Can anyone help me with this one? The first use of the diamond rock drill
in Weardale lead mines was, as has been said already, at Hope Level at
Stanhope. The Diamond Rock Boring Company was brought in to speed drivage
of this important development, and a local diarist recorded that the first
hole was bored on 26th September 1874. A book by Peter Brears "North
Country Folk Art" has, on page 209, a drawing of a core inscribed "Hope
Level Stanhope Diamond Rock Boring Co December 28th 1874". Clearly a
commemorative piece, and I wrote to Mr Brears a couple of years ago to ask
him where he had seen it. Unfortunately all his notes for the book had
been accidentally destroyed, and he couldn't remember where the core was.
I think it's probably in a museum somewhere, but does anyone know where?
Ian Forbes, Killhope
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