There is/was ridge and furrow in various places in the township of Weetslade, notably at High Weetslade, Unthank Tack (NZ 2592 7308), East Wideopen, North Bottoms (NZ 2510 7285), Wideopen Field (NZ 2468 7268), Seaton Burn Hall (NZ 2516 7304 to NZ 2505 7348) and High Barnes (NZ 2515 7390, 2537 7391). The 2 fields south of High Barnes have very wide, curved, ridges - among the best in Tyne and Wear. Two systems of ridge and furrow north of East Wideopen Farm were recorded by TWM in 2012. The two field systems consisted of one system orientated north-south and system 2 east-west. The ridges of system 1 were spaced at average intervals of 6m, the ridges themselves measured approx 4.9-5.4m in width to a height of 0.16m. System 2 was more widely spaced that 1 with ridges at average intervals of 6.5m up to a max of 8.8m. The ridges measured approximately 6m in width to a height of 0.16m.

Aerial photographs provide evidence of ridge and furrow having existed in the two fields south of Burradon Farm, at High Garth (NZ 2757 7298) amd Malt Pool Close (NZ 2767 7283). Ridge and furrow also remains as slight earthworks west of the farm in New Intake (NZ 2749 7300). The first two fields are now arable.

In 1320 Henry Faukes of West Backworth granted to Tynemouth Priory a right of way for their carts to carry roofing slates from their quarries at West Backworth at all times of year.

The well is known from a medieval document containing the following information: "In 1256 Geoffrey of Weetslade came to an agreement with Roger Bertram, a minor, and Agnes his mother, concerning their rights of common in Weetslade and Mason (Merdesfen) respectively. The Bertrams remitted to Geoffrey their right of common in Weetslade, saving right of access to the well at Thurspottes".

Weetslade was a member of the barony of Morpeth or Merlay, and in/by the 13th century was split, so that in 1242 there were at least 2 parts, North and South Weetslade. The lay subsidy rolls of 1296 and 1312 showed North Weetslade to be slightly the larger of the two, having 5 taxpayers in 1296 and 7 in 1312. Wrathmell cites evidence for 4 messuages in 1657, 2 messuages and 6 cottages in 1748, and suggests an 18th century dispersal of the tenants to Greens and High Barnes to allow enclosure to proceed. He therefore classes it as a DMV, and prefers the site of the erstwhile farm of Low Weetslade at NZ 262 737. Tomaney suggests as an alternative location the field once called Town Steads, with possible cropmarks, at NZ 256 733.

Weetslade was a member of the barony of Morpeth or Merlay, and in/by the 13th century was split, so that in 1242 there were at least 2 parts, North and South Weetslade. The lay subsidy rolls of 1296 and 1312 showed South Weetslade to be the smaller of the two, with only 4 taxpayers. Wrathmell cites a reference to the villata of South Weetslade in 1517, but there is no other information available about the settlement. He locates it at the modern farm of High Weetslade, where there is a field of surviving ridge & furrow next to the former colliery.

It seems that there were certainly two Backworths in 1189 when Richard I confirmed Tynemouth Priory in possession of their lands, and there is explicit mention of both East and West Backworth in 1306. The lay subsidy roll of 1296 records 4 taxpayers here. The village still existed in 1353, but was deserted by the 16th century, not appearing in the Dissolution survey. Wrathmell suggests that it lost its identity in the priory's reorganization of their estates in the 15th century. Aerial photographs seem to show a row of crofts along each side of an east-west street, but this is not clear on the ground where there is prominent but disturbed ridge and furrow, and no trace of a two-row village plan. SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT

Ridge and furrow survives as earthworks in pasture in fields north-west and south-east of Murton, notably at NZ 3270 7095, 3295 7071, 3302 7061 and 3290 7041. The aerial photographs also suggest the presence of other features, perhaps bell pits. At NZ 3298 7053 there is a small enclosure, with earthworks, perhaps ridge and furrow and the remains of Murton Cottage.

The 1415 list of castles and fortalices in Northumberland includes "turris de Wittslad iuxt mare". Bates located this at Weetslade in Long Benton parish, but Dodds objected on the grounds that Weetslade is not by the sea. There is no further information.

Late 13th century references in the assize rolls to an action between the rector of Benton and the chaplain of North Weetslade provide just enough documentary evidence to show that there was a medieval chapel here. There was no incumbent "in the free chapel of Weetslade" in 1548, and in c. 1715 Warburton wrote, "Witchled...where formerly was an old chapel". The site is unknown.