On 26 Jan. 1887 R. Blair exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle "a Neolithic Flint Axe", 6 1/8 inches long x 2 inches broad, "found in a ballast hill at South Shields now in course of removal". The findspot is vague. In 1923 W.P. Brewis announced the donation to the Society of the Blair collection, which included "a flint spearhead from a local ballast heap", but no other flint object of note. Brewis conflated the 2 published references, thus equating the 2 objects, and the Ordnance Survey record followed suit.
SITEASS
The findspot is vague. The OS suggests "the ballast hill situated at NZ 3614 6743, which is the only one in South Shields", though hardly likely to be on a modern map if being removed in 1887. Miket's 6 figure ref is a spot in the Tyne.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
On 26 Jan. 1887 R. Blair exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle "a Neolithic Flint Axe", 6 1/8 in long x 2 in broad, "found in a ballast hill at South Shields now in course of removal". In 1923 W.P. Brewis announced the donation to the Society of the Blair collection, which included "a flint spearhead from a local ballast heap", but no other flint object of note. Brewis conflated the 2 published references, thus equating the 2 objects, and the OS followed suit. Miket kept them separate, and achieved different dimensions, presumably because he actually measured the spearhead, but merely converted the figures for the axe.
Site Name
South Shields, flint spearhead or axe
Site Type: Specific
Spearhead
HER Number
838
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 838 >> R. Blair, 1889, Exhibited, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 2, III (for 1887-8), p. 3
W.P. Brewis, 1925, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 4, I (for 1923-4), pp. 122, 186
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Neolithic axe/spearhead
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 80 no. 3, p. 81 no. 7
YEAR1
1992
YEAR2
2021
English, British
AREA_STAT
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
26
DAY2
15
District
S Tyneside
Easting
438400
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
10
MONTH2
12
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
566700
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Prehistoric -1,000 000 to 43
Place
Trow Rocks
Description
Gibbs recorded the discovery of "flakes and chips" from Trow Rocks, "in light boulder clay, with a patch of red sandy clay above it". These are assumed lost, but an unknown number of flints from Trow Rocks are in the Wilf Dodds Collection now in the Bowes Museum.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
Gibbs recorded the discovery of "flakes and chips" from Trow Rocks, "in light boulder clay, with a patch of red sandy clay above it". Miket dod not add to this, and Young assumed they were lost. An unknown number of flints from Trow Rocks are in the Wilf Dodds Collection now in the Bowes Museum.
Site Name
Trow Rocks, flint flakes
Site Type: Specific
Flake
HER Number
837
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 837 >> G.B. Gibbs, 1939, Neolithic Man in County Durham, Antiquities of Sunderland, XIX (for 1929-32), 23
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 82 no. 14
R. Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, p. 188 F 61
Pers comm. J. Pickin, 1991, Mesolithic flints from Monkwearmouth -Historic Environment Record
YEAR1
1992
YEAR2
1992
English, British
AREA_STAT
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
26
District
S Tyneside
Easting
438300
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
566700
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Prehistoric -1,000 000 to 43
Place
South Shields
Description
Gibbs recorded the discovery of a flint flake on a stack at Target Rock, "close to Trow Rocks, in a thin layer of clay on top". Its present location is obscure.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
Gibbs recorded the discovery of a flint flake on a stack at Target Rock, "close to Trow Rocks, in a thin layer of clay on top". Young could not trace this piece and assumed it was lost; Miket declared it to have been found in 1904, and to have a bulb, and gave it a museum accession number.
Site Name
Target Rock, flint flake
Site Type: Specific
Flake
HER Number
836
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 836 >> G.B. Gibbs, 1939, Neolithic Man in County Durham, Antiquities of Sunderland, XIX (for 1929-32), 23
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 81 no. 9
R. Young, 1987, Lithics and Subsistence in North-Eastern England, British Archaeological Report, British Series, p. 295 F 180
YEAR1
1992
English, British
AREA_STAT
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
832,834,835
DAY1
26
District
S Tyneside
Easting
438400
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 10
Northing
566700
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Place
Trow Rocks
Description
In 1873, after workmen had discovered a cist in the Trow Rocks barrow, the site was investigated by Greenwell. "At the centre was a cist, consisting of six stones set on edge, two on each side and one at each end, with two cover- stones; some thin pieces of stone were set on the side stones to make the top level and to support the covers. The cist lay north north-west and south south-east, and was 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 1 feet 10 inches deep, sunk into the clay which there overlies the limestone, the covers being on the level of the natural surface". The cist contained a crouched inhumation, "a skeleton, apparently of a man, very much decayed, laid on the right side, with the head to south-east...", some pieces of charcoal and a flint knife, made from an outside flake, and measuring 2 3/8 inches long and 1 1/4 inches wide. "The slabs of the cist, which were of marl, were removed to the residence of the late Mr. P.J. Messent, then engineer to the Tyne Commissioners, at Tynemouth".
