had to Runn and that he is of Opinion the Lease is already Expired or doth Expire the first of August 1718: Mr Mowbray who was agent for Mr Gray Deceased: and Also took up the Duty Oar for Lady Crew and Mr Foster; Sayeth that he was Ordered by Lady Crew and Mr Foster to observe the Lease how long it had to Runn; being they offered to work the Grove Contrary to the Covenants in the Lease, he took Minutes of the Date of the Lease and will give oath if Occasion that it Expires the first of August 1718; I am of Opinion if a Lease may be Granted of the Same; that there is Persons that will take her paying every fifth or Sixth Duty; tho the putting of the Grove into Good Order and Clearing the Low Sills of Water will Cost Some Hundreds of Pounds

       

       Shildon Grove 

       Being in the Libertys that did belong to Mr Foster; lyes to the Northward of Jeffrey’s Grove about A Mile and half Layes at present Unwrought for want of Water to Cause the Ginns to go: is wrought to a great Deepness and getts when wrought a pretty good Quantity of Oar tho the working must be Charge-able by Reason of the Deepness and the Great Water Charge that Attends the Same; the Lease is for 21 years Granted to one Mr Doubleday, bears date in 1706: they pay a Seventh Duty: there is a place called the Fell Grove about ¼ of a Mile from Shildon and very hopeful for proveing a Good Grove; their agent Sayes they have gott in the Year Near 200: Bings of Oar at the Said Grove; They have Delivered from Shildon and the Fell Grove Since the 20th June 1717 to the 12th of July 1718: 609 Bings 2 horse & ½ of Oar; in which is included 17 Bings & 1 poke of Cutting Oar.



       The Liberty’s of Blanchland are very large Includeing Bolts hope in which is Jeffrey’s Grove being on the South Side of the River Darwin Shildon and Beldon Being on the North of the Said River, Some Vaines does Appear in the Said Libertyes which is not wrought, which Tacks may be lett on if Your Honours gives Order for the Same



       Alston Moor, 

       It plainly Appears that Many of the Groves in that Country are not Wrought effectually; Several of these that have Leases being Sparing of Venturing their Money; Unless the Workmen themselves will Runn the Hazard if a Sufficient Number of Pickmen were kept working and Encouraged at the Several Groves in that Country; Great Quantity’s of Oar in all probability might be gott

       Red Groves Boundering Uppon Sir William Blacketts Liberties on the East at this Grove great Quantity’s of Oar has been gott, but it has been long wrought and their foremost Workings Seems to be near the End of their Bounder. Sir William’s foremost workings; and the foremost Workings att this Grove, being Near mett together, Shee does not Appear to be A Grove of Long Continuance Yett Considerable Quantity’s of Oar may be gott out of the Waistes or Cuttings etc. There is but little Oar on Bank att this Grove and that which is Washed up does not Appear to be well washed & Dressed; that it may Cause objections if intended for the Duty Oar.

       Goodham Gill Moss: is a Late Discovery hath not been much wrought is very promising; they have gott above a hundred Bing of Oar; is Driveing up a New Levell to Convey away the water; and in all probability may be a Grove of Long Continuance haveing no part of the vain wrought before them in their Bounder

       Brownley Hill, is a Grove that has not been much wrought, hath a fair Streak of Ground, and in all likelyhood will be a good Grove and of long Continuance being upon a Riseing Ground where new Sills will putt on and may work to a great Depth; haveing good Convenience to bring levells to Convey away the water, a Considerable Quantity of Oar on Bank and it is Said to

hold a pretty Quantity of Silver in it.

       The Haggs Grove, hath but little wrought at her a Small Quantity of Oar on Bank; the Oar gott here is Said to produce as much Silver as any Oar in that Country.

       Fistahs Rake alias Blaygill, has been a very Considerable Grove, but now being wrought to the topp of a hill the Oar becomes Chargeable to get by Reason Shee is wrought att a great Depth, and hath a Deep Shafft, besides Several Sumps, to draw the Oar and Deeds up to bring them to the Bank few men works at her little Oar on Bank.

       Brown Gill Supposed to be the Same Vain that the Red Groves is, Appears on a Mountain to the South west of Red Groves, the Ground of this Grove is mostly Cutt; Yett in all probability Some Quantity’s of Oar may be gott in the Cuttings and picked out of her, Small Quantity’s of Oar on Bank, but it is Said to afford Silver pretty well.

       Gally Gill Sike: Thorter Gill: and Taylor Sike foot: Long Clough: Greengill are very inconsiderable workings I made little observations on them

       Thorngill Lyes Unwrought the Ground is mostly Cutt,

       The Loneing head Grove lyes Unwrought.

       There is Several old Groves that Oar might be picked out of if Encouragement was given.



       I am of Opinion that the prices of the Oar may be Considerably advanced.



Several Tack Notes Granted by the Late Lord Derwintwater as I am informed; and lyes now Unwrought:



The Names of the places lett           To whom they were Lett

Fletcherass Sunn Vain                  Joseph Walton & partners

Sunn Cow Slitt                         Thomas Hope

Wethrell Mey                           Nicholas Vipond

Cash Burnforce                         Thomas Lee

Battell Green                          Arthur Robinson

Old Carrs                              George Wilkinson

The East Side of Clargillhead          Samuel White

Clarrgill Clough in Priorsdaile        John Watson

Winchell Gapp	                       To Ditto

The High vaines in Crossgill burnhead  John Whitesmith

Cashwell                               John Watson

Grover Sike                            Joseph Walton

Blew Craggs in Crossgill               William Bell

Ramp Gill foot                         Thomas Bateman

Little burn head                       Richard Liverick

View Close                             John Smith

Rickergill Sike                        Isaac Wilkinson

Middle Clough                          Thomas Watson

Gate Castle in Crossgill               Mr Ralph Wally

The East Side of Dryburn 

  Nr the old Smiddy                    To Ditto

The Great Sulpher vain in Blackburn    To Ditto

Doffergillfoot                         To Ditto

Clarrgill Clough nr Green Tongue foot  John Brown

Gill Gill Near Nent head               William Furnass

Wellhope knott                         John Bewnass

Nattrass low Peet fell                 Thos Errington & partners

Whinny Crofft                          Richard Liverick

Greenlaw Sike in Cross gill            Mr Ralph Wally

Wellhope Knott                         John Jackson

How Gill Sike                          Thomas Askeugh

Browberry                              Thomas Hope

Newberry                               Thomas Walton

Bold Carrs                             Richard Liverick

Gill Gill                              Thomas Stout

Foreshild burn                         George Robson

Stony band                             Mr Armstrong

East Side of Cash burn head            John Watson

Birch Bank                             Thomas Burn

Capel Clough                           Richard Ridley

Goodham hill Moss                      John Henderson

Hoes Edge                              William Richardson

Arthur Spitts Near the Mill burn       Nathaniel Hadwin



Places proposed to be taken

Rotherup Clough                         John Scollick & partners

Fletcherass Sunn vain                   by Ditto

The North vain of brown Gill on 

  Brown Gill Moss Near Nunnery Spring 

  on the Sunn Side                      by Ditto

Carrs vain in Nenthead & batemans vain  Thomas Harrison

Cocklake                                Phillip Hareup