Although mining on the moorlands of the Dumfriesshire Lanarkshire borders has a long history, it was only in 1675 that mining on an industrial scale can be said to have begun in Wanlockhead. In that year one William Blackett examined old workings and considered they could be re-opened. This led Sir James Stansfield, a merchant with interests in Edinburgh, to form a company with himself and Blackett as partners, and involving a John Lindsay and a Mr Vormuyden. They leased the upper part of the Wanlock valley from the Duke of Queensberry for a rental of 1000 Scots Merks - about £55 sterling. Although a smelt mill was built in 1682, little lead seems to have been smelted. Instead, dressed ore was exported to the continent, the production from June 1682 to October 1683 being 5829 stones Amsterdam - about 50 tonnes (See Notes). The partners ceased operations in 1684, and appear to have spent £4,000 on developing the mines with but little return (Harvey and Downs-Rose, 22-23).