Many thanks - very interesting reading! A glossary in one of the two books reveals no specific miners' term of 'Pot Ore', perhaps not surprisingly, so I will take it as the journal writer's short form of potter's ore.
Andy
On Friday, 17 January 2020, 15:40:55 EET, Richard Smith <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Andy,
I later Googled ‘Potter’s ore’ and came up with two very useful references. It appears the term was used throughout the UK. They can be downloaded as Google books pdfs. They are: ‘Information for Robert Wightman and others against the Earl of Hopton’, 1730, 22pp. and Cobres J., 1729, ‘An attempt towards a Natural History of the Fossils of England etc...’, London. There are several references within these. The Google also turned up several dictionary definitions, many of which seemed to come from the same source. They all confirm that it was very clean ore used for glazing.
Regards,
Richard
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Andy Cuckson
Sent: 17 January 2020 10:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Lead mining in 1784
Many thanks Richard.
Would you think 'Pot Ore' meant anything other than potter's ore?
Thanks for the Percy reference - I should check that, as I'm wondering whether Snailbeach were actually selling ore to potters at the time. After a certain date there could be no sale of SB ore other than with Lord Bath's permission.
On Thursday, 16 January 2020, 17:06:17 EET, Richard Smith <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Andy,
I have come across the term Potter’s ore in Cumbria, e.g. at Hilton Mill:
‘On one occasion, in 1733, John Gill and partners sold 49 cwt of ore directly “to ye Potters”. The agent, John Robinson, charged for this as if it were lead at a duty of 15/- per fother and 6/- for “ye use of ye mill as if it had been smelted” ’. (Smith & Murphy, 2011, ‘Mines of the West Pennines’, British Mining, 91, p. 190).
I think I may have come across it in reports of the Caldbeck Fells and possibly Yorkshire.
It also occurs in Percy’s Metallurgy, Lead , p. 97 a table showing Ag and Au in lead ores lists ‘Shropshire (Snailbeach Mine) Large grained-Potter’s Ore, Pb 85.3%, Ag 0.0016%, Au very minute trace’.
Presumably the potter’s were using this with plant ashes as a glaze and for this reason it would have had to be free from iron and transition metal impurities to avoid colouration. They could probably have used it by grinding it fine and mixing with the ashes – it would have roasted in the pottery kiln.
Regards,
Richard Smith
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Andy Cuckson
Sent: 15 January 2020 12:16
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Lead mining in 1784
I have come across a few interessting terms used in Shropshire lead mining, which I would be pleased to have comments on from listees.
Of uncertain date, hand drills were supposedly known as “knogers”. Has anyone come across this term elsewhere, or could suggest its origins?
Two interesting entries in a 1784 superintendent's journal at Snailbeach mine:-
(1) "Weighed 1 ton 17 cwt. of Pot Oreand 1 ton 10 cwt. of Small Ore."
(2) "The miners are all at work on their freshbargains which is set chiefly by the yard and a trifle per ton by way ofencouragement to the men."
In (1), is the "Pot Ore" something unusual, or would we expect it to be an abbreviation of "potter's ore"?
In (2), the setting of bargains "by the yard and a trifle per ton" looks like an attempt to tie earnings to output before general adoption of tribute/tut. Has anyone come across this method, or something like it, in other mines?
Any and all information and comments very welcome.
Best regards,Andy Cuckson
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