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Coal mining at Aldin Grange
The monks of Durham also continued their mining ventures with great spirit and activity. From accounts for the period from the Invention of the Cross until 6 December, 1443, we know that they received £12 is. from Rainton, and £10 0s. 1d. from Aldyngrige (Aldengrange), besides coal delivered for the use of their house. They spent £3 1s. 1d. on the 'aqueduct' at Aldengrange and on sinking there five new pits. They also allowed £4. 5s. to Bertram Gaythirde ' pro fodicione et sinctacione ' of a new pit at Rainton, while £10 was allotted to pay the workmen cin aqueductu et le dright, cum thirlyng unius shafte ut patet per bill.' An additional outlay of £2 1s. 1d. was for the workmen's ale and for 'scopes et pykkez ac 2 cordis.' Soon after this date the supervisor of Aldengrange colliery bought off the threatened competition of the Finchale monks at Baxtanfordwood.
Extract from: The Victoria history of the county of Durham, 1907, p323
The above extract may include OCR scanning / spelling errors, including the numbers. Source Nevertheless, it is of value to illustrate the early coal mining at Aldin Grange, long before the large scale mining at Bearpark Colliery, which was sunk in 1872.
