In March 1644 the Scottish army established a temporary camp on the open ground between Sunderland and Bishopwearmouth. According to Summers it had originally straddled High Street, but by 1795, when the ground was levelled for building, was visible largely only in West Pann Field, between Pann lane (NZ 396 573) and the Rectory Park (NZ 392 570). "Two trenches and mounds of earth called the 'big dyke' and 'little dyke', then partially existed", running between 235 High Street and the north end of Lambton Street, and then to 125 High Street. There is reference in 1675 to "the Forts", and a cannon ball was found in 1815 on the site of 223 High Street.

"The Rev. John Laurence, A.M. rector of Bishopwearmouth from 1721 to 1732, and Prebendary of Sarum...in his work on 'Agriculture', alludes to some ancient (British or Roman?) chisels found in the small joints and crevices of the stone, in a quarry near Bishopwearmouth".(1) Petch located this discovery at Building Hill, perhaps because that was the only quarry he knew of in the Bishopwearmouth area. While describing the objects as "doubtful implements", he included them in his discussion about the possibility of a Romano-British settlement near the mouth of the Wear.(2) The O.S. then misquote Summers, and site the find at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery - "A number of ancient Roman chisels were discovered in the crevices of the stone in a quarry near Bishopwearmouth. (Bishopwearmouth Cemetery is centred NZ 373 563)".(3) It seems better just to let the original account stand on its own.

In 1891 R. Blair reported that he had been shown some Roman small brass coins, said to have been found recently at Fulwell. VICTORINVS (268-270) i-ii Obv. IMP C VICTORINVS PF AVG Rev. PIETAS AVG. Female figure, in right hand ?, tessera in left, altar at feet. (Two specimens). iii-iv PAX AVG. Rev. v and * in field. In upraised right hand a branch ?, in left a spear diagonally. v. Rev. Sun marching to left. CLAUDIUS GOTHICUS (268-270) Rev. FORTVNA AVG. Figure to left, in lowered right hand ?, in right (sic) cornucopia. Dated C3.

"Near these cinerary urns [HER 8] was a short iron knife with a curved handle".

"Near these cinerary urns [HER 8] were discovered two skeletons of a great size". Mitchell also noted that a prehistoric burial had been found on Humbledon Hill in 1750, but gave no reference.

Dredging the River Wear opposite Claxheugh produced a Roman coin, plus large quantities of human bones and deer antlers. The coin is described as bronze, and temp. Trajan. Obv. Bust of Trajan, with inscription: IMPERATORI CAESARI NERVAE TRAIANO OPTIMO AUGUSTO GERMANICO DACICO TRIBUNITIA POTESTATE Rev. Felicitas, with cornucopia and wreath. No inscription. Dated C2.

Dredging the River Wear opposite Claxheugh produced large quantities of human bones and deer antlers, and a Roman coin. Johnson reported on 3 human skulls. He believed 2 to be male, and Roman soldiers, the third probably a young woman, perhaps a slave. The date he gave them was the result of the discovery, also in the dredging, of a Roman coin (HER 19).

In 1872 assorted human and animal bones were dredged from the bed of the River Wear at a depth of 15 - 20 feet below the ordinary level of the river bed at the entrance of Hylton Dene. Some 25 bones were reported on by Embleton who, largely from skulls, identified two humans (one c. 25 years old, the other beyond middle age), small dogs, an old goat, red deer (2 stags, 2 hinds), bos longifrons, and a large whale. The intention at that time was to deposit the collection in Sunderland Museum.

"Human bones, and sometimes entire skeletons, have been frequently discovered on Southwick Hills, half a mile north-west of the village, during the operation of moving the soil or clay, for the purpose of working the limestone. A few years ago, two or three skeletons were found near Mr. Brunton's quarry; and, what is most remarkable, around each of the skulls, as they lay, was placed a circle of limpet shells...as if for ornament". Miket suggests they may have been prehistoric.

In the late C12 Alexander de Hilton made a grant of 3 marks from the mill of Hilton. In 1323 the mill was mentioned in a grant of the endowments of a chantry in the chapel of Hilton, made by Robert Hylton to Robert de Chillingham. The site of the mill is unknown, but if it was a water mill then perhaps it was in Hylton Dene, the lower part of which is included in the above 2 grid squares. "Hylton Mill (Corn)", obviously a windmill, is however shown N of the castle on the 1st ed. O.S. at c. 359 590.