DEWL17

Dewley Hill Surface Mine,

Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne
Earthwork Survey

For Banks Mining Ltd

October 2018

i
 Dewley Hill Surface Mine,
Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne

Headland Archaeology DEWL18

Dewley Hill Surface Mine,

Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne
Earthwork Survey

For Banks Mining Ltd

October 2018

HA Job no.: DEWL17

NGR: NZ 1625 6850
Newburn
Parish:
Washington
Local Authority: Newcastle upon Tyne
Planning ref.: Pre-planning
OASIS ref.: headland5-XXXXXX

Project Manager: Alistair Webb

Author: David Harrison
Fieldwork: David Harrison
Graphics: Rafael Maya Torcelly

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 Dewley Hill Surface Mine,
Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne

Headland Archaeology DEWL18

CONTENTS

1 ....... INTRODUCTION [H1] .............................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Site location, geology and topography [h2] ................................................................................... 1
2 ....... BACKGROUND [H1] ................................................................................................................................ 2
2.1 Previous Research [h2] ................................................................................................................. 2
2.2 Waggonways................................................................................................................................. 3
2.3 The Walbottle Moors Waggonway [h2] ......................................................................................... 3
3 ....... AIMS AND METHODOLOGY AND PRESENTATION [H1] ..................................................................... 3
3.1 Methodology [h2] .......................................................................................................................... 3
4 ....... EARTHWORK SURVEY AND INTERPRETATION [H1] ......................................................................... 4
4.1.1 HER 4272 Greenwich Moor Branch (B1-B3) [h2] ......................................................................... 4
4.1.2 HER 4271 Duke Pit to Cut End (D1 and D3) [h2] ......................................................................... 4
4.1.3 Unnamed pit [h2] ........................................................................................................................... 5
4.1.4 Isolated mound north of Dewley Hill [h2] ...................................................................................... 5
5 ....... DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION [H1] .................................................................................................. 5
6 ....... REFERENCES [H1] ................................................................................................................................. 5

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 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Illus 1 Site location (1:20,000)

Illus 2 Walbottle Moor Waggonway showing branch lines as recorded in the 1992 survey (1:5:000)
Illus 3 Upstanding earthworks recorded within the proposed development area (1:5,000)
Illus 4 LiDAR data (Hillshade at 360°) (1:5,000)
Illus 5 Survey location showing LiDAR data (1:5,000)
Illus 6 B1 – Greenwich Moor Branch and D3 – Hollywell Main Branch (south) (1:1,000)
Illus 7 B1 – Greenwich Moor Branch and D3 – Hollywell Main Branch (south) (1:1,000)
Illus 8 D1 & D3 Hollywell Main Branch (north) (1:1,000)
Illus 9 Route of B2 – Greenwich Main Branch, looking north
Illus 10 Site of Hopewell Pit surviving as a broad area of coal-stained topsoil in foreground, looking north
Illus 11 Route of B1 – Greenwich Moor Branch, as it passes Tommy Pit and Cross Pit, looking north-west
Illus 12 Raised embankment along B1 – Greenwich Moor Branch, looking south-west
Illus 13 Detail of stone facing on raised embankment along B1 – Greenwich Moor Branch, lookinf south-west
Illus 14 B1 – Greenwich Moor Branch, looking south-east
Illus 15 B1 – Greenwich Moor Branch, looking south-east
Illus 16 B1 – Greenwich Moor Branch, looking north-west
Illus 17 B1 – Greenwich Moor Branch, looking south-east
Illus 18-22 Profiles of B1 – Greenwich Moor Branch
Illus 23 Shaft, looking south-east
Illus 24 Surface coal workings surviving as low earthworks, looking south-east
Illus 25 D3 Holywell Main Branch (south), looking north-east
Illus 26 D3 Holywell Main Branch (south), looking south-west
Illus 27 D3 Holywell Main Branch (south), looking south-east
Illus 28-30 Profiles of D3 Holywell Main Branch (south)
Illus 31-34 Profiles of D3 Holywell Main Branch (north)
Illus 35 D3 Holywell Main Branch (north), looking south-west
Illus 36 D3 Holywell Main Branch (north), looking north-east
Illus 37 D3 Holywell Main Branch (north), looking north-east
Illus 38 D3 Holywell Main Branch (north), looking south-west
Illus 39-42 Profiles of D1, Holywell Main Branch
Illus 43 Profile over unnamed pit
Illus 44 D1 Holywell Main Branch, looking south-east
Illus 45 D1 Holywell Main Branch, looking east
Illus 46 D1 Holywell Main Branch, looking west
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 Dewley Hill Surface Mine,
Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne

