The earliest reference to Grindon seems to be 1323, when a messuage and 4 acres in the vill of Grendon formed part of a grant by Robert lord of Hylton to his clerk Robert de Chillingham. It is recorded as a "manor" in 1361 and 1450, on both occasions being the property of the Hilton family. They still held it in 1600, and probably did so until the mid 17th century. In the Tithe Award it consisted of 2 farms, one in the occupation of John Leighton, the other owned by Robert Ormston esq., but also occupied by John Leighton. The site is now covered by housing, and its precise position is not clear.
SITEASS
Not a lot to be done on site. Further documentary work might clarify things a bit.
Site Type: Broad
Settlement
SITEDESC
The earliest reference to Grindon seems to be 1323, when a messuage and 4 acres in the vill of Grendon formed part of a grant by Robert lord of Hylton to his clerk Robert de Chillingham. It is recorded as a "manor" in 1361 and 1450, on both occasions being the property of the Hilton family. They still held it in 1600, and it was probably not alienated until the mid C17. Surtees describes it as "a hamlet within the Constablery of Silksworth". Temp. Tithe Award it consisted of 2 farms, one in the occupation of John Leighton, 122 acres - 2 - 5, nos. 36, 38-54, (owner William Beckwith ?), and the other owned by Robert Ormston esq., also occupied by John Leighton, 146 acres-3-2, nos. 2- 19. The site is now covered by housing, and its precise position is not clear. Dated C14th.
Site Name
Grindon village
Site Type: Specific
Deserted Settlement
HER Number
243
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 243 >> W. Hutchinson, 1787, History of...Durham, Vol. II, p. 683
R. Surtees, 1816, History of...Durham, Vol. I, p. 242
Dept. Pal. & Dip. Durham, Tithe Awards,1840, Silksworth
Dept. Pal. & Dip. Durham, Halmote Court Rolls, 1860, Ordnance Survey 1st edition 1:2500, Durham XIV.1
Prior's Kitchen Durham, Durham Dean and Chapter MSS, 1323, Misc. Cart 6224, Reg. I ff. 40r-41r
YEAR1
1990
YEAR2
1996
English, British
ADDITINF
Y
AREA_STAT
Conservation Area
Class
Domestic
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
221
DAY1
10
DAY2
28
District
Sunderland
Easting
437500
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MONTH1
4
MONTH2
4
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 SE 24
Northing
552900
General Period
EARLY MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Early Medieval 410 to 1066
Place
Silksworth
Description
The earliest reference to "Silcesworth" is thought to be in c. 930, when it was listed as one of the appendages of South Wearmouth in King Athelstan's gift to the see of Durham. It was in the possession of Bishop Flambard at the end of the 11th century, but in perhaps the 13th century was given to the priory of Durham. It consists today of a north-south street bounded on the west by 18th-19th century stone houses, some with large gardens. Tithe Award shows that one of these was a farm in 1840. In the mid 19th century there were only 2 houses on the east side, one being Silksworth Hall. This was rebuilt in the early 20th century but by the later 20th century was empty.
SITEASS
The shape of the village survives, but there has been new building at the south end, east side, of the main street, perhaps on onetime sites of houses. Further documentary research needed.
Site Type: Broad
Settlement
SITEDESC
The earliest reference to "Silcesworth" is thought to be in c. 930, when it was listed as one of the appendages of South Wearmouth in King Athelstan's gift to the see of Durham. It was in the possession of Bishop Flambard at the end of the C11, but in perhaps the C13 was given to the priory of Durham. Free tenants show in the records, but little other detail. It consists today of a north-south street bounded on the west by stone houses of the 19th century, some with large gardens. Tithe Award shows that one of these was a farm in 1840. In the mid 19th century there were 2 houses only on the east side, one being Silksworth Hall. This was rebuilt in the early C20, and is now empty. Do these rather grand houses reflect rather grander than usual tenants in the Middle Ages? Described as a hamlet by William Whellan in 1856. Dated C10th.
Site Name
Silksworth village
Site Type: Specific
Shrunken village
HER Number
242
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 242 >> R. Surtees, 1816 History of...Durham, Vol. I, pp. 224 note b, 243, 296-7
H.E. Bell, ed. 1939, Calendar of Deeds given...by Lord Ravensworth, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, XVI, no. 6
Dept. Pal. & Dip. Durham, Dean and Chapter MSS, 18th century, Bursar's accounts, 1345-46
W. Greenwell, ed. 1871, Feodarium Prioratus Dunelmensis, Surtees Society, Vol. 58, pp. 18, 81, 123, 125, 312
W. Lewin, 1714, A survey of Silksworth, TWCMS B8187- Sunderland Museum
W. Hutchinson, 1787, History of...Durham, Vol. II, p. 682
Dept. Pal. & Dip. Durham, Tithe Awards, 1840, Silksworth
Halmote Court Rolls, Book of Surveighe, p. 199
Durham Records Office, Londonderry Papers
J. Patterson, 1907, Silksworth and St. Leonard's Chapel,... Antiquities of Sunderland, VI (for 1905), pp. 1-8; William Whellan & co, 1856. History, Topography and Directory of the County Palatine of Durham, p 616
SURVIVAL
40-59%
YEAR1
1990
YEAR2
2014
English, British
ADDITINF
N
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
CONDITION
Poor
DAY1
19
DAY2
29
District
Sunderland
Easting
435960
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MONTH1
4
MONTH2
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 SE 17
Northing
554240
General Period
ROMAN
Specific Period
Roman 43 to 410
Place
Sunderland
Description
A very worn sestertius of Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.) found in Tadcaster Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland.
