Saturday 05 Oct 1822 (p. 4, col. 3-4) BLACK-LEAD MINE IN BORROWDALE.
(From the Lonsdale Magazine.)
The substance from which black-lead pencils are manufactured, has successively taken the several names of
wad, black-cawke, black-lead, plumbago, and
graphite. In the progress of chemistry, as connected with mineralogy, the original term
wad, was probably abandoned, because the Germans had applied the same name to a substance something resembling this in appearance, but of another nature, viz. an oxide of manganese;
black-cawke might be subject to a similar objection, the term cawke being used by mariners for a sulphate of barytes; the names of
plumbago and
black-lead, although retained in common use, tend to convey an erroneous idea, as lead forms no part of its composition, it bring principally carbon combined with small iron; and
graphite, perhaps the least objectionable term, has yet scarcely obtained currency.
This mineral occurs in various parts of the world, and in rocks of different formation. In this island it has been discovered in Inverness-shire, in gneiss, which is considered as one of the primitive rocks; there it appears to be intermixed with a micaceous substance and other hard mineral bodies, which render it unfit for pencils. In the borders of Ayrshire, it is found in the neighourhood [
sic] of Coal, to which it seems too nearly allied; but in no place has it been met with equal in purity to that produced from Borrowdale, in Cumberland, where it lies in a rock of intermediate formation.
We have no account of the first discovery, or opening of this mine, but from a grant made in the beginning of the seventeenth century, it appears to have been known before that time. The manor of Borrowdale is said to have belonged to the Abbey of Furness, and having at the dissolution of that monastery, in the reign of Henry the Eighth, fallen to the Crown, it was by James the First granted to William WHITMORE, and Jonas VERDON, including and particularizing among other things, "the wadholes, and wad, commonly called black-cawke, within the commons of Seatallor, or elsewhere within any of the wastes or commons of the said manor, now or late in the tenure or occupation of Roger ROBINSON, or his assigns, by the particulars thereof mentioned, to be of the yearly rent or value of
fifteen shillings and fourpence." By a deed bearing date the Twenty-Eighth day of November, 1614, the said William WHITMORE, and Jonas VERDON, sold, and conveyed unto Sir Wilfred LAWSON, of Isel, Knight, and several others therein named, to the number of thirty-six, chiefly inhabitants of Borrowdale, "all the said manor of Borrowdale, with the appurtenances of what nature or kind soever, excepted and reserved unto the said William WHITMORE, and Jonas VERDON, their heirs, and assigns, all those wadholes, and wad, commonly called black-cawke, within the commons of Seatallor, or elsewhere within the commons and wastes of the manor of Borrowdale aforesaid, with liberty to dig, work, and carry the same, and other of their appurtenances whatsoever." In consequence of which reservation, the wad, or black-lead mine, has been ever since held distinct from other royalties of the said manor, one moiety thereof now belonging to Henry BANKS, Esq. M. P. the other half being subdivided into several shares.
This mine is situated about nine miles from Keswick, near the head of the valley of Borrowdale, in the steep side of a mountain, facing towards the south-east, and has been opened at different places where the wad had probably appeared on the surface; the rock in which it occurs is called by Mr. BAKEWELL, a grey felspar porphyry; near the mine it becomes of a darker colour, as containing more iron, the joints being lined with a ferruginous clayey matter; it is intersected in various directions by strings, or small rake veins, containing in some places a little calcareous spar, and other vein stuff, and sometimes a superficial glazing of black-lead without the substance, but the wad is only found in sops, or bellies, which appear generally to be discovered by the intersection, or crossing of the veins, and are often at considerable distances from each other, and found with difficulty.
Formerly this mine was worked only at intervals, and when a sufficient quantity had been produced to supply the demand for a few years, it was strongly closed up until the stock was reduced; but of late, it has been procured less plentifully, and the demand being greater, the working has been continued for several years together.
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to be continued]
Reproduced with kind permission of British Newspaper Archives