Shown on 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. A building recording which included several buildings on Coquet Street was carried out by Alan Williams in 2009. Some buildings contained remnants of the tannery and leather works. The buildings which stood in 2009 all post dated the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map with many 20th century in date.
SITEASS
Tanning is the conversion of animal hides and skins into leather by soaking them in a liquid containing tannin. Tanning was carried out in tanyards - open sided buildings with many large pits in which the hides were treated. Hair and wool was cleaned by soaking the hides in milk of lime. The pelts were then soaked in tannin (a vegetable material found in the bark of birch, elm, hemlock, larch, oak , spruce and willow). The bark is ground to a powder in a bark mill, then soaked in water for six to eight weeks to extract the tannic acid (leaching). The pelts were soaked for up to ten months in 'layer pits' containing tannin of different strength, starting with the weakest solution first, with pieces of oak bark between each pelt. After soaking, the pelts, now leather were then hand scrubbed and rolled with a weighted hand roller. In C19 wood-lined tanning drums were introduced to replace hand scrubbing. At the end of the century chromium was used to produce chrome leathers. The leather could be dyed by a currier (William Jones, 1996, Dictionary of Industrial Archaeology).
Site Type: Broad
Leather Industry Site
SITEDESC
Shown on 1st edition Ordnance Survey map as a grid of tanning pits. The Stepney Tannery was one of a number which developed around the Ouseburn on the back of the large scale facilities for slaughtering cattle which had been shipped in to the Ouseburn from elsewhere. Map analysis suggests that most of the tannery buildings were demolished in the 1930s when the tannery closed. A building recording which included several buildings on Coquet Street was carried out by Alan Williams in 2009. Some buildings contained remnants of the tannery and leather works. The buildings which stood in 2009 all post dated the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map with many 20th century in date.
Site Name
Stepney Tannery, Stepney Bank
Site Type: Specific
Tannery
HER Number
5455
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 5455 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1850, Alan Williams Archaeology, 2009, Coquet Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Historic Building Recording; Alan Williams Archaeology, 2009, Coquet Street, Newcastle upon Tyne - Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2003
YEAR2
2014
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
07
District
Newcastle
Easting
425870
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SE
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
564560
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Victorian 1837 to 1901
Place
Newcastle
Description
A saw mill and timber yard is shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map.
SITEASS
Saw mills replaced saw pits, and were water powered at first. Mechanised sawing was by frame saws which imitated the action of the old sawpit using straight rip saws. Later circular saws came into use (William Jones, 1996, Dictionary of Industrial Archaeology).
Site Type: Broad
Wood Processing Site
SITEDESC
A saw mill and timber yard is shown on 1st edition Ordnance Survey map.
Site Name
Register Street, Saw mill & timber yard
Site Type: Specific
Saw Mill
HER Number
5454
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 5454 >> 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, 1850
YEAR1
2003
English, British
AREA_STAT
Conservation Area
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
07
District
Newcastle
Easting
426240
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SE
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
564410
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Ouseburn
Description
Lime kiln shown on Oliver's plan of 1830. Not shown on Oliver's 1844 plan or the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. The lime kiln was built into the bank of the Ouseburn and was served by keels for lime and coal. In 1827 MacKenzie commented that "the burning of limestone is not only a great nuisence to the neighbourhood but also dangerous to passengers riding past. It is hoped that the Corporation will remove a work so disagreeable and dangerous".
SITEASS
Lime kiln - stone or brick structure for calcining brooken limestone to make powdered quicklime for agricultural, construction and industrial uses. Limestone was broken up and fed into the top of the kiln onto a charcoal fire. After burning, the powdered lime was raked out through an opening at the front of the kiln. By the early C20 bulk production using machinery for crushing the stone and burning it in Hoffman kilns saw the demise of lime kilns (William Jones, 1996, Dictionary of Industrial Archaeology, AB Searle, 1935, Limestone and its products, R. Williams, 1990, Lime kilns and limeburning, Shire Publications).
