[List-Cumbria] [List-Cumberland] Carlisle Patriot, 05 Oct 1822 - Black-lead Mine in Borrowdale (1)

Sat Mar 11 23:36:20 UTC 2023

You have fascinating ancestors, Marie!

From: List-Cumberland [mailto:list-cumberland-bounces at cumbriafhs.com] On Behalf Of Marie McCulloch via List-Cumberland
Sent: 11 March 2023 23:14
Subject: Re: [List-Cumberland] Carlisle Patriot, 05 Oct 1822 - Black-lead Mine in Borrowdale (1)

Hi Petra

I found this article very interesting due to the fact that a relative on another of my mother’s lines invented the pencil which eventually led to him making a pill press which is still used today.

His name was William Brokedon (various spellings) born 13 October 1787 in Totnes, Devon and died on 2 August 1854 in Bloomsbury, London – a piece from my research below:

“During all these years Brockedon's love of art and literature was divided with his love of mechanical and scientific pursuits. As far back as 1819 his taste for mechanics led him to turn attention to the mode of wire-drawing then in use. Brockedon invented a mode of drawing the wire through holes pierced in sapphires, rubies, and other gems. He patented this invention, and visited Paris in connection with it; but, from the facility of violation, it was not a source of profit, though now the mode universally adopted. In 1831 he invented and patented, in conjunction with the late Mr. Mordan, a pen of a novel form called the 'oblique,' from the slit being in the usual direction of the writing. He next turned his attention to the preparation of a substitute for corks and bungs by coating felt with vulcanised india-rubber. He took out a patent for this invention in 1838, and in 1840 and 1842 enlarged its scope by other patents for retaining fluids in bottles, and for the manufacture of fibrous materials for the cores of stoppers. This invention led to his forming business relations with Messrs. Charles Macintosh & Co. of Manchester. About the year 1841 he submitted to them his patents for a substitute for corks, through which he was interested in their business till 1845, when he became a partner, and retained that position till his death. In 1843 he patented an invention for the manufacture of wadding for firearms; another for condensing the carbonates of soda, potash, &c., into the solid form of pills and lozenges; and for preparing or treating plumbago by reducing common black lead to powder, and then compressing it in vacuo, so as to produce artificial plumbago for lead pencils purer than any that could then be obtained, in consequence of the exhaustion of the mines in Cumberland, and especially valuable to artists because free from (diamond) grit. The invention was first worked for him by Messrs. Mordan & Co., but at his death in 1854 the plant and machinery were sold by auction, and bought by one of the merchants connected with the lead industry at Keswick. In 1844, 1846, and 1851, he patented inventions for various applications of vulcanised india-rubber. In 1830 Brockedon took an active part in the formation of the Royal Geographical Society, and was elected a member of its first council. He was afterwards the founder of the Graphic, an art society. On 12 June 1830 he was elected a member of the Athenæum. It had been resolved to commemorate the opening of the new club house in Pall Mall by adding 200 members to the list, 100 being elected by the committee, and 100 by the club. Brockedon was one of the hundred elected by the committee. On 18 Dec. 1834 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. In February 1837 he lost his mother, for whose happiness he made the most loving provision from the moment when his improved prospects enabled him to do so.”

Your transcribing certainly helps more than you realise Petra and more power to you.

Kindest regards
Marie

From: Petra Mitchinson via List-Cumberland <mailto:list-cumberland at cumbriafhs.com> 
Sent: Saturday, 11 March 2023 8:40 PM
To: CUL Google Group <mailto:Genealogy-Cumberland at googlegroups.com> 
Cc: Petra Mitchinson <mailto:petra.mitchinson at doctors.org.uk> ; 'Genealogy email list for Cumbria' <mailto:list-cumbria at cumbriafhs.com> ; 'Genealogy email list for Cumberland' <mailto:list-cumberland at cumbriafhs.com> 
Subject: [List-Cumberland] Carlisle Patriot,05 Oct 1822 - Black-lead Mine in Borrowdale (1)

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. 

[to be continued] 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://list.cumbriafhs.com/mailman/private/list-cumbria/attachments/20230311/a11aad35/attachment.htm>