I' have seen a great variety of the oar at the mine adventured. And my Lord Barnard who has great mines in Durham will furnish me with instructions for you.'
With this short extract from a 1704 letter the Leighs' venture into commercial coal mining in the Haydock district began, Their direct involvement in miming coal lasted for over 120 years. When the family sold the concern in 1833 the valuation given below shows just how successful the venture had become.
'Total value of the Utensils, Machinery, Tramroads, Underground Railways and other matters referred to in the foregoing Indenture of Lease £21,560-7s.5d.'
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