Birtley, Leefield Waggonway

HER Number

17108

District

Sunderland

Site Name

Birtley, Leefield Waggonway

Place

Birtley

Map Sheet

NZ25SE

Class

Transport

Site Type: Broad

Tramway Transport Site

Site Type: Specific

Wagonway

General Period

POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Hanoverian 1714 to 1837

Form of Evidence

Documentary Evidence

Description

This was a branch of the John Hedworth’s Waggonway (HER2562) to staiths at Fatfield from Leefield. It was opened before 1710. The line is shown on John Gibson’s Map of the Coalfield of 1787. Its exact route has not been traced.

Easting

427310

Northing

554620

Grid Reference

NZ427310554620

Sources

Alan Williams Archaeology, 2013, Waggonways to the South Bank of the River Tyne and to the River Wear; Turnbull, L, 2012, Railways Before George Stephenson (entry 72D); Gibson's Map of Coalfield 1787