1855.] Mining Districts of the N&rth of England. 61 



obtained for Government, by the instrumentality of the Min- 

 ing Record Office, established in connection with the Museum of 

 Economic Geology.* The total produce of lead has been esti- 

 mated at about one hundred thousand tons ; and, as a rough approxi- 

 mation of the last few years, it may be considered that six-tenths 

 of this, or sixty thousand tons, are raised in Great Britain — Eng- 

 land alone producing about forty thousand tons. The North of 

 England lead mining districts furnish about twenty thousand tons, 

 and one moiety of this is raised in the W.B. mines of Mr, Beau- 

 mont — the initials W.B. (William Blackett) being the well known 

 trade mark of the lead produced from these, the most extensive 

 lead mines in the world. The annual produce, when formed into 

 one and half-stone pigs or ingots of lead would, if laid in a direct 

 line, extend about seventy miles. In these mines water-pressure 

 engines were first introduced about eighty years ago ; and within 

 the last five years a still more important application of water 

 power has been made by the use of the hydraulic engines patented 

 by W. G. Armstrong and Co., of Newcastle. 



The existence of vast deposits of Iron ore near the mouth of 

 the Tees and in various other localities, as also the rapidly increas- 

 ing development and importance of the iron trade in the North of 

 England, were briefly adverted to. Little more than one hundred 

 years ago the quantity of iron made in this kingdom was about 

 twenty-five thousand tons, and at the beginning of this century one 

 hundred and seventy thousand tons. Fifteen years ago this quantity 

 had increased to one and a half millions of tons, and at present 

 the production reaches, and probably exceeds, two and a half mil- 

 lions of tons. 



A description of several architectural antiquities was given with 

 reference to drawings, prepared under the direction of Dr. Bruce, 

 of Newcastle; amongst which were portions of Norham Castle, 

 on the Tweed, and Richmond Castle, in Yorkshire, exhibiting the 

 massive character of these strongholds ; the entrance gateway of 

 Alnwick Castle, and Norman doorways at the Castle in Newcastle, 

 and in Durham Cathedral and Castle. Some of these examples 

 are remarkable for richness of architectural detail, others for a 

 simplicity of style, which affords a useful model — combining 

 economy with the appropriate expression of the Norman character 

 of building. 



The principal towns iii this part of the North of England were 

 shown on the large map by circles of red colour, varying according 

 to the amount of population. Of this only a rapid notice could be 

 given in round numbers : Newcastle, the chief town, contains about 



♦ So called at its first establishment, a name which admirably denotes its 

 objects and utility ; subsequently named " Museum of Practical Geology," 

 and still more recently amalgamated with more extended objects, under the 

 Art and Science Department of the Board of Trade. 



