Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

The place-name Scaffold Hill is derived from the stands used for spectators at the annual Newcastle races, which were held on Killingworth Moor in the 17th and 18th centuries. The first record of racing there is from 1632 (Pearson says 1621) when the Newcastle Corporation paid £20 for 'two silver potts' to be raced for on Killingworth Moor. Racing continued there until the end of the 18th century. The course extended from near the village of Murton to Benton Church (Station Road). Today the course would cross the A19. The races were suppressed during the Commonwealth of 1649-60. Royalist sympathiser Daniel Collingwood said 'there were none now in power but the rascality, who envied that gentlemen should enjoy their amusements'. At the Restoration, Killingworth races resumed. In 1721 the annual summer meeting transferred to Newcastle's Town Moor.

The road from Killingworth village to Backworth, via East House Farm, is thought likely to be that named in an early 14th century document as the royal road. The derivation of the name is not recorded, but it is described as skirting the east side of a field called ‘The Chesters’ (HER ref. 7758). Dated C14th.

Maps and documents of 1604, 1809 and 1822 name ‘Castle Field’ in this vicinity. This place-name suggests that a structure or earthwork, perhaps of prehistoric or medieval date may once have been visible in the vicinity. It is possible that this place-name may be identified with ‘The Chesters’ place-name centred on NZ 2904 7174. The enclosure was investigated during an evaluation in 2014. No finds were recovered but environmental samples contained spelt wheat chaff, a variety characteristic of the Iron Age or Roman periods. Later agricultural activity on the site has impacted upon the 'enclosure'.