Site Type: Broad
Chemical Industry Site
SITEDESC
Lime kiln shown on Oliver's plan of 1830. Not shown on Oliver's 1844 plan or 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. The lime kiln was built into the bank of the Ouseburn and was served by keels for lime and coal. In 1827 MacKenzie commented that "the burning of limestone is not only a great nuisence to the neighbourhood but also dangerous to passengers riding past. It is hoped that the Corporation will remove a work so disagreeable and dangerous".
Site Name
Lime Street, Lime Kiln
Site Type: Specific
Lime Kiln
HER Number
5453
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 5453 >> T. Oliver, 1830, Plan of Newcastle upon Tyne
Wardell Armstrong, 2003, 7-17 Lime Street, Archaeological Assessment
Ouseburn Heritage, Issue 1, p 4
MacKenzie, 1827, History of Newcastle
YEAR1
2003
English, British
AREA_STAT
Conservation Area
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
963, 2582
DAY1
06
District
S Tyneside
Easting
438100
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ36SE
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
562200
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Place
Cleadon
Description
Five burials were found near Cleadon Tower in 1927. Wawn suggests that they were members of the Chambers family of Cleadon House, who had a dispute with the Bishop of Durham, which led to their excommunication. As excommunicants, they would have been denied the right to burial in consecrated ground. The burials may have been exhumed from a small gravel pit close to Cleadon House (HER 2582).
Site Type: Broad
Burial
SITEDESC
Five burials were found near Cleadon Tower in 1927. Wawn suggests that they were members of the Chambers family of Cleadon House, who had a dispute with the Bishop of Durham, which led to their excommunication. As excommunicants, they would have been denied the right to burial in consecrated ground. The burials may have been exhumed from a small gravel pit close to Cleadon House (HER 2582).
Site Name
Cleadon, five human burials
Site Type: Specific
Inhumation
HER Number
5452
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 5452 >> John Mabbitt, Tyne and Wear Museums, 2003, 2-4 Sunderland Road, Cleadon, Archaeological Assessment
W. Hutchinson, 1785, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham, Volume 2
D. Wawn, Cleadon, County Durham: Notes on its Antiquities
YEAR1
2003
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
COMP2
Claire MacRae
DAY1
22
DAY2
30
District
Newcastle
Easting
425970
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26SE
MONTH1
08
MONTH2
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
564550
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Ouseburn
Description
At the western end of Stepney Pottery (HER 5281) on Stepney Bank stood a five-sailed windmill. The operator was listed in a 1858 directory as a sand miller. The mill was possibly designed by the famous engineer Smeaton. The site was cleared for the building of Byker Bridge.
Site Type: Broad
Power Generation Site
SITEDESC
At the western end of Stepney Pottery (HER 5281) on Stepney Bank stood a five-sailed windmill. Shown on Donkin's survey of 1767 and as "Stepney wind mill" on Wood's plan of 1827. The operator was listed in a 1858 directory as a sand miller. The mill was possibly designed by the famous engineer Smeaton. The windmill is last depicted on the First Edition Plan, 1859. The site was cleared for the building of Byker Bridge.
Site Name
Stepney Bank, windmill
Site Type: Specific
Windmill
HER Number
5451
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 5451 >> I. Ayris, Ouseburn Heritage, p 22; The Archaeological Practice Ltd. 2008, Stepney Bank, Newcastle upon Tyne - Archaeological Assessment
YEAR1
2003
YEAR2
2015
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
06
District
Newcastle
Easting
414000
Grid ref figure
4
Map Sheet
NZ16NW
MATERIAL
Bronze
MONTH1
08
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
566000
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Place
Throckley
Description
First and 2nd edition Ordnance Survey maps record the finding of a bronze axe head at the foot of Throckley Bank.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
First and second edition OS maps record the finding of a bronze axe head at the foot of Throckley Bank.
