Hexham Bridge – Transcripts – Unlocking the Archives

Hexham Bridge – Transcripts

This page links to transcriptions of the 390 images of documents relating to the disputes over the collapse of the second Hexham Bridge after the flood of 1782.

Follow this link for

an Introduction and explanations of various issues
a full list of the documents; and
a list of the people involved, and explanations of their role
a legal note on the various stages of the court case

The volume includes some printed documents, most of which have not been transcribed, but summaries have been provided.

These are all the transcriptions that have been uploaded from the BRIDGE volume. Read down then across:

Title page: Proceedings on behalf of Henry Errington
Document 1, Authorisation for original bridge, 16 January 1767, p 1
Document 1, p 2
Document 1, p 3
Document 2, Record of payment by Blackett’s executors, 31 July 1777
Document 3, Copy letter from Mr Wooler, 19 July 1775, p 1
Document 3, p 2
Document 4, Note of decision in favour of Mr Errington’s proposal, 16 January 1777
Document 5, Letter from William Lowes, 11 April 1778, recipient not known, p 1
Document 5, p 2 (postscript)
Document 6, Letter from Mr Lowes, 12 April 1778, probably to Mr Letteney, p 1
Document 6, address on back of letter
Document 7, Part of undated Court Order (possibly 14 Jan 1778), p 1
Document 7, address on back of previous page
Document 8, Articles of Agreement for building bridge and keeping it in repair, 2 June 1777, p 1
Document 8, p 2
Document 9, Design for a Bridge over the River Tyne
Document 10, Illustration, The Ruins of Hexham Bridge from the East, 1784.
Document 11, Case prepared on Mr Errington’s behalf, undated, p 1
Document 11, p 2
Document 11, p 3
Document 11, p 4
Document 11, outside cover
Document 12, Advice of Mr Wallace, 5th June 1782
Document 13, List of Magistrates at Midsummer Sessions 1782
Document 14, Undated minute of Midsummer Sessions 1782, probably by Ralph Heron
Document 15, Letter from Mr Letteny, 5 February 1783, left hand page
Document 15, right hand page
Document 15, sheet with address
Document 16, Letter from Mr Errington to Mr Heron, 14 February 1783, outer sheet
Document 16, Letter from Mr Errington to Mr Heron, 14 February 1783
Document 16, docket
Document 17, Letter from John Donkin to Ralph Heron, 19 Feb 1783, left hand side of sheet
Document 17, Letter from John Donkin to Ralph Heron, 19 February 1783,
Document 18, Letter from Henry Errington to Ralph Heron, ‘Monday’, p 1
Document 19, Minutes of Committee to consider Mr Errington’s Petition, 27 February 1783, p 1
Document 19, p 2
Document 19, p 3
Document 19, p 4
Document 19, p 5
Document 19, p 6
Document 19, p 7
Document 19, p 8
Document 19, p 9
Document 19, p 10
Document 19, p 11
Document 19, p 12
Document 19, p 13
Document 19, p 14
Document 19, p 15
Document 19, p 16
Document 19, p 17
Document 19, p 18
Document 19, p 19
Document 19, p 20
Document 19, p 21
Document 20, Heading page of Witness Depositions, 25 March 1783
Document 21, Letter from John Donkin to Ralph Heron, 22 March 1783
Document 22, Mr Errington’s draft Petition to Parliament, p 1
Document 22, p 2
Document 22, p 3
Document 22, p 4
Document 22, p 5
Document 22, p 6
Document 22, p 7 (conclusion)
Document 22, cover note
Document 23, Remarks and Objections to Mr Errington’s petition, p 1
Document 23, p 2
Document 23, p 3
Document 23, p 4
Document 23, p 5
Document 23, p 6
Document 23, Cover note
Document 24, Printed Parliamentary Bill to cancel Henry Errington’s agreement
Document 24; page 2
Document 24; page 3
Document 24; page 4
Document 24; page 5
Document 24, p 6
Document 25, draft clause for the Parliamentary Bill, p 1
Document 25, p 2
Document 25, p 3
Document 25, p 4
