"The coal royalties in this parish [Tanfield] are very extensive, and the coal is of excellent quality. These are at present being worked by Messrs. James Joicey and Co., Limited.

Their Tanfield Lea colliery is worked by two shafts, 65 and 31 fathoms respectively, and the seams are the Hutton, 10 feet ; the Main coal, 3 feet 6 inches ; the Brass Thill, 5 feet ; and the Five Quarter, 4 feet to 4 feet 6 inches. These seams employ in all 670 men and boys, and yield 305,540 tons per annum. Tanfield Moor colliery, with one shaft, 60 fathoms, is working the Brass Thill, 5 feet, and the Five Quarter, from 4 to 4 feet 6 inches. Here the Hutton has just been sunk to, which will considerably increase the output, now representing 131,619 tons, and giving employment to 298 hands. At the East Tanfield colliery two shafts are employed, the Busty and the Brockwell, 64 and 78 fathoms deep respectively.

By the former is worked the Busty Bank seam, 5 to 6 feet thick, the Hutton, 7 feet, and the Main Coal, 3 feet 6 inches. The Brockwell seam is from 4 feet 6 inches to 5 feet of coal. The average output from these pits is 170,772 tons a year, which employs 390 men and boys connected with the above. There are 224 coke ovens, and a large fire brick manufactory."

- Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham (from Durham Mining Museum)