Site Name
Throckley Bank, bronze axe head
Site Type: Specific
Axe
HER Number
5450
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 5450 >> T. Frain, 2002, Tyne and Wear Museums, Throckley Water Treatment Works, Archaeological Assessment, p 8
YEAR1
2003
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
5445
DAY1
19
District
N Tyneside
Easting
425980
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ27SE
MONTH1
06
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
572100
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
20th Century 1901 to 2000
Place
Weetslade
Description
Rare surviving example of a modern component of collieries in the north-east region. Although some examples are known as early as 1911, such facilities were routinely provided only after the establishment in 1926 of a fund for the purpose of building pit-head baths. The fund was founded with the intention of providing baths to all pits by 1945, though in fact only one third of all pits had been equipped in this way by the time of nationalisation. The Weetslade baths are one of only three examples known to survive locally. These may be the only such structures dating from the period 1930-60 to survive in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
Site Type: Broad
Mine Building
SITEDESC
Rare surviving example of a modern component of collieries in the north-east region. Although some examples are known as early as 1911, such facilities were routinely provided only after the establishment in 1926 of a fund for the purpose of building pit-head baths. The fund was founded with the intention of providing baths to all pits by 1945, though in fact only one third of all pits had been equipped in this way by the time of nationalisation. The Weetslade baths are one of only three examples known to survive locally. These may be the only such structures dating from the period 1930-60 to survive in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map of 1961-2 indicates that only half of the extant building formed the baths, but it is not clear whether it was the eastern or western half.
Site Name
Weetslade Colliery, Pit Head Baths
Site Type: Specific
Pithead Baths
HER Number
5449
Form of Evidence
Extant Building
Sources
<< HER 5449 >> The Archaeological Practice, 2000, Weetslade Colliery, Archaeological Assessment
1977, Northumberland Mining Records Survey, List of collieries in Northumberland, 1900-77, Northumberland Records Office
J.T. Tuck, 1993, The Collieries of Northumberland, Vol 1, p 44
19th century Map of collieries in Northumberland region, Northumberland Records Office, 438 G/7
20th century Map of the Northumberland Coalfield, Northumberland Records Office, 17
3rd edition Ordnance Survey map, 1920, Northumberland LXXXVI
5th edition Ordnance Survey map, 1951, 1:10,560 scale
7th edition Ordnance Survey map, 1958, 1:63,360 scale
6th edition Ordnance Survey map, 1962, 1:2,500 scale
7th edition Ordnance Survey map, 1976, 1:10,560 scale
Aerial Photograph, 1970, Ref. 69/344, no. 384
1991, Drawing of colliery site a decade after abandonment, SGS Drawing no. D202 Pl. 1 (7/9/91)
SURVIVAL
100%
YEAR1
2003
English, British
Class
Transport
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
CONDITION
Fair
DAY1
19
District
N Tyneside
Easting
424880
EASTING2
2615
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ27SE
MONTH1
06
Grid Reference
NZ
NGR2
NZ
Northing
572450
NORTHING2
7273
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Weetslade
Description
A bridleway, an officially designated Public Right of Way, crosses the site of Weetslade Colliery to the south of the main spoil heap (HER 5446). The course of this bridleway appears to be on the earliest maps of the area, including the late 18th century (NRO Zan M17/197a/51) and appears fixed by 1852 (NRO 404/380).
Site Type: Broad
Road Transport Site
SITEDESC
A bridleway, an officially designated Public Right of Way, crosses the site of Weetslade Colliery to the south of the main spoil heap (SMR 5446). The course of this bridleway appears to be on the earliest maps of the area, including the late 18th century (NRO Zan M17/197a/51) and appears fixed by 1852 (NRO 404/380).
Site Name
Weetslade Colliery, Bridleway
Site Type: Specific
Bridleway
SITE_STAT
Public Right of Way
HER Number
5448
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 5448 >> The Archaeological Practice, 2000, Weetslade Colliery, Archaeological Assessment;
Plan - ref. C188 of Weetslade estate, Northumberland Records Office, (D) ZAN M17/197a/51
SURVIVAL
100%
YEAR1
2003
English, British
Class
Transport
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
CONDITION
Fair
Crossref
1065
DAY1
19
District
N Tyneside
Easting
424880
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ27SE
MONTH1
06
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
572420
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Weetslade
Description
Small metal bridge, probably early 19th century, spanning a cut through the embankment of the Brunton and Shields Railway/Seatonburn Wagonway (HER 1065).
