Leviathon Lead company I have not heard of but there we several small mines
tried in the Grit locality, e.g. Benree though I have no record of this mine
until the 1850s, White Grit East seems to have been separate mine at times
in the mid 19th century, there was a South East White Grit of which I know
nothing and there was mining/trials on Stapeley Hill just to the west. What
is your source for the Leviathon Mining company please?
In 1760 Bog mine had a water engine about which John Lawrence wrote,
bemoaning the level of water ingress, copy below with gaps I cannot
decipher.
Mr. John Scott/Sir
24th October 1760
: I have Sent you the bill inclosed the water Is
verry much increst within thiss three Last days it is verry sharp work to
keep it to day I have Sett on the 19yd Gin to draw water and Intend keeping
it on in the daytime and the water Ingin in the night for we have not water
to work it above 12 hours in 24 and Short of that I would have come to town
to morrow but my Mother lies So Ill that I dont Chuse to be from home If I
possible can help it (Jon Jones?) ore houlds verry Good and verry likely to
Continue Every place Is verry promising and ore A Great
but am afraid the water will Concur uss for the Winter Except there Comes
Some Alteration which we can hardly Expect at thiss time of year for I never
Saw any thing Increest So much as the Water has Thiss Last week I Shall See
more of it in four or five days time and desine Comeing to town to give you
A furtherAc.t of it I should be Glad to heare how Rickards and Beetch Go on
at the If thay have allmost dun it would be proper to fickes A
Standing Lander in like maner as the last was when they have gon as fare as
is required at present.
From your Servt
Jn: Lawrence
Junior(?)
I would like to know more about the water engine, do you know if Fairchance
built theirs, if so what manner of engine it was and if John Lawrence was
involved. He had interests, with John Probert in at least some cases, in
mid-Wales mines including Esgairhir.
I look forward to hearing any further information which comes to light on
these items.
Michael Shaw
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alasdair Neill" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 9:50 AM
Subject: [MINING-HISTORY] Shropshire Lead Mines - Leviaton Co & Water
Pressure Engines
A couple of queries re the above which perhaps someone can answer;
Firstly what was the "Leviathon Lead Company" which in 1843 was said to
have mines adjoining those of the White Grit Co. It seemed to have been a
sudonim for an established company. At that time the other main companies in
the area would have been Bog and Snailbeach.
Secondly the 18th water pressure engine at Fairchance Mine in Cardiganshire
was said to have been modelled on one on one of the Shropshire lead mines -
but which mine?
Alasdair Neill.
