English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
4116
DAY1
05
District
Newcastle
Easting
424180
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
01
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
563150
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Elswick
Description
An extensive flue system, likely to have been below ground, was in use at the lead works (HER ref. 4116). It was well developed by c.1850 and parts of it may date from the first use of a smelter on the site in 1787. Two widths of flue are shown on plans of the site, approximately 0.70 metres and 1.40 metres wide. Flues on lead smelting sites vary in cross-section but were often rectangular to allow children to clean them and reclaim precipitated lead fumes. These flues may therefore be up to 1.5 metres deep.
Site Type: Broad
Metal Industry Site
SITEDESC
An extensive flue system, likely to have been below ground, was in use at the lead works (SMR 4116). It was well developed by c.1850 and parts of it may date from the first use of a smelter on the site in 1787. Two widths of flue are shown on the plan, approximately 0.70m and 1.40m wide. Flues on lead smelting sites vary in cross-section but were often rectangular to allow children to clean them and reclaim precipitated lead fumes. These flues may therefore be up to 1.5m deep. {1}
Site Name
Lead Works Flue System
Site Type: Specific
Lead Working Site
HER Number
4908
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 4908 >> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2000, Elswick Lead Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Maritime
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
05
District
Newcastle
Easting
424390
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
01
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
563170
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Elswick
Description
A quay is shown at this location in 1771 and may have been established much earlier. It was therefore in existence before the establishment of the leadworks (HER ref. 4116), and appears to be the quay leased by the lead works in 1784. The quay was destroyed or buried by land reclamation when the edge of the river was reclaimed between 1827 and 1844.
Site Type: Broad
Landing Point
SITEDESC
A quay is shown here in 1771 and may have been established much earlier. It was therefore in existence before the establishment of the leadworks (SMR 4116), and appears to be the quay leased by the lead works in 1784. The quay was subsumed by land reclamation when the edge of the river was reclaimed between 1827 and 1844. {1}
Site Name
Elswick, Quay
Site Type: Specific
Quay
HER Number
4907
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 4907 >> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2000, Elswick Lead Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Transport
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
4118
DAY1
05
District
Newcastle
Easting
424090
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
01
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
563060
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Elswick
Description
This inclined plane linked a nearby colliery (HER ref. 4118) to the river. It first appears on a map of c.1830, although it is likely to be earlier than this since the colliery opened in c.1805. It was closed and removed between 1849 and 1859.
SITEASS
Recorded as a deposit of coal fines in an archaeological evaluation in 2004. Possibly had trackside ditches.
Site Type: Broad
Inclined Plane
SITEDESC
Inclined plane linking nearby colliery (SMR 4118) to the river. First shown on a map of c.1830, although it is likely to be earlier than this since the colliery was opened in c.1805. It was closed and removed between 1849 and 1859. It appears likely to lie beneath Back Mitford Street although inaccuracies with the historic mapping mean this cannot be confirmed. {1}
Site Name
Elswick, inclined plane
Site Type: Specific
Inclined Plane
HER Number
4906
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 4906 >> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2000, Elswick Lead Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
05
District
Newcastle
Easting
424130
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
01
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
563090
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Elswick
Description
An open rope walk is shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of 1859, but not on the 2nd edition 1894 map, when it had been built over by a school and a number of other unidentified buildings, probably industrial in nature. It is not shown on an 1849 map of the area, however, and is unlikely to have consisted of any substantial structures.
SITEASS
Ropes were made by hand in ropewalks in standard lengths of 120 fathoms (720 feet). The ropewalk had to be straight and around 1320 feet long. The simple equipment consisted of two frames, one at each end of the ropewalk. The stationary frame (jack) had hooks on it which were revolved by a handle. Yarn was attached to each hook and to the other frame (traveller) which was mounted on a trolley. The rope maker held a circular hardwood block (top) between the strands near the traveller. The top had three grooves with a strand slotted into each. He walked slowly towards the jack pushing the top along and the rope formed itself behind the top. Before the invention of synthetic fibres, ropes were made from cotton, flax, hemp, jute, coir, manila and sisal. Hemp ropes were used in colleries until about 1840 when Andrew Smith patented the iron stranded wire rope. Rope making began to be mechanised in the late C18 (William Jones, 1996, Dictionary of Industrial Archaeology).
