The Duke and Duchess Pits at Earsdon Colliery, 'won' in 1823 and 1826 respectively, were served by the Backworth Wagonway (East Holywell Branch) (HER ref. 1051). They were owned by Hugh Taylor and William Clark, while the miners occupied the farm cottages owned by a Mr Grey. These buildings later formed the community of Shiney Row, and are shown on Greenwood's map of 1828. By 1897 the pits had disappeared, and had been replaced by the Abbey Shot Factory.
SITEASS
Site now occupied by scrap yard
Site Type: Broad
Coal Mining Site
SITEDESC
Earsdon Colliery, Duke and Duchess Pits served by the Backworth Wagonway (East Holywell Branch) (SMR 1051). The pits were 'won' in 1823 and 1826 respectively. They were owned by Hugh Taylor and William Clark. The coalminers occupied the farm cottages owned by a Mr Grey. These buildings later formed the community of Shiney Row {NRO ZHE 38a}. The farm buildings are shown on Greenwood's map of 1828. The Duke and Duchess Pits are shown on 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. By 1897 the pits had disappeared, and had been replaced by the Abbey Shot Factory.
Site Name
Earsdon Colliery, Duke and Dutchess Pit
Site Type: Specific
Colliery
HER Number
1111
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1111 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1865, 6 inch scale, Northumberland 89
1844, valuation of Moor Edge Farm, in the parish of Earsdon, belonging to.. -Northumberland Records Office ZHE 38a
R.E. Young, 2000, Tyne and Wear Museums, Moor Edge Farm, Archaeological Assessment; Durham Mining Museum www.dmm.org.uk
YEAR1
1994
YEAR2
2003
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
Crossref
1058,1113
DAY1
24
District
N Tyneside
Easting
430660
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ37SW
MONTH1
3
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
571450
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Backworth
Description
Bell Engine, at the junction of the Backworth Wagonway (HER 1113) with the West Cramlington Wagonway (HER 1058). First stationary engine to be built on the Backworth Wagonway. Probably named after the man who was in charge of it. This engine hauled the wagons up from the "A" Pit (HER 1105). Even after conversion to locomotive haulage a banking engine was required to push trains out of the pit yard up to the crossing. The engine also later worked the branches to West Holywell and Earsdon. Letters of 1856 survive in Morpeth Records Office, relating to this engine.
Site Type: Broad
Machinery
SITEDESC
Bell Engine, at the junction of the Backworth Wagonway (HER 1113) with the West Cramlington Wagonway (HER 1058). First stationary engine to be built on the Backworth Wagonway. Probably named after the man who was in charge of it. This engine hauled the wagons up from the "A" Pit (HER 1105). Even after conversion to locomotive haulage a banking engine was required to push trains out of the pit yard up to the crossing. The engine also later worked the branches to West Holywell and Earsdon. Letters of 1856 survive in Morpeth Records Office, relating to this engine.
Site Name
Bell Engine
Site Type: Specific
Engine
HER Number
1110
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1110 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1865, 6 inch scale, Northumberland 89; John Elliott & Derek Charlton, 1994, Backworth - An Illustrated History of the Mines and Railways
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Transport
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
Crossref
1108,1058
DAY1
24
District
N Tyneside
Easting
430710
EASTING2
3061
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ37SW
MONTH1
3
Grid Reference
NZ
NGR2
NZ
Northing
572530
NORTHING2
7152
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Backworth
Description
Branch from the "Old Coal Pits" (HER 1108). This line was abandoned by 1860. In the 1970s the stone blocks which supported the rails were still in-situ. Now cleared.
Site Type: Broad
Tramway Transport Site
SITEDESC
Branch from the "Old Coal Pits" (HER 1108). This line was abandoned by 1860. In the 1970s the stone blocks which supported the rails were still in-situ. Now cleared.
Site Name
Backworth Wagonway, West Holywell Branch
Site Type: Specific
Wagonway
HER Number
1109
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1109 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1865, 6 inch scale, Northumberland 89; John Elliott & Derek Charlton, 1994, Backworth - An Illustrated History of the Mines and Railways
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
24
District
N Tyneside
Easting
430690
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ37SW
MONTH1
3
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
572550
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
West Holywell
Description
Coal pits recorded at West Holywell. These may have been relatively shallow workings, as they are clustered together in a group of about four.
Site Type: Broad
Coal Mining Site
SITEDESC
Coal pits at West Holywell, number unclear, possibly four. These may have been relatively shallow workings, as they are clustered together.
Site Name
West Holywell, Coal Pits
Site Type: Specific
Coal Workings
HER Number
1108
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1108 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1865, 6 inch scale, Northumberland 89
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Transport
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
Crossref
1055
DAY1
24
District
N Tyneside
Easting
430560
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ37SW
MONTH1
3
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
572330
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
West Holywell
Description
A Station on the Blyth & Tyne Railway (HER ref. 1055). Closed to passengers in 1879.
Site Type: Broad
Railway Transport Site
SITEDESC
Holywell Station, on the Blyth & Tyne Railway (SMR 1055). Closed to passengers in 1879.
Site Name
West Holywell, Station
Site Type: Specific
Railway Station
HER Number
1107
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1107 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1865, 6 inch scale, Northumberland 89
C.R. Warn, 1976, Wagonways & Early Railways of Northumberland, p.56
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
24
District
N Tyneside
Easting
430230
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ37SW
MONTH1
3
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
572220
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Backworth
Description
A quarry is shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map.
Site Type: Broad
Mineral Extraction Site
SITEDESC
Backworth Quarry shown on 1st edition Ordnance Survey map.