Document 25, p 5
Document 25, docket
Document 26, Letter from Henry Errington to Ralph Heron, 27 March 1783, p 1
Document 26, p 2
Document 27, Letter from John Donkin to Ralph Heron, 4 April 1783
Document 27, cover
Document 28, Letter from Mr Errington to Mr Heron, 16 April 1783, p 1
Document 28, p 2
Document 29, Report from Robert Mylne to Northumberland Magistrates, 24 April 1783, p 1
Document 29, p 2
Blank page (right hand side of p 91)
Document 29, Cover note
Document 30, Letter from Henry Errington to Ralph Heron, 30 April 1783, p 1
Document 30, pages 2 and 3
Document 31, Letter from Mr Errington to Mr Heron 1 May 1783, p 1
Document 31, p 2
Document 32, letter from Mr Donkin to Mr Heron, 14 May 1783, p 1
Document 32, p 2
Document 32, p 3
Document 33, Letter from Mr Errington to Mr Heron, 15 May 1783, p 1
Document 33, p 2
Document 34, Letter from Mr Errington, probably to Mr Heron, 18 June 1783, p 1
Document 34, p 2
Document 35, Mr Smeaton’s Memorial concerning Hexham Bridge, p 1
Document 35, p 2
Document 35, p 3
Document 35, p 4
Document 35, p 5
Document 35, p 6
Document 35, p 7
Document 35, p 8
Document 35, p 9
Document 35, p 10
Document 35, p 11
Document 35, p 12
Document 35, P 13
Document 35, P 14
Document 35, P 15
Document 35, P 16
Document 35 P 17
Document 35 p 18
Document 35 P 19
Document 35, P 20
Document 35, P 22
Document 35, P 22
Document 35, P 23
Document 35, P 24
Document 35, P 25
Document 35, P 26
Document 35, P 27
Document 35, p 28
Document 36, list of those to whom Mr Smeaton’s Memorial was to be sent, p 1
Document 36, p 2
Document 36, p 3
Document 37, letter from Mr Errington to Ralph Heron, 2 July 1783 p 1
Document 37 p 2
Document 38, letter from G. Aynsley to Ralph Heron, 5 July 1783
Document 39, letter from Mr Errington to Ralph Heron, 11 July 1783, p 1
Document 39, p 2
Document 40, Draft letter from Ralph Heron to Mr Errington, 18 July 1783, p 1
Document 40, p 2
Document 41, Letter from Mr Donkin to Ralph Heron, 17 August 1783
Document 41, p 2
Document 42, Mr Errington’s Case to the Grand Jury at 1783 Assizes, p 1
Document 42, p 2
Document 42, p 3
Docket for the Case to the Grand Jury at 1783 Assizes
Letter from Henry Errington to Ralph Heron, 5 October 1783
Document 43, p 1
Document 43, p 2
Document 43, p 3
Document 44, Letter from Gawen Aynsley to Henry Errington, 28 October 1783
Document 44, p 1
Document 44, p 2
Document 45, Letter from Mr Errington to Mr Aynsley, 22 September 1783, p 1
Document 45, p 2
Document 45, p 3
Document 45 p 4
Document 45 p 5
Document 45 p 6
Document 45, docket
Document 46, Printed pamphlet, undated but probably October 1783
Document 46; page 2
Document 46; page 3
Document 46; page 4
Document 46; page 5
Document 46; page 6
Document 46; page 7
Document 46; page 8
Document 46; page 9
Document 46; page 10
Document 46; page 11
Document 46; page 12
Document 46; page 13
Document 46; page 14
Document 46; page 15
Document 46; page 16
Document 46; page 17
Document 46; page 18
Document 46; page 19
Document 47, Mr Smeaton’s estimate of costs, 10 December 1783
Document 47, Docket, 27 December 1783
Document 48, Letter from John Smeaton to Henry Errington, 10 December 1783 p 1
Document 48, p 2
Document 49, H Errington’s letter and proposal for settlement, 12 December 1783, p 1
Document 49, 18 December 1783, p 2
Document 50, Letter from John Davidson to Ralph Heron, 15 January 1784
Document 50, p 2
Document 51, Copy letter from Ralph Heron to Henry Errington, 16 January 1784, p 1
Document 51, p 2
Document 52, letter from Henry Errington to Ralph Heron, 20 January 1784, p 1
Document 52, p 2
Document 53, letter from John Donkin to Ralph Heron, 14 February 1784, p 1
Document 53, p 2
Document 54, Draft Case to the Court of Chancery, p 1