Site Type: Broad
Bridge
SITEDESC
Small metal bridge, probably early C19, spanning a cut through the embankment of the Brunton and Shields Railway/Seatonburn Wagonway (SMR 1065).
Site Name
Weetslade Colliery, Metal Bridge
Site Type: Specific
Bridge
HER Number
5447
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 5447 >> The Archaeological Practice, 2000, Weetslade Colliery, Archaeological Assessment
SURVIVAL
100%
YEAR1
2003
English, British
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
5445
DAY1
19
District
N Tyneside
Easting
425470
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ27SE
MONTH1
06
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
572640
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
20th Century 1901 to 2000
Place
Weetslade
Description
There are three spoil heaps at Weetslade (NZ 2547 7264, NZ 2542 7214, NZ 2570 7210). The main one, which rises up to 25 metres high, is a prominent landscape feature visible from Newcastle city centre and from all surrounding routeways. The mine first appears on Ordnance Survey third edition of 1920, and at that time there was only a spoil heap south of the pit, fed by sidings. By 1951 the spoil heaps had grown in a non-homogenous manner to the west, east and north of their earlier range. The large northern spoil heap is recorded in its incipient phase on Ordnance Survey seventh edition of 1958. By 1966 this had reached about 30% of its final extent. All spoil heaps incorporate associated features such as railways, trackways and roads. The large flat-top spoil heap incorporates a wider range of features including a plateau-like summit, drainage ditch along the south side, terraced flat top with a discrete cairn at the south west side, the remains of a former wagonway in the form of partially buried sleepers, a deep hollow-way running into the centre of the summit from the south and a road running up to the peak from the south-east.
SITEASS
Well-preserved examples of such flat-top spoil heaps are becoming increasingly rare, and in the assessment of English Heritage, have attained a status of some regional and national importance (MPP 1992).
Site Type: Broad
Mining Industry Site
SITEDESC
There are three spoil heaps at Weetslade (NZ 2547 7264, NZ 2542 7214, NZ 2570 7210). The main one, which rises up to 25m high, is a prominent landscape feature visible from Newcastle city centre and from all surrounding routeways. The mine first appears on OS third edition of 1920, and at that time there was only a spoil heap south of the pit, fed by sidings. By 1951 the spoil heaps had grown in a non-homogenous manner to the west, east and north of their earlier range. The large northern spoil heap is recorded in its incipient phase on OS seventh edition of 1958. By 1966 this had reached about 30% of its final extent. All spoil heaps incorporate associated features such as railways, trackways and roads. The large flat-top spoil heap incorporates a wider range of features including a plateau-like summit, drainage ditch along the south side, terraced flat top with a discrete cairn at the south west side, the remains of a former wagonway in the form of partially buried sleepers, a deep hollow-way running into the centre of the summit from the south and a road running up to the peak from the south-east.
Site Name
Weetslade Colliery, Spoil heaps
Site Type: Specific
Spoil Heap
HER Number
5446
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 5446 >> The Archaeological Practice, 2000, Weetslade Colliery, Archaeological Assessment
1977, Northumberland Mining Records Survey, List of collieries in Northumberland, 1900-77, Northumberland Records Office
J.T. Tuck, 1993, The Collieries of Northumberland, Vol 1, p 44
19th century Map of collieries in Northumberland region, Northumberland Records Office, 438 G/7
20th century Map of the Northumberland Coalfield, Northumberland Records Office, 17
4th edition Ordnance Survey map, 1962, 1:2,500 scale
4th edition Ordnance Survey map, 1976, 1:10,560 scale
Aerial Photograph, 1970, Aerial Photograph, 69/344, no. 384
1991, Drawing of colliery site a decade after abandonment, SGS Drawing no. D202 Pl. 1 (7/9/91)