Site Type: Broad
Rope Manufacturing Site
SITEDESC
An open rope walk is shown on the OS map of 1859 but not on the 1894 map, when it had been built over by a school and a number of other unidentified buildings, probably industrial in nature. It is not shown on an 1849 map, and is unlikely to have consisted of any substantial structures {1}.
Site Name
Elswick, Rope Walk
Site Type: Specific
Ropewalk
HER Number
4905
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 4905 >> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2000, Elswick Lead Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Transport
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
05
District
Newcastle
Easting
424140
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
01
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
563140
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Elswick
Description
These 19th century coal drops are of a type that would usually be fed from a railway line. One of the drops is of stone construction and was located immediately behind an engine house shown on the c.1850 plan. It is probable that a wagonway or other track existed between the coal shaft (HER ref. 4118) and the engine house, although there is no map evidence for this.
Site Type: Broad
Lifting and Winding Structure
SITEDESC
These coal drops are of a type that would usually be fed from a railway line. One of the drops is of apparently 19th century stone construction and was located immediately behind an engine house shown on the c.1850 plan. It is probable that a wagonway or other track existed between the coal shaft (SMR 4118) and the engine house, although there is no map evidence for this {1}.
Site Name
Elswick, Coal Drops
Site Type: Specific
Coal Drop
HER Number
4904
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 4904 >> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2000, Elswick Lead Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
4118
DAY1
05
District
Newcastle
Easting
424170
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
01
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
563070
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Elswick
Description
This probable spoil heap takes the form of a roughly circular mound, measuring 5 metres in diameter, apparently with a spiral track leading to its top. It appears to be a spoil heap, and is shown on maps from 1859 to 1914. It is possible that this mound contained lead smelting waste, but it is more likely to be either a coal heap/storage area from the coal mine to the north (HER ref. 4118) or a general waste tip containing spent tanning bark, coal ash or broken ceramic jars.
Site Type: Broad
Mining Industry Site
SITEDESC
A roughly circular mound, measuring c45m in diameter, apparently with a spiral track leading to its top. It appears to be a spoil heap, and is shown on maps from 1859 to 1914, but is no longer shown in 1940. It is possible that this mound contained lead smelting waste, although it is unlikely that any ore smelting took place on the site. It is more likely to be either a coal heap/storage area from the coal mine to the north (SMR 4118) or a general waste tip containing spent tanning bark, coal ash or broken ceramic jars. {1}
Site Name
Elswick, Spoil Heap
Site Type: Specific
Spoil Heap
HER Number
4903
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 4903 >> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2000, Elswick Lead Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
4116
DAY1
05
District
Newcastle
Easting
424160
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
01
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
563040
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Mid 20th Century 1933 to 1966
Place
Elswick
Description
This building was referred to as the power house on a site plan of 1955, but it is not clear whether it housed a hydraulic engine or was a hydraulic pumping house. It appears likely to have been a source of hydraulic power for powering presses etc, in the pipe mill (HER ref. 4901) on the site. The structure was built between 1914 and 1940, relatively late for the use of hydraulic power, and consists of four stories, all presently unused. The lower floors have been unused since before 1955 and may contain the remains of hydraulic machinery.
Site Type: Broad
Power Generation Site
SITEDESC
A building referred to as the power house on a site plan of 1955, and referred to as the power house by the present managing director. It is not clear whether it housed a hydraulic engine or was a hydraulic pumping house. It appears likely to have been a source of hydraulic power for powering presses etc, in the pipe mill (SMR 4901) on the site. The structure was built between 1914 and 1940, relatively late for the use of hydraulic power, and consists of four stories, all presently unused. The lower floors have been unused since before 1955 and may contain the remains of hydraulic machinery {1}.
