Society of Mines Royal
Encyclopedia
The Society of Mines Royal was one of two mining monopoly companies incorporated by royal charter
in 1568, the other being the Company of Mineral and Battery Works
.
of Queen Elizabeth I
which established the Society as a new joint stock company
named its principals as the Earl of Pembroke
, the Earl of Leicester
, Lord Mountjoy
, Lionel Duckett
, Benedict Spinola
, and several others.
The establishment of the Society may have been the result of the Queen's success in the Case of Mines
. The new Society was granted a mining monopoly for base metals in several English and Welsh counties, including some where there were recoverable mines. It worked mines in Cumberland
and had a smelting plant near Keswick
in Cumberland
. It also opened a copper smelting plant near Neath
.
In the 1670s, the Society associated itself with the Company of Mineral and Battery Works
, but perhaps only informally. Its monopoly disappeared under the Mines Royal Act
of 1690. In the 1690s, some of its mines were leased to another mining syndicate known as Mines Royal Copper, and that enterprise subsequently became the London Lead Company
.
For the later history of the company, as amalgamated with the Company of Mineral and Battery Works
see that article.
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
in 1568, the other being the Company of Mineral and Battery Works
Company of Mineral and Battery Works
The Company of Mineral and Battery Works was, , one of two mining monopolies created by Queen Elizabeth I of England in the mid-1560s. The Company's rights were based on a patent granted to William Humfrey on 17 September 1565. This was replaced on 28 May 1568 by a patent of incorporation, making...
.
History
In 1568, the letters patentLetters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
of Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
which established the Society as a new joint stock company
Joint stock company
A joint-stock company is a type of corporation or partnership involving two or more individuals that own shares of stock in the company...
named its principals as the Earl of Pembroke
Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke KG was an English peer of the Elizabethan era.-Life:He was the son of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Anne Parr. His aunt was queen consort Catherine Parr, last wife of King Henry VIII. Herbert was responsible for the costly restoration of Cardiff Castle...
, the Earl of Leicester
Earl of Leicester
The title Earl of Leicester was created in the 12th century in the Peerage of England , and is currently a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1837.-Early creations:...
, Lord Mountjoy
James Blount, 6th Baron Mountjoy
-Life:James Blount was born circa 1533 in Newport, Devon, the eldest son of Charles Blount, 5th Baron Mountjoy and Ann Willoughby. He inherited his title on the death of his father...
, Lionel Duckett
Lionel Duckett
Lionel Duckett was one of the Merchant adventurers of the City of London. He was four times Master of the Mercers' Company, and Lord Mayor of London ....
, Benedict Spinola
Benedict Spinola
Benedict Spinola , also called Benedick Spinola, and in Italian Benedetto Spinola, was a 16th century Genoese merchant of the Spinola family who lived his whole adult life in the City of London, then the principal seaport of the Kingdom of England...
, and several others.
The establishment of the Society may have been the result of the Queen's success in the Case of Mines
Case of Mines
The Case of Mines or R v Earl of Northumberland was decided in 1568. Twelve judges decided authoritatively “that by the law all mines of gold and silver within the realm, whether they be in the lands of the Queen, or of subjects, belong to the Queen by prerogative, with liberty to dig and carry...
. The new Society was granted a mining monopoly for base metals in several English and Welsh counties, including some where there were recoverable mines. It worked mines in Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
and had a smelting plant near Keswick
Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick is a market town and civil parish within the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It had a population of 4,984, according to the 2001 census, and is situated just north of Derwent Water, and a short distance from Bassenthwaite Lake, both in the Lake District National Park...
in Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
. It also opened a copper smelting plant near Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
.
In the 1670s, the Society associated itself with the Company of Mineral and Battery Works
Company of Mineral and Battery Works
The Company of Mineral and Battery Works was, , one of two mining monopolies created by Queen Elizabeth I of England in the mid-1560s. The Company's rights were based on a patent granted to William Humfrey on 17 September 1565. This was replaced on 28 May 1568 by a patent of incorporation, making...
, but perhaps only informally. Its monopoly disappeared under the Mines Royal Act
Mines Royal Act 1689
The Mines Royal Act 1689 was an act of the Parliament of England with the long title An Act to prevent Disputes and Controversies concerning Royal Mines. The act repealed the 1404 Act Against Multipliers The Mines Royal Act 1689 was an act of the Parliament of England (1 Will. & Mar. sess. 1 c....
of 1690. In the 1690s, some of its mines were leased to another mining syndicate known as Mines Royal Copper, and that enterprise subsequently became the London Lead Company
London Lead Company
The London Lead Company was an 18th and 19th century British lead mining company. It was incorporated by royal charter. Strictly, it was The Company for Smelting Down Lead with Pitcoal.-Origins:...
.
For the later history of the company, as amalgamated with the Company of Mineral and Battery Works
Company of Mineral and Battery Works
The Company of Mineral and Battery Works was, , one of two mining monopolies created by Queen Elizabeth I of England in the mid-1560s. The Company's rights were based on a patent granted to William Humfrey on 17 September 1565. This was replaced on 28 May 1568 by a patent of incorporation, making...
see that article.