In 5 waylefe, -leve. [f. WAY sb.1 + LEAVE sb.] Permission to make and use a way for conveying coal from the pit-head across a person’s land; the rent or royalty paid for such permission; the way or road constructed for the purpose. Also, permission to carry telephone wires over or along buildings, or to lay water-pipes or drains across private land, and the charge or rent payable therefor.
1427–8. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 709. Elemosinario pro waylefe, 6s. 8d. Ibid. (1431–2), 711. Wayleve.
1661. in N. & Q., Ser. XII. XI. 391/2. (Lease of a coalmine) Vna cum bona et sufficienti wayleave et stayleave in per et trans territorium de Casterton Fell … pro omnibus … carriagiis.
1725. Portland Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.), VI. 104. These way leaves are an artificial road made for the conveyance of coal from the Pit to the Steaths on the riverside.
a. 1734. North, Life Ld. Keeper Guilford (1742), 136. Another thing, that is remarkable, is their Wayleaves; for, when Men have Pieces of Ground between the Colliery and the River, they sell Leave to lead Coals over their Ground.
1739. Enq. Price Coals, 14. For leave of way he must pay a consideration, called a way-leave.
1879. Cases Crt. Session, Ser. IV. VI. 929. His property is advantageously situated for enabling him to demand wayleave.
1884. Standard, 26 Sept., 4/2. The Telephone Companies are now permitted … to make their own arrangement for way-leaves.
1892. Times, 23 March, 8/3. The Royal Commission on Mining Royalties and Wayleaves. Ibid., 9/4. As between towns the Post Office usually has way-leaves enough to accommodate trunk telephones.
1893. Neasham, North-country Sketches, 28. By agreement with Mr. Tempest, who let them both wayleave and staithroom, they were limited to an annual vend of 12000 chaldrons.
attrib. 1830. Edin. Rev., LI. 179. Those whose collieries are in that situation, have to pay way-leave rents.
