In the C14 the bailiff of Gateshead combined the post with that of steward of the bishop's coal mines. The earliest explicit reference to coal mining in Gateshead is in 1344 when coal was conveyed from coal workings by pack horse to the riverside and tipped into keels for shipment. Evidence for earlier mining activity is provided by the street name "Colyercher" in a deed probably of the late C12. This states that staiths were built at Pipewellgate (HER 4385) in 1349, timber from the bishop's park was used to build pits and watergates for the coal mines in 1364 and in 1367 proprietors of coal mines in Gateshead were obliged to ship their coal across the river to Newcastle. Evidence for medieval mining was found in Robson's Yard on the east side of Oakwellgate in 1999. Two circular pits, 3m in diameter were interpreted as mine shafts. The infill contained C12 and C13 pottery. In this area the uppermost coal seams are relatively shallow, c5m below ground level, and such seams would have been easily winnable by means of bell (or crop) pits. When Gateshead Metro Station site was being excavated in the mid 1970s some early coal workings were found. A photo is held by Tyne and Wear Archives (pers comm Frank Manders). Dated C14th.

No indisputable physical evidence for settlement at this period has been found, but the street name 'Bottle Bank' is suggestive of the Saxon word, botle meaning village habitation or dwelling. Other street names ending with 'gate' (Oakwellgate, Hillgate, St Mary Gate) and the name Gateshead itself, also suggest a pre-Conquest presence. The earliest recorded use of the placename 'Gateshead' occurs in Bede's Ecclesiastical History 653 AD, which mentions Adda the brother of "Utta… a renowned priest and abbot of Gateshead". No other documentary references to Utta or the monastery (HER 273) are known. The only possible indication of an early medieval, possibly pre-Conquest, origin for Gateshead is provided by a short length of curving, double ditch, located on the east side of Oakwellgate in 1999. The ditches may be part of a curvilinear enclosure extending from near the east end of Church Chare, across High Street, along Bailey Chare and swinging north-east along the line of Mirk Lane to Low Church Chare and around the north side of St Mary's Church. If such an enclosure exists, it may define a lay, or even the hypothetical monastic settlement.

A Roman altar found built into the garden wall of the rectory in Oakwellgate was a relic from Vindobala (Rudchester in Northumberland).

Coins were found in roadworks at the head of Bottle Bank in 1802.

Pons Aelius Roman Fort on the north bank of the River Tyne occupies a promontory overlooking the supposed northern end of the Roman crossing. There is a similarly commanding bluff on the south side of the river, on the site of St Mary's Church and west of Bottle Bank. Topography, chance finds and recent excavations suggest that this was the position of the southern bridgehead of the Roman river crossing, and settlement is likely to have developed here, mirroring that on the north side. Chance finds dating to the Roman period were reported from this area in the late 18th century and early C19. An urn containing Roman coins was found in Church Street in 1790 (HER 271). Coins were found in Bottle Bank in 1802 (HER 5634). It has been suggested that St Mary's Church was built in part with re-used Roman stones (HER 284). A Roman altar was found built into the garden wall of the Rectory (HER 5635). The existence of stratified Roman features and deposits were first demonstrated archaeologically in 1994 on the west side of Bottle Bank. Much of this area was subsequently examined by open-area excavation in 2000, revealing fragmentary remains of stone buildings, stone-lined cisterns, ditches and a paved road. The pottery assemblage from Bottle Bank was predominantly of late C2 and C3 date. The roadside ribbon development dates to the early to mid C2 AD, earlier than any known occupation on the north side of the River Tyne. The settlement straggled the sloping ground to the west of Bottle Bank, the presumed line of the bridge approach.

Possible prehistoric features were found during excavations in 2000 - a possible gully was found in Smith's Yard, cut into the natural clay, orientated north-south, 1.2m wide and 2m deep. It was filled with grey brown clay and yellow sandy clay. At the southern rounded end a possible stakehole or posthole was found. To the north in Dobson and Hawk's Yard, a short fragment of a curving feature with a v-shaped profile was recorded. It was cut by an alignment of postholes which dated to the C3. Another shallow ditch or gully was found running north-east to south-west was filled with grey sandy silt. This was on the line of a later wall so its suggested early date may be questionable. The earliest feature lay at the northernmost part of the site. A linear feature running east-west, 2m long and 1.04m wide. It was filled with dark grey sandy soil which produced C2 pottery.

Flints were found during 1999 excavation.

Shown on 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map

Shown on an 18th century plan