Publications

y Robert Sopwith, Thomas Sopwith's great - grandson. Based largely on Thomas Sopwith's diaries, written when he was chief mining agent to the Beaumont family and living at Allenheads Hall, Northumberland.One of the most important lead mining figures of the Northern Pennines lived at Allenheads Hall. It was built for him when he was appointed chief mining engineer to the Beaumont family from 1845 to 1871. As Christopher Hunt has said, this man was keenly interested in engineering progress, administrative efficiency and social reform. He kept a diary. leaving 168 small volumes as well as scrapbooks, sketch and notebooks and several short publications on subjects of particular interest. His name was Thomas Sopwith FRS, FGS, MICE (1803 - 79). Who was this man that made such an impact upon the life of the moors above Upper Allendale and Weardale?