Site Name
Elswick, Lead Works Hydraulic Power Site
Site Type: Specific
Hydraulic Engine House
HER Number
4902
Form of Evidence
Extant Building
Sources
<< HER 4902 >> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2000, Elswick Lead Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
05
District
Newcastle
Easting
424250
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
01
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
563080
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Elswick
Description
This building was constructed after 1859, probably in 1874, on the site of a number of earlier buildings. It was built as a pipe mill and probably contained the 6 hydraulic presses noted in a sale catalogue of 1884. The upper floor was rebuilt and re-roofed prior to 1980 to be used as offices. The two northern corners of the original building survive at upper floor level. The southern face of the building was rendered between 1969 and 1980. Lead pipe was originally produced by soldering or welding sheet lead which had been rolled into a cylinder. Later it was produced by drawing and extruding, in a similar way to the manufacture of wire. The pipe mill built in c.1874 would almost certainly have been producing pipe by drawing and extrusion. An earlier pipe mill, shown to the west of the main white lead stacks area on a plan of c.1850 is likely to have been producing pipe by welding.
Site Type: Broad
Metal Industry Site
SITEDESC
This building was constructed after 1859, probably in 1874, on the site of a number of earlier buildings. It was built as a pipe mill and probably contained the 6 hydraulic presses noted in a sale catalogue of 1884. The upper floor was rebuilt and re-roofed prior to 1980 to be used as offices, but currently houses welfare facilities. The lower floors are not used at present. The two northern corners of the original building survive at upper floor level. The southern face of the building was rendered between 1969 and 1980. Lead pipe was originally produced by soldering or welding sheet lead which had been rolled into a cylinder. Later it was produced by drawing and extrusion, in a similar way to the manufacture of wire. The pipe mill built in c.1874 would almost certainly have been producing pipe by drawing and extrusion. The earlier pipe mill, shown to the west of the main white lead stacks area on a plan of c.1850 is likely to have been producing pipe by welding. {1}
Site Name
Elswick, Lead Pipe Mill
Site Type: Specific
Lead Working Site
HER Number
4901
Form of Evidence
Extant Building
Sources
<< HER 4901 >> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2000, Elswick Lead Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Maritime
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
05
District
Newcastle
Easting
424270
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
01
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
563080
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Elswick
Description
This jetty was built between 1827 and 1844 to provide the lead works (HER ref. 4116) with level access to the river. It may have been easier to move goods on the level and then to lower or hoist them rather than using an inclined plane. It seems to replace the use of the quay (HER ref. 4907) as the main point of site access from the river.
Site Type: Broad
Landing Point
SITEDESC
A jetty to provide lead works (SMR 4116) site level access to the river, built between 1827 and 1844. It may have been easier to move goods on the level and then to lower or hoist them rather than using an inclined plane. It seems to replace the use of the quay (SMR 4907) as the main point of site access from the river {1}.
Site Name
Elswick, Jetty
Site Type: Specific
Jetty
HER Number
4900
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 4900 >> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2000, Elswick Lead Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
4116
DAY1
05
District
Newcastle
Easting
424290
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SW
MONTH1
01
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
563160
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Elswick
Description
The lead works (HER ref. 4116) site office, if it survives inside the later rebuilding, is probably the oldest upstanding structure on the site. It appears to have lain in the residential part of the original 2 acre site, and is apparently shown on the earliest map available of the site. It may have originally been built a a house rather than an office.
Site Type: Broad
Metal Industry Site
SITEDESC
The lead works (SMR 4116) site office, if it survives inside the later rebuilding, is probably the oldest upstanding structure on the site. It appears to have lain in the residential part of the original 2 acre site, and is apparently shown on the earliest map available of the site. It may have originally been housing rather than an office {1}.
Site Name
Lead Works Office
Site Type: Specific
Lead Working Site
HER Number
4899
Form of Evidence
Extant Building
Sources
<< HER 4899 >> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2000, Elswick Lead Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2001