Headland Archaeology DEWL18

Illus 47 D1 Holywell Main Branch, looking east

Illus 48 Pit head, looking north-east
Illus 49 Surface coal workings, looking south-east
Illus 50 Possible pit/shaft, looking north
Illus 51 Isolated mound, looking west
Illus 52 Isolated mound, looking north-east

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 Dewley Hill Surface Mine,
Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne

Headland Archaeology DEWL18

DEWLEY HILL SURFACE MINE,

THROCKLEY,
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

EARTHWORK SURVEY

Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd undertook an earthwork survey (English Heritage Recording Level 3) at Dewley Hill,
Throckley, to record earthworks associated with a network of 18th century colliery waggonways which pass through the
site of a proposed new open cast coal and fireclay mine. The waggonways form part of the Walbottle Moors Waggonway
which was used to take coal from pits on Throckley Moor, Greenwich Moor and Callerton to staithes at Lemington on the
River Tyne, where the coal was loaded onto ships. The network is significant for its state of preservation with enough
earthworks surviving to illustrate how the system was developed to serve the pits which extend across the proposed
development area and the wider landscape. The survey has recorded sections of the Holywell Main Branch and the
Greenwich Moor Branch as eroded linear earthworks together with an unnamed pit, an infilled mine shaft and low coal
waste mounds. The waggonways only survive as earthworks within the south and east of the site, with isolated spreads
of coal waste in the ploughsoil the only visible evidence of mining activity elsewhere.