Document 54, p 2
Document 54, p 3
Document 54, p 4
Document 54, p 5
Document 55, letter from John Davidson to Ralph Heron, 15 November 1784
Document 56, Letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, 26 November 1784
Document 57, Letter from Mr Letteney to Ralph Heron, 30 April 1785
Document 58, Letter from Mr Letteney to Ralph Heron, 17 July 1785
Document 58, address and docket
Document 59, Replication (response) to draft Court pleading, p 1
Document 59, p 2
Document 60, Letter from Mr Letteny to Ralph Heron, 11 November 1785
Document 61, Letter from Mr Letteny to Mr Heron, 17 October 1786
Document 62, letter from Mr Letteny to Ralph Heron, 19 October 1786
Document 63, Letter from Mr Letteney to Ralph Heron, 21 October 1786
Document 64, Questions to Mr Fawcett and his replies, 25 October 1786, p 1
Document 64, p 2
Document 65, Mr Smeaton’s deposition, 28 October 1786, P 1
Document 65, p 2
Document 65, p 3
Document 65, p 4
Document 66, Mr Smeaton’s Replies to Interrogatories, p 1
Document 66, p 2
Document 66, p 3
Document 66, p 4
Document 66, p 5
Document 66, p 6
Document 66, p 7
Document 66, p 8
Document 66, p 9
Document 66, p 10
Document 66, p 11
Document 66, p 12
Document 66, p 13
Document 66, p 14
Document 66 p15
Documen 66, p 16
Document 66 p17
Document 66 p18
Document 66 p19
Document 66 p20
Document 66 p21
Document 66 p22
Document 66 p23
Document 66, p24
Document 66, docket on outside of bundle
Document 67, Report of Witness examinations, various dates in 1786, p 1
Document 67, p 2
Document 67, P 3
Document 67, docket on outside
Document 68, Letter from Mr Letteney to Ralph Heron, 19 December 1786
Document 69, Letter from Henry Errington to Ralph Heron, 21 December 1786, p 1
Document 69, p 2
Document 70, Letter to Mr Heron from Mr Letteney, 1 January 1787
Document 71, Draft Interrogatories, undated, p 1
Document 71, p 2
Document 72, Perfected Interrogatories, undated
Document 72, back of sheet
Document 73, John Donkin’s Reply to Interrogatories, 12 January 1787, p 1
Document 73, p 2
Document 73, p 3
Document 73 p 4
Document 73, Replies to Interrogatories, p 5, Donkin and Layborn
Document 73, p 6, Layborn
Document 73 p 7
Document 73 p 8
Document 73 p 9
Document 73, Docket for Replies to Interrogatories, 12 January 1787
Document 74, Draft Proofs of evidence for Mr Errington’s case, p 1
Document 74, p 2
Document 74, p 3
Document 74, p 4
Document 74, p 5
Document 74, p 6
Document 74 p7
Document 74, docket
Document 75, Draft of Ralph Heron’s deposition, p 1
Document 75, Cover page of Ralph Heron’s deposition
Document 75, brief note on back of cover sheet
Document 76, Exceptions taken by H Errington to Answers, p1; John Tweddell and Bacon Wastell,
Document 76, p 2; John Tweddell and Bacon Wastell, Gawen Aynsley
Document 76, p 3, Gawen Aynsley continued
Document 76, p 4; Gawen Aynsley continued
Document 77, Papers sent to Mr Letteney 22 January 1787, p 1
Document 77, p 2 (Exhibit A)
Document 77, p 3 (Exhibit A)
Document 77, p 4, (Exhibit B)
Document 77, p 5 (exhibit B)
Document 77, p 6 (Exhibit C)
Document 78, Letter from Mr Letteney to Ralph Heron, 2 March 1787
Document 79, Copy of the Defendants’ Rejoinder p 1
Document 79, p 2
Document 80, Note from Mr Davidson to Mr Heron
Document 81, Note from Mr Davidson to Mr Heron
Document 82, Letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, 22 March 1787
Document 83, Letter from Mr Errington to Mr Heron, 26 August 1787
Document 84, Letter from H Errington to R Heron, 8 September 1787 p 1.
Document 84, p 2
Document 85, Order for Injunction to stay Proceedings on Elegit, 19 December 1787, p 1
Document 85 p 2, Cover sheet for Injunction, 27 December 1787
Document 86 Letter from J Letteney to R A Heron, 22 February 1788
