The northern end of The Hetton Company's Railway line was at the Hetton Drops (HER ref. 2808). There were two Coal Depots (HER ref. 2818 and HER ref. 2850) in Sunderland. The southern terminus of the line was Hetton Colliery (HER ref. 2989). The line was opened from Hetton Colliery to Sunderland in 1822 and was the first complete line engineered by George Stephenson. It used stationary engines and self-acting inclines and was the first line in the world designed for locomotives, which worked the first 1½ miles from the colliery. At over 8 miles long it was also the world's longest railway when it opened. With the exception of a short run from Silksworth to the staiths, the line closed in 1959.
Site Type: Broad
Railway Transport Site
SITEDESC
The Hetton Company's Railway. The northern end of the line was at the Hetton Drops, (SMR 2808). There were two Coal Depots, (SMR 2818 and SMR 2850), in Sunderland. The southern terminus of the line was Hetton Colliery, (SMR 2989). The line was opened from Hetton Colliery to Sunderland in 1822. It was the first complete line engineered by George Stephenson and used locomotives, stationary engines and self-acting inclines. It was the first line in the world designed for locomotives, which worked the first 1½ miles from the colliery. With the exception of a short run from Silksworth to the staiths, the line closed in 1959. At over 8 miles long it was also the world's longest railway when it opened.
Site Name
Hetton Company's Railway
Site Type: Specific
Railway
HER Number
2848
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 2848 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 8
N.T. Sinclair in Milburn & Miller, (eds) 1988, Sunderland, River, Town & People, Sunderland's Railways, p.26,27
C.E. Mountford, 1970, The Development of Colliery Railways in Co. Durham, p.13
I. Ayris, 1980, Industrial Archaeology Review Elemore Colliery and The Hetton Coal Company, Vol 4 No 1, p.6-35; Archaeological Services Durham University, 2012, Broom Hill, Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear - Archaeological Assessment; Alan Williams Archaeology, 2013, Waggonways to the South Bank of the River Tyne and to the River Wear; Hetton Local & Natural History Society, 2015, The Hetton Village Atlas
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
22
District
Sunderland
Easting
438530
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
7
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
556910
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Bishopwearmouth
Description
Millfield Brickworks appears on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey plan and includes a mortar mill on the site.
Site Type: Broad
Brick and Tilemaking Site
SITEDESC
Millfield Brickworks as shown on the 1st edition OS mapping shows a mortar mill on the site.
Site Name
Millfield Brickworks
Site Type: Specific
Brickworks
HER Number
2847
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 2847 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 8
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
22
District
Sunderland
Easting
438490
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ34NE
MONTH1
7
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
556840
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Bishopwearmouth
Description
Historic Ordnance Survey map evidence shows a Rope Walk on this site.
SITEASS
Ropes were made by hand in ropewalks in standard lengths of 120 fathoms (720 feet). The ropewalk had to be straight and around 1320 feet long. The simple equipment consisted of two frames, one at each end of the ropewalk. The stationary frame (jack) had hooks on it which were revolved by a handle. Yarn was attached to each hook and to the other frame (traveller) which was mounted on a trolley. The rope maker held a circular hardwood block (top) between the strands near the traveller. The top had three grooves with a strand slotted into each. He walked slowly towards the jack pushing the top along and the rope formed itself behind the top. Before the invention of synthetic fibres, ropes were made from cotton, flax, hemp, jute, coir, manila and sisal. Hemp ropes were used in colleries until about 1840 when Andrew Smith patented the iron stranded wire rope. Rope making began to be mechanised in the late C18 (William Jones, 1996, Dictionary of Industrial Archaeology).
Site Type: Broad
Rope Manufacturing Site
SITEDESC
Rope Walk.
Site Name
Millfield Rope Walk
Site Type: Specific
Ropewalk
HER Number
2846
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 2846 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 8
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
22
District
Sunderland
Easting
438260
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
7
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
556810
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Bishopwearmouth
Description
Historic Ordnance Survey map evidence shows Clay Pits, the number of which is unclear.
Site Type: Broad
Mineral Extraction Site
SITEDESC
Clay Pits, the number of which is unclear.
Site Name
Bishopwearmouth, Millfield Clay Pits
Site Type: Specific
Clay Pit
HER Number
2845
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 2845 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 8
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
22
District
Sunderland
Easting
438350
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
7
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
556930
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Bishopwearmouth
Description
Historic Ordnance Survey map evidence shows a Brick field at this location.
Site Type: Broad
Brick and Tilemaking Site
SITEDESC
Brickfield. Brickfields, Millfield, 1861
(Source: Davison, P J, 1986. Brickworks of the North East, 157 site 13)
Site Name
Millfield Brick Field
Site Type: Specific
Brickfield
HER Number
2844
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 2844 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 8
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Transport
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
Crossref
2659
DAY1
22
District
Sunderland
Easting
438500
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
7
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
557050
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Bishopwearmouth
Description
The site of Millfield Station is on the North Eastern Railway, Penshaw Branch (HER ref. 2659).
Site Type: Broad
Railway Transport Site
SITEDESC
Millfield Station, on the North Eastern Railway Penshaw Branch, (SMR 2659).
Site Name
Millfield Station
Site Type: Specific
Railway Station
HER Number
2843
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 2843 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 8
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
22
District
Sunderland
Easting
438330
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
7
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
557090
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Bishopwearmouth
Description
Historic Ordnance Survey map evidence shows a Brick Field at this location.
Site Type: Broad
Brick and Tilemaking Site
SITEDESC
Brick Field.
Site Name
Bishopwearmouth, brickfield
Site Type: Specific
Brickfield
HER Number
2842
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 2842 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 8
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
22
District
Sunderland
Easting
437540
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
7
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
557100
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Bishopwearmouth
Description
This Coal Pit on North Moor is marked as ‘Old’ on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey plan, so was probably out of use by 1855.
Site Type: Broad
Coal Mining Site
SITEDESC
Coal Pit on North Moor, marked as Old on the 1st edition OS mapping, so was out of use by 1855.
Site Name
North Moor, Coal Pit
Site Type: Specific
Coal Workings
HER Number
2841
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 2841 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 8
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
22
District
Sunderland
Easting
435740
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
7
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
556450
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Ford
Description
This Quarry is marked as ‘Old’ on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey plan, so was probably out of use by 1855.
Site Type: Broad
Mineral Extraction Site
SITEDESC
Quarry, marked as Old on the 1st edn OS mapping, so was probably out of use by 1855.
Site Name
Ford, Quarry
Site Type: Specific
Quarry
HER Number
2840
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 2840 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 8
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
22
District
Sunderland
Easting
435670
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35NE
MONTH1
7
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
556510
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Ford
Description
This Quarry is marked as ‘Old’ on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey plan, so was probably out of use by 1855.
Site Type: Broad
Mineral Extraction Site
SITEDESC
Quarry, marked as Old on the 1st edition OS mapping, so was out of use by 1855.
Site Name
Ford, Quarry
Site Type: Specific
Quarry
HER Number
2839
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 2839 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, c.1855, 6 inch scale, Durham, 8