This page has been extracted from the Bargain Books within the Blackett Beaumont lead mining records relating to the Allendale lead Mines, 1779 to 1791. The page shows the bargains which were struck between the mine owners and the lead ore miners. The miners are listed on the left hand side of the page with the details of the bargain on the right hand side.
Lead ore miners worked in partnership with each other striking a bargain with the lead mine owner. The bargain identified the area in which they would work, the price paid per bing [approximately 8 cwt] and the time scale of the bargain, usually a three-month period. The lead miners earnings depended greatly on the location of the area in which they mined, an amount of good fortune and ultimately their skill and industry. Those miners that struck a rich vein of lead ore would receive greater profits than those miners who did not find the same amount of ore.
Bargain books form part of the collection of the Blackett Beaumont lead mining records which have been deposited with the Northumberland Archive Service.