Site Type: Broad
Cist
SITEDESC
In 1873, after workmen had discovered a cist in the Trow Rocks barrow, the site was investigated by Greenwell. "At the centre was a cist, consisting of six stones set on edge, two on each side and one at each end, with two cover- stones; some thin pieces of stone were set on the side stones to make the top level and to support the covers. The cist lay NNW and SSE, and was 4 ft long, 2 ft wide, and 1 ft 10 in deep, sunk into the clay which there overlies the limestone, the covers being on the level of the natural surface". The cist contained a crouched inhumation, some pieces of charcoal and a flint knife. "The slabs of the cist, which were of marl, were removed to the residence of the late Mr. P.J. Messent, then engineer to the Tyne Commissioners, at Tynemouth".
Site Name
Trow Rocks barrow, inhumation
Site Type: Specific
Cist
HER Number
833
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 833 >> South Shields Gazette, 1873, 14 March
W. Greenwell, 1877, British Barrows, 442
Transactions Architectectural & Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, 1890, A Prae-Historic Cist Burial at Sacriston, III, 183
G.B. Hodgson, 1903, The Borough of South Shields, 9
W. Page, ed. 1905, Early Man, Victoria County History, Durham, I, 208
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 80 no. 1
SURVIVAL
0
YEAR1
1992
English, British
AREA_STAT
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
833,834,835
DAY1
26
DAY2
02
District
S Tyneside
Easting
438400
Grid ref figure
6
Map Sheet
NZ36NE
MONTH1
10
MONTH2
2
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NE 10
Northing
566700
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Bronze Age -2,600 to -700
Place
Trow Rocks
Description
There was once a barrow on the "level plain known as the Rock Tops, overlooking Trow Rocks, "almost on the edge of the magnesian limestone cliff above the sea and about 1 mile south of the River Tyne". It was 30 feet in diameter, 3 feet high and made of earth with some stones. In 1873 the cist it contained was discovered by some workmen and, as a consequence, the site was investigated by Greenwell. Both barrow and cist was then removed by the quarrying operations of the Tyne Commissioners.
SITEASS
Trow Point was assessed by Archaeological Research Services in 2010 for Phase 2 of North East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment. At Trow Point a coastal erosion rate of 0.2m per year has been recorded. NERCZA recommends that the cliff face is allowed to retreat. However any remaining evidence of the barrow will soon be lost at this rate of erosion. The walkover survey in 2010 aimed to ascertain if the barrow is suffering active erosion, to evaluate the present level of threat to the barrow and the nature of the threat, to determine whether there are other visible features associated with the barrow and the extent to which such features are subject to or at risk from erosion and to record the present extent and condition of the barrow. The initial walkover survey suggested that it was unlikely that any evidence of the barrow survived. There are numerous earthworks on the top of Trow Point but it is unlikely that any of these relate to the prehistoric period. The exact location of the barrow and cist burial has now been lost. The survey revealed no definitive evidence of prehistoric activity. One sub-circular earthwork was recorded on the southern edge of the Point, but this was highly truncated by military earthworks, and it could relate to quarrying or early military activity. This earthwork is therefore only a tentative proposal for the barrow. It is more likely that the barrow is now lost. There was an OS trigonometric point at Trow Point in the 19th century. This is now lost. It is possible that the trig point was located on the barrow (as at Hasting Hill).
Site Type: Broad
Barrow
SITEDESC
There was once a barrow on the "level plain known as the Rock Tops, overlooking Trow Rocks, "almost on the edge of the magnesian limestone cliff above the sea and about 1 mile south of the River Tyne". It was 30 ft in diameter, 3 ft high and made of earth with some stones. In 1873 the cist it contained was discovered by some workmen and, as a consequence, the site was investigated by Greenwell. Both barrow and cist was then removed by the quarrying operations of the Tyne Commissioners. Recorded by Phase 2 of the North East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment. Recorded as large sub circular earthwork, at risk of slumping. Exposed sediments. Risk = high. Threat level 8.