1 INTRODUCTION [H1]
Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd was commissioned by
Banks Mining Ltd (the Client), to undertake an
earthwork survey (English Heritage Recording Level 3)
on land at Dewley Hill, Throckley, where an open cast
coal and fireclay mine is proposed. The survey forms
part of a broader evaluation of the site, including desk-
based assessment, geophysical survey, fieldwalking and
trial trench excavation, in order to inform planning
proposals by assessing the heritage potential of the
proposed development area (PDA) and therefore the
impact of the proposed development on the historic
environment. The purpose of the earthwork survey was
to record all upstanding elements of the 18th century
colliery waggonway which crosses the PDA, as well as
any coal pit mounds and other earthworks.
The work was undertaken in accordance with a
Specification (Morrison 2018), which was prepared by
Jennifer Morrison (Newcastle City Council), with
reference to paragraph 141 of the National Planning
Policy Framework (DCLG 2018), Core Strategy Policies
CS15 and UC14 and saved UDP policies C4.2, C4.3, and
with reference to guidelines set out in English Heritage’s
Management of Research Projects in the Historic
Environment (MoRPHE 2006).
The survey was carried out between the 18th and 24th
April 2018 in clear and sunny conditions.
1.1 Site location, geology and
topography [h2]
The PDA occupies an irregular parcel of farmland
covering approximately 112 hectares, centred on NGR
NZ 1625 6850, to the north of the A69 at Throckley (Illus
1). It is currently defined by field boundaries comprising
a mix of hedgerows and post-and-wire fencing. The
B6323 (Ponteland Road) runs immediately adjacent to
the western edge of the PDA, the B6324 (Stamfordham
Road) runs adjacent to the northern edge, and the
eastern and south-eastern edges are defined by
existing field boundaries (Illus 2). Along the south-
western edge of the PDA, the application boundary
turns north, east and then south in order to avoid the
Scheduled area around a prehistoric monument
(Dewley Hill mound, 1018678). The houses, yard and
outbuildings of Dewley Farm lie outside the PDA.
Crescent Farm, on the western edge of the PDA is also
outside the application boundary, which curves east
and north-west to exclude the house, farm buildings
and farmyard. The parish boundary between Newburn
and Woolsington bisects the PDA which is in the
metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear.
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Headland Archaeology
Dewley Burn flows north-south through the western half
of the PDA.
The underlying solid geology comprises north-
east/south-west aligned bands of carboniferous
sedimentary bedrock. In the north-western corner of
the PDA is a band of sandstone. Alongside this is a wide
band of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone underlying
most of the western half of the PDA; these are both part
of the Pennine Lower Coal Measures Formation. In the
eastern half and south-eastern corner, the bedrock
comprises bands of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone
forming part of the Pennine Middle Coal Measures
Formation. Seams of coal are interleaved with the
sandstones and mudstones, and the PDA is within the
Durham and Northumberland coalfield (NERC 2018).
Overlying the bedrock are superficial deposits of glacial
till comprising fine silts, mud and gravels with pockets
of sand and gravel in the north-eastern corner of the
PDA. There are also deposits of alluvium (clay, silt, sand
and gravel) in the east of the PDA.
The PDA is located on a gentle south-east facing
gradient, sloping from 117m Above Ordnance Datum
(AOD) in the north-west corner at Stamfordham Road
to 80m AOD in the southern half of the site and 75m
AOD within a waterlogged peaty hollow in the east. This
low-lying area has been identified as a possible former
lake (Weyman 1988) which may have been an
important prehistoric landscape feature, particularly for
hunter-gatherer communities, although this is yet to be
determined. Dewley Burn runs north-south within the
west of the PDA towards the River Tyne.
2 BACKGROUND [H1]
2.1 Previous Research [h2]
The Archaeological Practice (TAP) undertook two
assessments in advance of an application for surface
mining on the site and on surrounding land, and in 1992
undertook a DBA and fieldwalking survey (TAP 1992)
identified prehistoric cropmark features and finds
around Dewley Hill mound (1018678; see Illus 1), and
post-medieval agricultural and industrial features
elsewhere in the study area. The 1992 DBA was
expanded into an ES Chapter in 1996 (TAP 1996a), in
relation to a second planning application, and a second
Dewley Hill Surface Mine,
Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne
DEWL18
walkover and an evaluation were undertaken. No
previously undiscovered archaeological deposits were
identified within the study area by the walkover, but the
evaluation, in the field around Dewley Hill, identified
evidence of prehistoric flint knapping (TAP 1996a, p9).
A second evaluation in 1996 investigated cropmark
features near Callerton Lane End in the north-eastern
corner of the PDA (TAP 1996b).
In the wider area, a number of archaeological surveys
have also been undertaken. The Tyneside North
Circular Trunk Main water pipeline was preceded by a
DBA which identified evidence for prehistoric, Roman,
medieval and post-medieval activity within the pipeline
corridor. A housing development at Lower Callerton
required a DBA followed by geophysical survey (Event
TW4002) and evaluation (Event TW4259) which
identified evidence of prehistoric settlement and post-
medieval coal workings. A proposed housing
development south of the A69 at Throckley North also
required a DBA and geophysical survey (Event
TW4248), due to its proximity to Hadrian’s Wall. These
surveys identified evidence of post-medieval coal
workings. The 19th century buildings of North Farm,
Throckley were also surveyed prior to a renovation in
2008 (Event TW3143), and a DBA and evaluation (Event
TW2827) were undertaken in advance of development
at Walbottle Campus.
An archaeological geophysical survey (Headland
Archaeology 2017) identified a plethora of anomalies
across the PDA, the overwhelming majority of which are
consistent with post-medieval coal mining including
former waggonways, coal pits and shafts. The survey
confirmed that parts of the waggonway system survive
as sub-surface features even where there are no
upstanding remains, and also that some sections of the
waggonways do not survive as magnetic anomalies at
all, possibly having been removed altogether by later
agriculture.
Other research relevant to the historic environment of
the PDA includes a 2007 analysis of the historic
