WHEN North miners struck it rich, they thought up a smashing way to announce the news to the mine owner.

Workers from the Hudgill lead mine on Alston Moor in the North Pennines marched to the owner’s house and threw a lump of newly-mined ore through his window. The enormous vein of lead they had discovered also included a high silver content, and yesterday a finely-crafted basket made from the mine’s silver sold for £5,000 at auctioneers Tennants at Leyburn in North Yorkshire.

The mine had been financed by John and Jacob Wilson in 1812, but the money had almost run out by 1814. The miners offered to work for two weeks without pay and when they hit lucky they let off steam.

The basket was made by Newcastle silversmiths Christian Ker Reid and David Reid.

It bears the rare Britannia Standard mark, meaning that it has a silver purity level of 95.8% rather than the normal 92.5%.

In 1821 alone, around £8,000 worth of sliver came from the mine.

The basket is engraved beneath its rim with the words “The Produce of Hudgill Burn Lead Mine 1823.”

Three snuff boxes were also made with silver from the mine.

Tennants specialist Adam Schoon said: “This mine was particularly rich in ore containing silver. The workmanship which went into the basket, with its scrolls and flowers is superb and is of the highest quality.

“It was probably made for the mine owner to show off.”

A rare pottery item from Newcastle also sold for £2,600.

The item, used to pour cream, was made at the St Anthony’s Pottery in Walker in the late 18th Century.

Pottery creamers are almost always in the shape of a cow, but the sale item was in the form of a goat.

Adam said:” In more than 30 years of dealing in antiques I have never seen a goat creamer.”

The sale continues today [SAT] and significant interest is expected from the United States in an American colonial cherrywood chest of drawers, offered for sale by a Northumberland vendor.