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Of the actual working conditions in the mines themselves we know a good deal from a number of descriptions left by contemporary observers, some of which are worth quoting..... one to which special interest attaches, since it comes from the pen of no less a person than the philosopher John Locke.

As is well known, Locke was greatly interested in the science of meteorology when he was at Oxford, and he was apparently commissioned by Robert Boyle to make some experiments in the Mendip mines with a barometer, then a newly-invented instrument, in order to note how it varied with altitude. The experiments, unfortunately, were not very successful, but he gives us an interesting account of what he could see and hear of the mines.

"The barometer I had from you," he writes, “was conveyed safe into the country, and as soon as it came to my hands I rode to Minedeep, with an intention to make use of it there in one of the deepest gruffs (for so they call their pits) I could find: the deepest I could hear of was about 30 fathom, but the descent so far either from easy, safe or perpendicular, that I was discouraged from venturing on it.

They do not, as in wells, sink their pits strait down, but as the cranies of the rocks give them the easiest passage; neither are they let down by a rope, but taking the rope under their arm, by setting their hands and legs against the sides of the narrow passage, clamber up
and down, which is not very easy for one not used to it, and almost impossible to carry down the barometer, both the hands being employed.

This information I should have suspected to have come from their fear, had not an intelligent gentleman, neighbour to the hill, assured me it was their usual way of getting up and down.

For the sight of the engine, and my desire of going down into some of their gruffs, gave them terrible apprehensions; and I could not persuade them but that I had some design: so that I and a gentleman, that bore me company, had a pleasant scene, whilst their fear to be undermined by us made them disbelieve all we told them; and do what we could, they would think us craftier fellows than we were. But, Sir, I will not trouble you with the particulars of this adventure: but certain it is the women too were alarmed, and think us still either projectors or conjurors.

Since I could not get down into their gruffs, I made it my business to enquire what I could concerning them: the workmen could give me very little account of anything, but what profit made them seek after: they could apprehend no other minerals but lead ore, and believed the earth held nothing else worth seeking for: besides, they were not forward to be communicative to one they thought they had reason to be afraid of.

But at my return, calling at a gentleman's house, who lives under Minedeep hills ... amongst other things he told me this, that sometimes the damps catch them, and then, if they cannot get out soon enough, they fall into a swoon, and die in it, if they are not speedily got out; and as soon as they have them above ground, they dig a hole in the earth, and there put in their faces, and cover them close up with turfs; and this is the surest remedy they have yet found to revive them.

In deep gruffs they carry down air by the side of the gruff, in a little passage from the top; and that the air may circulate the better, they set up some turfs on the lee side of the hole, to catch, and so force down the fresh air: but if these turfs be removed to the windy side, or laid close over the mouth of the hole, those below it find it immediately by want of breath, indisposition, and fainting: and if they chance to have any sweet flowers with them, they do not only lose their pleasant smell immediately, but stink as bad as carrion ....

Notwithstanding this ill success, I had attempted some trials once more, had not the spreading of the contagion* made it less safe to venture abroad, and hastened me out of the country sooner than I intended ...”

He goes on to describe some experiments with the barometer on the hills, and certain other phenomena, and concludes:

“I am, sir,

Your most humble, and most obedient servant

JOHN LOCKE

Ch.Ch.5th May, 1666

Postscript.

I had forgot to mention to you, that in their gruffs, after burning, (when they meet with hard rocks in their way, they make a fire upon them, that they may dig through the easier) they think it very dangerous to go down into them, as long as there remains any fire or heat in any chinks of the rocks".

It may perhaps have been the receipt of this information about the Mendip Mines from Locke, which led, or helped to lead Boyle in November of the same year to publish in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society certain Articles of Inquiries touching Mines, which contained an elaborate questionnaire, with a long list of 'subsidiary quaeries', designed to elicit every conceivable item of information about every kind of mine in all and every district.

* i.e., of course, the great plague.

THE MINES OF MENDIP. J.W. Gough. P 6.
The common word in the west country for a diviner is a DOWSER, and it is interesting to note that the first English writer to use this word was John Locke, who was born at Wrington, close to the Mendip district, and who in his letter on the lowering of interest alluded to 'the Deusing-Rod, or Virgila (sic) Divina, able to discover Mines of Gold and Silver'. **

** Quoted by Barrett and Besterman, op.cit., p. 16 The Divining-rod

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On Wednesday, 27th October, Chris Richards of Weston super Mare Museum led a walk from Charterhouse Study Centre to areas relating to Locke's expedition. His report follows:

"We had a most enjoyable examination of the lead mines at Charterhouse with me reading out extracts from Locke's 1666 letter to Sir Robert Boyle at various sites. This generated much discussion.

I could not prove outright that it was to the Charterhouse Mines he actually came but at least we could see a lead-mining terrain similar to any other he might have visited on the Mendip Plateau with in easy reach of Sutton Court where he was staying with Boyle's barometer.

There was a John Locke in 1627 who was described as a merchant adventurer applying for permission from the government to export abroad lead cast on Mendip. Was this Locke the philosopher's father? We went to the Castle of Comfort for a drink and a warm-up afterwards and clinked our glasses in a toast to Locke!

One of the places Locke looked at and described to Boyle while staying at Sutton Court was a petrifying spring close by and he had a conversation with a gentleman farmer who lived by the spring about its various qualities. The gentleman was described by Locke as a 'pretty ancient but healthy man' who used the water in his kitchen, brewhouse and for irrigation and Locke noted that it would 'bear soap' . It would be good to locate this spring.

In the same letter Locke's speaks of Sutton Court [see Ann Dale's photograph]as the place where he usually stays when visiting Somerset. Locke had contact and knowledge of this part of Somerset much more than is commonly supposed.

I am impressed with the range of these tercentenary celebrations and hope they will open a new era for research on Locke in Somerset."