SITEASS
Is it a museum accession or merely a museum record? Has it any real significance?
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
"A very worn sestertius of Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.) found by K. Shaw at 190 Tadcaster Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland". Dated C2.
Site Name
Sunderland, Roman coin
Site Type: Specific
Coin
HER Number
241
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 241 >> Ordnance Survey archaeological record card RPM, 1977, Roman coin
SURVIVAL
60-79%
YEAR1
1990
YEAR2
1996
English, British
ADDITINF
N
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
239
DAY1
09
DAY2
14
District
Sunderland
Easting
438000
Grid ref figure
4
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
12
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 SE 15
Northing
554000
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Prehistoric -1,000 000 to 43
Place
Tunstall
Description
In recording flints from High Elstob Farm, in the south-east field to the west of Tunstall Hope, mention was made of two patches of stones on the east slope which suggested scattered burial cairns.
Site Type: Broad
Cairn
SITEDESC
In recording flints from High Elstob Farm, in the south-east field to the west of Tunstall Hope, mention was also made of two patches of stones on the east slope which suggested scattered burial cairns. Source 2 has found no trace of these, and puts them into his Group C, "...sites which have been recorded as barrows in the past, but about which it is best to reserve judgement,...".
Site Name
Tunstall, High Elstob Farm, burial cairns
Site Type: Specific
Cairn
HER Number
240
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 240 >> G.B. Gibbs, 1932, Neolithic man in Co. Durham, Antiquities of Sunderland, Vol. 19 (for 1929-32), p. 25
R. Young, 1980, An Inventory of Barrows in Co. Durham, Transactions Architectural & Archaeological Society Durham & Northumberland, New series, Vol. 5, p. 13 nos. 94-5
YEAR1
1990
YEAR2
1995
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
240
DAY1
09
DAY2
14
District
Sunderland
Easting
438000
Grid ref figure
4
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
12
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 SE 15
Northing
554000
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Neolithic -4,000 to -2,200
Place
Tunstall
Description
Yellow flint artefacts were found at High Elstob Farm to the west of Tunstall Hope, but are now lost so thie suggested Neolithic provenance can not be verified.
SITEASS
Paul Bidwell reports there is no reference to these objects in the TWCMS index.
Site Type: Broad
Artefact Scatter
SITEDESC
"Yellow-stained flint artefacts found at High Elstob Farm, in the SE field to the W of Tunstall Hope". Now lost. Because these are recorded in an article about Neolithic man Source 2 describes them as "Poss. Ne. flints".
Site Name
Tunstall, High Elstob Farm, flints from
Site Type: Specific
Flint Scatter
HER Number
239
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 239 >> G.B. Gibbs, 1932, Neolithic man in Co. Durham, Antiquities of Sunderland, Vol. 19 (for 1929-32), p. 25
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 73, no. 13
YEAR1
1990
YEAR2
1995
English, British
ADDITINF
N
AREA_STAT
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
09
DAY2
14
District
Sunderland
Easting
435000
Grid ref figure
4
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
12
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 SE 16
Northing
553000
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Neolithic -4,000 to -2,200
Place
Middle Herrington
Description
A leaf-shaped arrowhead and flakes, etc. were found in a field at North Hill, Middle Herrington. The area is a small knoll on the East Durham Plateau, less than eight hundred yards west of the barrow on Hasting Hill and the grouping of prehistoric 'ritual' sites there". The present location of this material is unknown.
SITEASS
Paul Bidwell reports that there is no reference to this find in the TWCMS index.
Site Type: Broad
Artefact Scatter
SITEDESC
"A leaf-shaped arrowhead, flakes etc." were found near the surface of a field at North Hill, Middle Herrington. "The area is a small knoll on the East Durham Plateau, less than eight hundred yards west of the barrow on Hasting Hill and the grouping of Neolithic/Bronze Age 'ritual' sites there". The lithic material was not seen by Source 3; now lost?
Site Name
Middle Herrington, flints from North Hill
Site Type: Specific
Flint Scatter
HER Number
238
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 238 >> G.B. Gibbs, 1932, Neolithic man in Co. Durham, Antiquities of Sunderland, Vol. 19 (for 1929-32), p. 25
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 73, no. 15
R. Young , 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, Vol. 161, p. 216, F 103
YEAR1
1990
YEAR2
1995
English, British
ADDITINF
N
AREA_STAT
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
09
DAY2
14
District
Sunderland
Easting
439300
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MATERIAL
Bronze
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
12
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 SE 3
Northing
554400
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Place
Tunstall
Description
It was reported that: "In the year 1805, an ancient Roman Celt was ploughed out of Tunstall Hills. It was about 5 inches long, and 2.5 broad at the edge". It is implied that the find was a bronze rather than a stone axe.