landscape of Newburn Manor, undertaken as a masters
thesis (Morrison, 2007), the North-East regional
research framework (Petts, 2006), and the Mesolithic
Research and Conservation Framework 2013 (Blinkhorn
and Milner, 2013). In 1992, the English Heritage
National Mapping Project (NMP) identified several
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Headland Archaeology
cropmark features from aerial photography within and
surrounding the PDA.
2.2 Waggonways
Until the introduction of wooden waggonways in the
early 17th century coal workings were generally located
in close proximity to river transport as the coal could
only be transported by packhorse. Waggonways
enabled larger loads to be carried using less
horsepower. They comprised the laying of rails on the
ground within a corridor of land, generally about fifteen
yards wide, enclosed by hedges and with gates at
appropriate points to control access and to prevent
animals straying onto the line.
Several excavations have taken place on other
waggonways in the Tyne and Wear valleys, including
the Willington Waggonway (Bell 2018) which is assessed
as of international significance. These investigations,
together with historical documents, have establlished a
clear understanding of the development and anatomy
of the waggonways.
Firstly, the route was levelled from the pits to the staiths
which often involved some major engineering works in
the form of embankments, cuttings and bridges.
Channels were dug on either side of the of the line to
provide drainage. Sleepers, resting on ballast which
served to spread the load and assist with drainage, were
laid at intervals of about two feet. The wooden rails were
fixed to the sleepers by wooden pins. Finally, the track
bed was ballasted up to the bottom of the rail (Turnbull
2012).
The wagons, loaded with coal, travelled down gentle
gradients on the wooden rails, the speed controlled by
hand brakes, to the staiths, where the coal was loaded
onto ships. The empty wagons were then pulled back
up slope by horses (Morrison 2007).
2.3 The Walbottle Moors Waggonway
[h2]
The Walbottle Moors Waggonway (Illus 2) comprised of
four main branches which joined at Cut End, at the
south boundary of the PDA. The waggonways were
used to take coal from pits on Throckley Moor,
Greenwich Moor and Callerton to staiths at Lemington
on the River Tyne. The waggonway was short-lived and
Dewley Hill Surface Mine,
Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne
DEWL18
entirely pre-steam, it is known to have been in place by
1769 and to have largely fallen out of use within the
PDA by 1820. It is not amongst the early examples, nor
is it an example of technological development. Its
significance lies more in its state of preservation. Within
the PDA extensive remains of earthwork embankments
and cuttings survive in those fields still under pasture
but elsewhere, ploughing has destroyed the remains
(Morrison 2007). A survey of the waggonways
undertaken by The Archaeological Practice in 1992
shows the earthworks as surviving in the south and east
of the PDA only (see Illus 2). The westernmost branch,
A, turns west immediately north of Cut End and lies
outside of the PDA. The Greenwich Moor Branch (HER
4272, B1) runs north-west through the PDA towards
Greenwich Moor, branching off northwards towards
Stamfordham Road, B2 and B3. A short branch (HER
15353, C) is shown orientated north to an unnamed pit
370m north of Cut End. The Holywell Main Branch (HER
4271, D3) runs north-east extending beyond the PDA
near to the peaty hollow in the east of the PDA. Here, a
branch, D1, turns westwards over boggy ground
towards an unnamed pit.
The system is also significant for its association with
George Stephenson who was employed on the
waggonway as a boy and later worked in its associated
pits.
3 AIMS AND METHODOLOGY AND
PRESENTATION [H1]
Specifically, the survey aims to record all upstanding
sections of waggonway earthworks to English Heritage
Recording Level 3 and, more generally, to answer
research questions set out in the Regional and Thematic
Research Frameworks. The Regional Research
Frameworks are set out in ‘Shared Visions: The North-
East Regional Research Framework for the Historic
Environment (NERRF; Petts and Gerrard 2006).
3.1 Methodology [h2]
The field survey was carried out to the standard of an
English Heritage Level 3 survey as defined in
Understanding the Archaeology of Landscapes (English
Heritage 2007) and using the English Heritage
guidelines for GPS survey The Global Positioning
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Headland Archaeology
System in archaeological field survey (English Heritage
2003).
The survey was undertaken using survey-grade Trimble
GeoXR dGPS equipment using Virtual Reference Station
(VRS) real-time corrections. This allowed all survey data
to be accurately tied into the Ordnance Survey National
Grid, and the height of all points to be established
relative to the Newlyn datum. The accuracy of this dGPS
equipment is greater than 0.01m.
The top, base and break of slopes of all the waggonway
features and associated coal waste mounds were
recorded. Modern details such as fences, gates and
pylons were not recorded. These data were used to
produce a large-scale survey location drawing at a scale
of 1:5000 (Illus 3) and detailed hachure plans of the
earthwork remains at a scale of 1:1000 (Illus 6 and Illus
7).
Features within the survey area were photographed
using a high-resolution (16 megapixel) digital camera
and a representative selection of photographs has also
been reproduced in this report.
The majority of the PDA was under arable cultivation at
the time of survey, although there were some pasture
fields in the south-eastern corner. At the time of the
survey the arable fields had been cropped and, in some
cases, ploughed and re-seeded.
4 EARTHWORK SURVEY AND
INTERPRETATION [H1]
This section discusses the form and function of the
earthworks recorded during the survey. All features
discussed are cross-referenced to the survey drawings
(see Illus 6-8).
4.1.1 HER 4272 Greenwich Moor Branch
(B1-B3) [h2]
Immediately north of Cut End the Greenwich Moor
Branch survives as a flat-topped linear platform heading
north-west alongside the current field boundary for
450m (see Illus 7), as described in the 1992 survey. The
earthwork is low and eroded at the entrance to the field
(Illus 18) but quickly becomes more pronounced at 1m
in height and up to 5m in width. Approximately 100m
north-west of Cut End, it is carried over a natural
Dewley Hill Surface Mine,
Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne
DEWL18
undulation/gully by an eroded embankment over 2m
high and 10m wide (Illus 12 and Illus 19), the north-
