Forest of Rossendale. 303 



The lease bears date 26th February, 1754. The firm or company 

 styled themselves " The Company of Mine Adventurers within the 

 Honor of Clitheroe." The rent they undertook to pay for the 

 privilege of mining was " One hundred weight of lead ore, boose 

 and smithum, copper, iron and tin, out of every eleven hundred 

 weight, or one-eleventh part found and gotten within the liberties 

 aforesaid." But it was also stipulated that the rent was to be paid 

 in kind or in money as the same might be required by the lessors. 

 The shares of the company were sixty in number, and each person 

 held ten shares. Meetings of the company were held on the Monday 

 in every month next the full moon, at the Roebuck Inn, at 

 Rochdale, or such other place as might be appointed. Each 

 proprietor had a vote for every share or sixtieth part, and there was 

 no voting by proxy. The chairman was appointed at every 

 meeting. Thomas Percival was the first treasurer, and without 

 salary. George Crompton was appointed first clerk, at a salary of 

 los. 6d. a week. The company commenced operations and 

 prosecuted them vigorously for a time, and the evidences of their 

 work may still be seen along the sides of the hill ridges and in 

 other parts of Rossendale, in the shape of " bloomeries," in which 

 the ore found was smelted. 



I am not able to give a full statement of the pecuniary results of 

 the enterprise, but I conclude that they were not successful, as the 

 company was dissolved in 1762, eight years after it was formed. 

 From memoranda in my possession I find a sum of ^3,413 was 

 paid in calls on the shares. These were probably ;^ioo each, so 

 that more than one-half the capital was paid. So far as I can 

 ascertain, the value of the lead ore found amounted to only £,i<,^. 

 It would appear, however, that, notwithstanding these unsatisfactory 

 results, faith in the enterprise was still strong, because a new 

 company was organised in 1766, but with what results I am unable 

 to say. -, 



