Whitley Pit (Coal). A shaft is shown within the site on 1st edition OS mapping. Coal mining was occurring in Whitley in the 1660s, because salt pans at Cullercoats were fired by coal from Whitley. The exact location of the Whitley mines of this period is unclear. In the C17 the Whitley collieries were expanded, connected to the coast by wooden wagonways. The coal industry declined when six salt pans were transferred to Blyth. Whitley Colliery was rejuvenated in the C19, re-opening in 1810. A Pit was sunk in 1817, and Engine Pit in 1819. The colliery was owned by J. Carr and others. The colliery was worked in conjunction with a quarry at Marden, where it fired the lime kilns. Whitley Bay expanded as a settlement for local colliers and workers.

Toll Road from Newcastle to North Shields and Tynemouth. The end point in Tynemouth is unclear but appears to be around NZ 3648 6903, close to Tynemouth Turnpike Toll House, (HER 2047) which lay on this road as did the Percy Main Turnpike.(HER 2011), near the junction with another road into North Shields (HER 2012) and Hawkey's Lane T.P.(HER 2008) {1}. Shields Road in Byker was one section of the Newcastle to North Shields Turnpike. Although no date for its opening is available, it seems likely to have been quite early - by 1776. It was a very important route until it was superseded by the Newcastle to Shields Railway in 1839. One Toll House was situated at the bottom of Byker Bank and another possibly on Shields Road {3}.

Willington Viaduct, on the North Eastern Railway, Tynemouth Branch, (SMR 1186). Completed for the Newcastle and North Shields Railway in 1839, by John and Benjamin Green of Newcastle. The viaduct was unusual in being of laminated timber arch construction to the Wiebeking System. It has seven spans of up to 128 ft to the centres, the track height is 82 ft above the foundations. The original arches consisted of 14 layers of timber 22" x 3.5" held by trenails, the viaduct being built by Messrs Robson. The timber arches were replaced with iron in 1869, the contractors being the Weardale Iron and Coal Company.

The 1st edition OS mapping shows boilers and a reservoir within the site. Willington Colliery was opened in 1806 by Messrs Bell & Co. The colliery contributed to the running costs of the Friar's Goose Engine in Gateshead which pumped water out of the workings on either side of the Tyne (see HER 1012). Drawn by Thomas Hair in 1844. There were several other associated pits - Edward Pit (HER 1165), High Pit, Millbank Pit (HER 1170), Richard Pit (HER 281 690) and Venture Pit.

Wagonway, branches from Killingworth Wagonway at NZ 3087 6644. The southern limit is unclear from the 1st edition 6" OS mapping.

Wagonway, from North Eastern Railway Tynemouth Branch, (SMR 1186) to Wallsend Iron Works, (SMR 2098).

North Eastern Railway, Tynemouth Branch. After two unsuccessful proposals caused by opposition from rivermen and coach owners, an Act of Parliament in June 1836 gave consent for a railway line between Newcastle (Pilgrim Street) and North Shields. Built by Robert Nicholson it cost £160,000 and included Ouseburn Viaduct, a 103 yard tunnel near Pilgrim Street, an 80ft embankment at Pandon Dene and a three quarters of a mile cutting at Heaton. And the Willington Dene Bridge. The opening ceremony was on 22 June 1839. The journey from the temporary Carliol Square Terminus was in open coaches pulled by the first two engines of the Newcastle and North Tyneside Railway - "Wellington" and "Hotspur". Eleven years later both the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway and the Newcastle and North Tyneside Railway transferred to Newcastle Central Station, so the Pilgrim Street terminus was never built. In 1846 the YN & BR absorbed the N & NTR and in 1854 became the North Eastern Railway. The Newcastle to North Shields line included Howdon Station and Willington Viaduct, (SMR 1175, 1190). The line reached North Shields and Tynemouth in 1847. In 1847 as part of the Newcastle & Berwick Railway it was extended to the terminus at Oxford Road, Tynemouth (SMR 2046). In 1904 this line became the first in the country to operate electric trains. The 15 minute service only initially went from New Bridge Street to Benton Station, but later that year it covered the whole 20 mile loop to Tynemouth.

Viaduct, carried Willington Wagonway (SMR 1164) over Willington Dean. Built around 1820 when the Wagonway was laid, this was a timber structure on stone pillars.

Wallsend Viaduct, carries Killingworth Wagonway (SMR 1083) over Wallsend Burn.

Wallsend Turnpike with what appears to be a Toll Gate on 1st edition OS mapping.