In reference to the many interesting accounts given in the Journal of mining operations in the Shelve and Minsterley- districts, Mr. R. J. More, M.P., has been furnished with the records of the working of that locality, which he thought had been lost. They are given in a letter from Miss Rose Helen Lawrence, of Pontesbury. This lady says “Having been able to look through my father’s letters and documents, I find that my father and his forefathers have worked the district of mines about 250 years previous to 1830, when the Bog was sold to a new company from Chester, two of the gentlemen’s names being Cross and Walker, who worked the lease out.

The Shelve and Gravels my grandfather worked a few years later. My great-great-grandfather lived at Santley and Shelve, and lead ore was taken from Shelve, Pennerley, and Batholes to be smelted at Malehurst a number of years before the Pontesbury and Pontesford smelt houses existed. I found this information on a few leaves of an account book of day work done there. My great-great-grandfather worked Snailbeach Mine, and their lease expired about 1730. The Farmer’s Company was the Leigh Company, a new one that was formed about the year 1820, who were highly respectable men of the neighbourhood, and who drove the Leigh level, by the permission of the Lawrences, which caused the law suite, which terminated in the ruin of both parties.”

This information will probably be much appreciated by those seeking the revival of lead mining in the district referred to, and whom it should greatly interest.