Site Name
Backworth, quarry
Site Type: Specific
Quarry
HER Number
1106
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1106 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1865, 6 inch scale, Northumberland 89
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
COMP2
Claire MacRae
Crossref
1058
DAY1
24
DAY2
12
District
N Tyneside
Easting
430340
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ37NE
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
11
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
571910
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Backworth
Description
Backworth Colliery "A" Pit, served by the West Cramlington Wagonway (SMR 1058). Opened in 1815 [Durham mining museum website says A Pit opened in 1813 and Maude Pit in 1872], closed in 1960. Backworth Colliery was owned by Waldie & Co in the 1850s, then Maud Taylor & co, J.C. Lamb & Co, Backworth and West Cramlington Collieries, then Backwoth Collieries Ltd, and from 1947 the NCB. Subsidiary sites - B Pit, Blue Bell Pit, C Pit, D Pit, E Pit, Eccles Pit, Prosperous Pit. In 1927 mechanical mining started at the Maude, Eccles and Algernon Pits, displacing pit ponies. The pit head baths for the Maude and Eccles pits opened February 15th 1930. Electric winding introduced in 1946. There is an article in "Colliery Engineering" August 1933 by James T. Tuck called "Combined Washing and Dry-Cleaning Plant at Backworth Colliery".
Site Type: Broad
Coal Mining Site
SITEDESC
Backworth Colliery "A" Pit, served by the West Cramlington Wagonway (SMR 1058). Opened in 1815 [Durham mining museum website says A Pit opened in 1813 and Maude Pit in 1872], closed in 1960. Backworth Colliery was owned by Waldie & Co in the 1850s, then Maud Taylor & co, J.C. Lamb & Co, Backworth and West Cramlington Collieries, then Backworth Collieries Ltd, and from 1947 the NCB. Subsidiary sites - B Pit, Blue Bell Pit, C Pit, D Pit, E Pit, Eccles Pit, Prosperous Pit. In 1927 mechanical mining started at the Maude, Eccles and Algernon Pits, displacing pit ponies. The pit head baths for the Maude and Eccles pits opened February 15th 1930. Electric winding introduced in 1946. There is an article in "Colliery Engineering" August 1933 by James T. Tuck called "Combined Washing and Dry-Cleaning Plant at Backworth Colliery".
Site Name
Backworth Colliery 'Maude' or A Pit
Site Type: Specific
Colliery
HER Number
1105
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1105 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1865, 6 inch scale, Northumberland 89; http://www.dmm.org.uk; John Elliott & Derek Charlton, 1994, Backworth - An Illustrated History of the Mines and Railways; Archaeological Services Durham University, June 2011, Backworth Business Park, Backworth, Tyne and Wear - archaeological desk-based assessment; Tyne and Wear Archives, Colliery Books DX 198/1, Backworth Colliery photographs DX 1291; Roy Thompson, 2004, Thunder Underground - Northumberland Mine Disasters 1815-65, photo of the stonemen on p 43; Shiremoor Local History Group, The history of Backworth Colliery (in HER 2010/147); Karsgaard, P. 2018. Holywell Engineering Site, Backworth, North Tyneside, Addyman Archaeology, HER4843; Archaeological Services Durham University, 2018, Eccleston Close Backworth, heritage assessment
YEAR1
1994
YEAR2
2014
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
Crossref
1058
DAY1
24
District
N Tyneside
Easting
430040
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ37SW
MONTH1
3
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
572490
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Backworth
Description
The colliery site includes a brickfield at its southern end, shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map. The 2nd edition Ordnance Survey Map shows an expansion of spoil heaps, but the colliery is marked "Disused". This pit was known as the B Pit, it opened in 1818 and was closed before 1900.
Site Type: Broad
Coal Mining Site
SITEDESC
Backworth Colliery B Pit. The site includes a brickfield at its southern end. 2nd edn OS mapping shows expansion of spoil heaps, but the colliery is marked "Disused". This pit was known as the B Pit, it opened in 1818 [Durham Mining Museum website says 1821] and was closed before 1900.
Site Name
Backworth Colliery B Pit
Site Type: Specific
Colliery
HER Number
1104
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1104 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1865, 6 inch scale, Northumberland 89
I. M. Ayris, Northumberland Mining Records Survey; http://www.dmm.org.uk; John Elliott & Derek Charlton, 1994, Backworth - An Illustrated History of the Mines and Railways
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
24
District
N Tyneside
Easting
429200
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ27SE
MONTH1
3
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
570050
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Killingworth
Description
Ridge Pit with "Old Coal Pit” marked on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey Map, suggesting closure before 1858.
Site Type: Broad
Coal Mining Site
SITEDESC
Ridge Pit with "Old Coal Pit". Probably a disused colliery. Date of OS mapping suggests closure before 1858.
Site Name
Ridge Pit
Site Type: Specific
Colliery
HER Number
1103
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1103 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1865, 6 inch scale, Northumberland 89
YEAR1
1994
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Truman L.P.H
DAY1
24
District
N Tyneside
Easting
428210
EASTING2
0
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ27SE
MONTH1
3
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
569970
NORTHING2
0
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Killingworth
Description
Brick Field on Killingworth Moor, apparently disused by the end of the 19th century.
Site Type: Broad
Brick and Tilemaking Site
SITEDESC
Brick Field on Killingworth Moor. Extents unclear, grid ref marks approximate central point. Not shown on 2nd edn OS, 1894/5 survey.
Site Name
Killingworth, brickfield
Site Type: Specific
Brickfield
HER Number
1102
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1102 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1865, 6 inch scale, Northumberland 89