eastern side of which is faced with stone (see Illus 13). It
continues alongside the field boundary for a further
200m as a low and eroded earthwork (see Illus 14-15
and Illus 20) and is barely visible along the field edge in
the north of the field, disappearing altogether before a
field boundary (see Illus 16-17 and Illus 21-22). To the
north of the field boundary no earthworks are visible
although the former route of the waggonway is visible
in the ploughsoil as a broad band of blackened soil
between the former sites of Tommy Pit and Cross Pit
(see Illus 11).
To the east of B1, two isolated areas of mining activity
are visible as low pitted mounds, 90m apart. The
northernmost mound is amorphous and its tapered
edges difficult to discern against the prevailing
north/south ridge and furrow earthworks upon which
the mound lies. It measures approximately 30m in
diameter and survives up to 0.2m in height (see Illus 24).
The southernmost mound corresponds to a former
shaft which is shown on the first edition OS map. The
infilled shaft head is clearly visible as a circular
depression, 4.5m in diameter, in the south (centre) of
the mound (see Illus 23). The former shaft and mound
overlie the ridge and furrow earthworks indicating that
the industrial activity occurred after the cultivation.
Elsewhere, the ridges can be approximately dated by
the fact that they lie at right angles to the Greenwich
Moor Branch with a headland running alongside. As the
earthworks respect the lines of the waggonway, the
ridge and furrow must post-date the construction of the
waggonway (post 1769).
4.1.2 HER 4271 Duke Pit to Cut End (D1
and D3) [h2]
This branch runs north-east from Cut End for 115m and
is visible as a very slight earthwork (see Illus 24-5) in the
grassland but is clearer in the 1m Lidar data; see Illus 4).
No clear relationship survives at the junction with the
Greenwich Moor Branch, with D3 being eroded away.
This waggonway is also carried over the same natural
gully by an eroded embankment. Beyond the first field
boundary any surface trace of the waggonway is lost
within an arable field, although it reappears as a broad
low bank immediately north of the field (see Illus 7). The
low bank continues north-eastwards for 62m where it
tapers away in marshy ground and is lost for 22m (see
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Headland Archaeology
Illus 34). The waggonway reappears for 100m as a well-
preserved steep-sided embankment (see Illus 35-6)
before it is truncated again 15m short of the field
boundary (see Illus 37). The line branches into three
outside of the PDA with D1 turning westwards and
reappearing within the PDA as a low eroded
embankment for some 200m across boggy ground to
the site of an unnamed pit (see Illus 43-46).
4.1.3 Unnamed pit [h2]
The unnamed pit, centred at NZ 1660 6813, comprises
a pockmarked mound on top of a low, gorse-covered
rise at 78m AOD from where it slopes towards boggy
ground to the north and the east. The mound measures
85m north/south and 75m east/west. The infilled pit
head is covered in gorse but is visible as a clear circular
hollow 14m in diameter (see Illus 47). Evidence of the
former agricultural landscape survives around the
edges of the mound in the form of low eroded banks,
corresponding to known former field boundaries, and,
to the west of the mound, east/west aligned ridge and
furrow cultivation which appears to underlie the coal
waste mound.
Low angular earthworks 30m north of the pit are
probably caused by ancillary quarrying or surface coal
workings (see Illus 49).
A possible pit or shaft is identified within grassland
130m south of the pit, as slight circular topographical
undulations (see Illus 50). The earthworks correspond to
a pond, perhaps a flooded pit, which is depicted in this
location on the first edition OS map (1859).
4.1.4 Isolated mound north of Dewley Hill
[h2]
An isolated tree covered mound 190m north of Dewley
Hill scheduled monument rises to 3m in height (see Illus
50-51). The mound is oval in plan and is heavily eroded
by tree roots and animal burrows. Unlike other known
coal workings within the PDA, geophysical survey
around the mound has identified no anomalies which
are suggestive of coal extraction. On closer inspection,
fractured shale bedding layers were visible outcropping
at the top of the mound and it is likely that the mound
is natural in origin.
Dewley Hill Surface Mine,
Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne
DEWL18
5 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION [H1]
The earthwork survey has confirmed the results of the
1992 survey and enhanced the results of the
geophysical survey (Headland Archaeology 2017)
recording the upstanding sections of the Walbottle
Moors Waggonway in much the same condition as they
were recorded in 1992, and with no earthworks visible
in the northern half of the PDA. Occasional animal
burrows and patches of stripped bare earth (such as
that around the stone-faced embankment towards the
south of the Greenwich Moor Branch), attest to some
modern degradation of the earthworks. The gently
undulating topography within the PDA would have
been ideal for the waggonway system with the coal-
filled waggons moving easily down the south-facing
gradients. The survey has recorded the use of
embankments to bridge undulations in the topography
allowing the wagons to move more easily and has
established a localised sequence of events
demonstrating how the coal industry operated before,
during and after the cultivation of the surrounding land.
The junction between the Greenwich Moor and Duke
Pit to Cut End branches could not be distinguished due
to erosion of the earthworks. Further intrusive
investigation of the waggonways and their associated
pits/coal workings may establish a more precise
chronology of their development.
The waggonways only survive as earthworks within the
south and east of the PDA, with isolated spreads of coal
waste in the ploughsoil the only visible evidence of
mining activity elsewhere. The earthworks are not
unique but are an unusually well-preserved example of
the wagonway system which was developed to serve
the coal pits on Tyneside and from which the railways
were developed. For this reason, the earthworks should
be assessed as of at least regional importance, with their
connection to George Stephenson adding further
historical value.
6 REFERENCES [H1]
Bell, D (ed) 2018 Setting the Standard – research
reports on the Willington Waggonway of 1785, the
earliest standard gauge railway yet discovered Tyne
and Wear Archives and Museums
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA)
2014 Standard and guidance for archaeological
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 Dewley Hill Surface Mine,
Throckley,
Newcastle upon Tyne

