 He spent over £11,000 in expanding Lowther holdings in the Whitehaven area, concentrating on the acquisition of coal-bearing land, of land which would allow his pits unhampered access to Whitehaven harbour, and land which would hinder the working of others' pits.This, in turn, allowed him to improve the drainage of his pits, unworried by the thought that he was also draining his neighbours'.He secured the grant of the right to hold a market and a fair to Whitehaven, and its recognition as a separate customs 'member-port' (under the 'head-port' of Carlisle) responsible for the Solway coast from Ravenglass to Ellenfoot (later Maryport).