Document 87, Letter from H Errington to R Heron,18 March 1788, p 1
Document 87, p2
Document 88, Letter from H Errington, 27 March 1788 p 1
Document 88, p 2
Document 88, p 3
Document 88, p 4
Document 89, Draft Affidavit of R Heron, 4 April 1788, p 1
Document 89, p 2
Document 90, Copy of Mr Davidson’s affidavit, 12 April 1788, p 1
Document 90, Copy of Mr Davidson’s affidavit, 12 April 1788, p 2
Document 90, Copy of Mr Davidson’s affidavit, 12 April 1788, p 3
Document 91, Letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, 27 May 1788
Document 92, Letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, 30 May 1788
Document 93, Letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, 4 June 1788, p 1
Document 93, Cover for Mr Letteney’s Letters
Document 94, Letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, 12 June 1788
Document 95, Letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, 21 June 1788, p 1
Document 95 p 2
Document 95 p3
Document 95, p4
Document 96, Letter from Mr Donkin to Mr Heron, 24 June 1788
Document 97, Letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, undated
Document 98, letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, 2nd July 1788, cover
Document 98, p 2
Document 98, p3
Document 99, Letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron,8 July 1788, p 1
Document 99, 8 July 1788, p 2
Document 100, Letter from Mr Davidson to Ralph Heron, 10 July 1788, p 1
Document 100, Letter from Mr Davidson to Ralph Heron, 10 July 1788
Document 101, Letter from Mr Letteny to Ralph Heron, 10 July 1788
Document 102, Letter from Mr Letteney to Ralph Heron, 11 July 1788
Document 103, Letter from Mr Letteney to Ralph Heron, 14 July 1788
Document 104, copy of admissions by Mr Davidson and Mr Heron, July 1788
Document 105, Agreement on use of copy documents at trial, 16 July 1788, p 1
Document 105, 16 July 1788, p 2
Document 106, letter from Mr Letteny to Ralph Heron, 18 July 1788, p 1
Document 106, 18 July 1788, p 2, and copy of court order 27 May 1788
Document 107 letter from Mr Letteny to Ralph Heron, 23 July 1788
Document 108, Issues for the Assizes, June-July 1788, p1
Document 108 p2
Document 108, p 3
Document 108, p 4
Document 108 p 5
Document 108 p 6
Document 109, Letter from Mr Letteney to Ralph Heron, 13 August 1788
Document 110, Letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, 11 December 1788
Document 111, Letter from Mr Letteney to R.A. Heron, 2 March 1789
Document 112, letter from Mr Letteney to Mr Heron, 18 April 1789
Document 113, Letter from Mr Letteny to Ralph Heron, 14 May 1789
Document 114, Cover with list of documents enclosed
Document 115, Lord Chancellor’s Order, 7 May 1789
Document 115, p 2
Document 116, summary sheets of expenses, p 1
Document 116, p 2
Document 116, p 3
Document 116, p 4 (cover note)
Document 117, Narrative of the proceedings relative to Hexham Bridge p 1
Document 117, page 2
Document 117, page 3
Document 117, page 4
Document 117, page 5
Document 117, page 6
Document 117, page 7
Document 117, page 8
Document 117, page 9
Document 117, page 10
Document 117, page 11
Document 117, page 12
Document 117, page 13
Document 117, page 14
Document 117, page 15
Document 117, page 16
Document 117, page 17
Document 117, page 18
Document 117, page 19
Document 117, page 20
Document 117, page 21
Document 117, page 22
Document 117, page 23
Document 117, page 24
Document 117, page 25
Document 117, page 26
Document 117, page 27
Document 117, page 28
Document 117, page 29
Document 117, page 30
Document 117, page 31
Document 117, page 32
Document 117, page 33
Document 117, page 34
Document 117, page 35
Document 117, page 36
Document 117, page 37
Document 117, page 38
Document 117, page 39
Document 117, page 40