Site Name
Trow Rocks barrow
Site Type: Specific
Round Barrow
HER Number
832
Form of Evidence
Levelled Earthwork
Sources
<< HER 832 >> South Shields Gazette, 1873, 14 March
W. Greenwell, 1877, British Barrows, 442
G.B. Hodgson,1903, The Borough of South Shields, 9
W. Page, ed. 1905, Early Man, Victoria County History, Durham, I, 208
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 80 no. 1; Archaeological Research Services, 2010, Phase 2 North East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment, Project Record Number 132
SURVIVAL
None
YEAR1
1992
YEAR2
1995
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
26
District
S Tyneside
Easting
433000
Grid ref figure
4
Map Sheet
NZ36NW
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
565000
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Later Prehistoric -4,000 to 43
Place
Jarrow
Description
A fine flint axe, 155 mm long, 50 mm broad, was found in the town of Jarrow about the end of 1886. There are no further details. It is not clear from this minimal description as to whether the axe was polished, partly polished or a roughout.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
A fine flint axe, 155 mm long, 50 mm broad, was found in the town of Jarrow itself about the end of 1886. There are no further details. It is not clear from this minimal description as to whether the axe was polished/partly polished/a roughout.
Site Name
Jarrow, flint axe
Site Type: Specific
Axe
HER Number
831
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 831 >> G.B. Hodgson,1903, The Borough of South Shields
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 78 no. 5
SURVIVAL
0
YEAR1
1992
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Barbara Harbottle
DAY1
27
DAY2
07
District
S Tyneside
Easting
434000
Grid ref figure
4
Map Sheet
NZ36NW
MATERIAL
Flint
MONTH1
10
MONTH2
5
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 36 NW 5
Northing
565000
General Period
PREHISTORIC
Specific Period
Prehistoric -1,000 000 to 43
Place
Jarrow
Description
In 1887 T. Hodgkin, secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, reported that his son had found a worked flint at Jarrow, 2.5 inches long, while on an antiquarian pilgrimage. In 1903 G.B. Hodgson reported that "A worked flint, 2.25 inches long, was discovered near Jarrow Slake, in the early eighties...". The two objects may be the same.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
In 1887 T. Hodgkin, secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, reported that his son had found a worked flint at Jarrow, 2.5 in long, while on an antiquarian pilgrimage. In 1903 G.B. Hodgson reported that "A worked flint, 2.25 inches long, was discovered near Jarrow Slake, in the early eighties...". The OS and Miket both cite Hodgson for this entry. Is Hodgkin's object also Hodgson's?
Site Name
Jarrow Slake, flint flake
Site Type: Specific
Flake
HER Number
830
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 830 >> T. Hodgkin, 1889, 2, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, III (for 1887-8), 174
G.B. Hodgson, 1903, The Borough of South Shields, 9
R. Miket, 1984, The Prehistory of Tyne and Wear, p. 78 no. 4
SURVIVAL
0
YEAR1
1992
YEAR2
1993
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
806,822
DAY1
23
District
Newcastle
Easting
429000
Grid ref figure
4
Map Sheet
NZ26NE
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
565000
General Period
ROMAN
Specific Period
Roman 43 to 410
Place
Wallsend
Description
The fragment of a bust was recorded by Brand as having been seen, before 1789, in a field west of the fort at Wallsend, and between Stotes Houses and the River Tyne. Now lost. It is not known whether the bust was in the round or in relief, whether it was really a bust and not a head broken from a statue and whom it represented, but in view of its findspot it may have been a Mercury - like HER no. 822, part of which was probably found in this vicinity.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
The fragment of a bust was recorded by Brand as having been seen, before 1789, in a field west of the fort at Wallsend, and between Stotes Houses and the River Tyne. Now lost. It is not known whether the bust was in the round or in relief, whether it was really a bust and not a head broken from a statue and whom it represented, but in view of its findspot it may have been a Mercury, (cf. SMR 822, part of which was probably found in this vicinity). Dated C2-C3.