SITEASS
Paul Bidwell reports there is no reference to this object in the TWCMS index.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
"In the year 1805, an ancient Roman Celt was ploughed out of Tunstall Hills. It was about 5 inches long, and 2.5 broad at the edge". Garbutt then quotes from Whitaker thus, "The wedge-like form of these instruments is well known. In this particular nearly all of them agree. And they differ only in this, that some have no handle, and are therefore hollow in the blade, and others have a handle and no hollow". This seems to imply a bronze rather than a stone axe.
Site Name
Tunstall Hills ?bronze axe
Site Type: Specific
Socketed Axehead
HER Number
237
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 237 >> G. Garbutt, 1819, History of Sunderland, p. 112
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 72, no. 12
YEAR1
1990
YEAR2
1995
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
08
DAY2
14
District
Sunderland
Easting
436920
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
12
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 SE 21
Northing
553590
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Neolithic -4,000 to -2,200
Place
Farringdon
Description
A Langdale stone axe, 4.5 inches long, was found in 1955 during the building of a council house at Farringdon, although the precise grid reference given is disputed. The find appears to have been reported to Sunderland Museum, but is now lost.
SITEASS
Was this object ever a real accession? Paul Bidwell reports there is no reference to it in the TWCMS index.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
A Langdale stone axe, 4.5 inches long, was found in 1955 by a Mr. Wright during the building of a council house at Farringdon. It is now lost. Source 1 continues by pointing out that the above grid reference does not agree with the description of the find spot since it falls on a playing field. He cites as his evidence the "Accessions Register and Archaeological Index of Sunderland Museum".
Site Name
Farringdon, polished axe
Site Type: Specific
Axehead
HER Number
236
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 236 >> Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, RPM, 1977, Neolithic axe
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 73, no. 16
YEAR1
1990
YEAR2
1995
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
08
DAY2
14
District
Sunderland
Easting
437300
EASTING2
381
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MATERIAL
Sandstone
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
12
Grid Reference
NZ
NGR2
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 SE 19
Northing
552200
NORTHING2
525
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Neolithic -4,000 to -2,200
Place
Silksworth
Description
A large, coarse sandstone axe was found at Doxford Park in a 'load of earth' during road making 1972 and retained by the finder. The object is described as follows: length 134 mm, max width 46 mm, max thickness 34 mm. Broad blade, slightly chipped. The axe does not appear to fall into any known group of sandstone axes in north England and south Scotland.
SITEASS
No reference to this object in TWCMS index so where does the published drawing come from? Note the above grid references do not agree: the second one is in the middle of the modern "Doxford Park" and could be the more probable.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
"Large coarse sandstone axe found at Doxford Park in a 'load of earth' during road making 1972. Retained by finder, Mr. Bazin, 5 Harperley Drive, Tunstall Road,Sunderland" (1), who gives the first grid reference above. Source 2 says the find was made during road widening, gives the finder's name as Mr. Bazire, and describes the object thus: "Length 134 mm, max width 46 mm, max thickness 34 mm. Broad blade, slightly chipped". Source 1 adds, "The axe does not fall into any known group of sandstone axes in north England and south Scotland", and quotes in support of this a letter from the Department of Geology, Nottingham University, 1972.
Site Name
Doxford Park, polished axe
Site Type: Specific
Axehead
HER Number
235
Form of Evidence
FInd
Sources
<< HER 235 >> Ordnance Survey archaeological record card, RPM, 1977, Neolithic axe
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, pp. 71-2 and fig. 24, no. 8
YEAR1
1990
YEAR2
1995
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
154,155,156
DAY1
01
DAY2
14
District
Sunderland
Easting
439100
Grid ref figure
6
HEIGHT_OD
112
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
3
MONTH2
12
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 35 SE 9
Northing
554400
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Neolithic -4,000 to -2,200
Place
Tunstall
Description
Arrowheads, a flake scraper, cores, artefacts, flakes and limpets were recorded from ploughed fields at Tunstall Hills. The collection could not be located by recent researchers and is presumed lost.
Site Type: Broad
Artefact Scatter
SITEDESC
Gibbs recorded that ploughed fields to the north-west and north of the "Grassy Hill" towards the higher parts, and the east field between the Hills and the south end, where at the extremity are indications of a cairn burial, had produced "? arrowheads, flake scraper, cores, artefacts, flakes and limpets". Young could not trace any of this material and it must be presumed lost. Miket also notes that two flints were found by Dr A. Raistrick at Tunstall in the 1930s, and that these are now in the Craven Museum, Skipton.
Site Name
Tunstall Hills, Neolithic/Bronze Age flints
Site Type: Specific
Flint Scatter
HER Number
234
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 234 >> G.B. Gibbs, 1932, Neolithic man in Co. Durham, Antiquities of Sunderland, Vol. 19 (for 1929-32), p. 25
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 73, nos. 14, 18
R. Young , 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, Vol. 161, p. 219, F 112