Blackhall Mill, road of tree trunks

During the course of a watching brief in 1991 during the excavation of a sewer trench, a road constructed of tree trunks was found. Three trunks were observed, 1.5 metres below ground level, each circa 50cm in diameter and 3.8 metres long. The road may have been used for the removal of timber from Chopwell Woods. The woods date to the 12th century. Chopwell oaks were used at the castles of Norham, Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh, and by the navy for shipbuilding. Large quantities of bark were supplied to the tanneries of Newcastle.