Site Name
Wallsend vicus, Roman sculpture fragment
Site Type: Specific
Sculpture
HER Number
829
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 829 >> J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, I, 605
E.J. Phillips, 1977, Great Britain, Corpus Signorum Imperii Romani, Vol. I Fasc I no. 314
P.T. Bidwell, N. Holbrook & M.E. Snape, 1991, The Roman Fort at Wallsend and its Environs, p. 5 no. 22
SURVIVAL
0
YEAR1
1992
English, British
Class
Monument <By Form>
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
Crossref
819,827
DAY1
23
District
Newcastle
Easting
429580
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26NE
MATERIAL
Sandstone
MONTH1
10
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
565710
General Period
ROMAN
Specific Period
Roman 43 to 410
Place
Wallsend
Description
A shield with Gorgoneion from a statue of Minerva was found with HER no. 819 in 1892 on the Philiphaugh allotments west of the fort at Wallsend. It is carved in relief in local buff sandstone. The gorgoneion in the shield centre is circular with flat stylized features. On the left of the chin is part of a snake or ribbon. The style of carving is Celtic. The statue of Minerva possibly stood on the parade ground of the fort since it was found with an official dedication to Jupiter Optimus Maximus. An image of a martial goddess would be appropriate in such a context.
Site Type: Broad
Findspot
SITEDESC
A shield with Gorgoneion from a statue of Minerva was found with SMR 819 in 1892 on the Philiphaugh allotments west of the fort at Wallsend. It is carved in relief in local buff sandstone. The gorgoneion in the shield centre is circular with flat stylized features. On the left of the chin is part of a snake or ribbon. The style of carving is Celtic. The statue of Minerva possibly stood on the parade ground of the fort since it was found with an official dedication to Jupiter Optimus Maximus. An image of a martial goddess would be appropriate in such a context. Dated C3.
Site Name
Wallsend vicus, Roman sculpture fragment
Site Type: Specific
Sculpture
HER Number
828
Form of Evidence
Find
Sources
<< HER 828 >> R. Blair, 1893, 2, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, V (for 1891-2), 165-6
G.R.B. Spain, ed. 1930, Inscribed and Sculptured Stones, Wallsend, Northumberland County History, XIII, 543 no. 15
T. Kendrick, 1938, Anglo-Saxon Art to A.D. 900, p. 19 and pl. 7
A. Ross, 1960, The Human Head in Insular Pagan Celtic Religion, PSAS, XCI, 27-8
E.J. Phillips, 1977, Great Britain, Corpus Signorum Imperii Romani, Vol. I Fasc I no. 208
P.T. Bidwell, N. Holbrook & M.E. Snape, 1991, The Roman Fort at Wallsend and its Environs, p. 5 no. 21
YEAR1
1992
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Barbara Harbottle
COMP2
Clare Henderson
Crossref
198,806,828
DAY1
22
DAY2
23
District
Newcastle
Easting
429616
Grid ref figure
10
Map Sheet
NZ26NE
MONTH1
10
MONTH2
3
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
565706
General Period
ROMAN
Specific Period
Roman 43 to 410
Place
Wallsend
Description
Phillips suggests that "the statue of Minerva (HER no. 828) possibly stood on the parade ground of the fort, since it was found with an official dedication to Jupiter Optimus Maximus"(HER no. 819) and "an image of a martial goddess would be appropriate in such a context". Both objects were recovered from the Philiphaugh allotments.
Site Type: Broad
Military Training Site
SITEDESC
Phillips suggests that "the statue of Minerva (SMR 828) possibly stood on the parade ground of the fort, since it was found with an official dedication to Jupiter Optimus Maximus"(SMR 819) and "an image of a martial goddess would be appropriate in such a context". Both objects were recovered from the Philiphaugh allotments.
Site Name
Wallsend Fort, parade ground
Site Type: Specific
Parade Ground
HER Number
827
Form of Evidence
Implied Evidence
Sources
<< HER 827 >> G.R.B. Spain, ed. 1930, Inscribed and Sculptured Stones, Wallsend, Northumberland County History, XIII, pp. 541 and 543, nos. 1 and 15
E.J. Phillips, 1977, Great Britain, Corpus Signorum Imperii Romani, Vol. I Fasc. I no. 208
P.T. Bidwell, N. Holbrook & M.E. Snape, 1991, The Roman Fort at Wallsend and its Environs, p. 6