William Donnison's Waggonway

HER Number

17091

District

Gateshead

Site Name

William Donnison's Waggonway

Place

Usworth

Map Sheet

NZ35NW

Class

Transport

Site Type: Broad

Tramway Transport Site

Site Type: Specific

Wagonway

General Period

POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Hanoverian 1714 to 1837

Form of Evidence

Documentary Evidence

Description

This line was established by William Donnison around 1750 to carry coal from pits in North Birtley on Birtley Common. It probably ran just west of Washington to Cox Green on the north bank of the River Wear. A spout is marked up as belonging to Donnison on Burleigh and Thompson’s map of the area.

Easting

428360

Northing

557820

Grid Reference

NZ428360557820

Sources

Alan Williams Archaeology, 2013, Waggonways to the South Bank of the River Tyne and to the River Wear; Turnbull, L, 2012, Railways Before George Stephenson (entry 78) 158 and 172; NRO: PSAN/BEQ/9/1/3/25