Headland Archaeology DEWL18

geophysical survey (Reading)

http://www.archaeologists.net/sites/default/files/CIfAS
%26GGeophysics_2.pdf accessed 4 July 2018

Department of Communities and Local Government

(DCLG) 2018 National Planning Policy Framework
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/upl
oads/attachment_data/file/6077/2116950.pdf
accessed 4 July 2018

English Heritage 2006 Management of Research Projects

in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE): The MoRPHE
Project Managers Guide

Environment Agency Geomatics Survey Data 2018

DATA.GOV.UK: Opening up Government
http://environment.data.gov.uk/ds/survey/#/survey
accessed 6 July 2018

Headland Archaeology 2017 Dewley Hill Surface Mine,

Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Geophysical Survey
[unpublished client report] Headland Archaeology Ref
DEWL/02

The Archaeological Practice 1992 Dewley Hill,

Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Assessment
[unpublished report] Tyne and Wear Archaeology
Service

Turnbull, L 2012 Railways before George Stephenson;

A study of the Waggonways in the Great Northern
Coalfield 1605-1830 North of England Institute of
Mining and Mechanical Engineers

Tyne and Wear Archaeology Service (TWAS)

Specification for Earthwork Survey of waggonways at
Dewley, Newcastle upon Tyne [Unpublished client
document] Tyne and Wear Archaeology Service Ref
MON14084

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 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
ILLUS 1 SITE LOCATION

ILLUS 2 WALBOTTLE MOOR WAGGONWAY SHOWING BRANCH LINES AS RECORDED IN THE 1992 SURVEY

ILLUS 3 UPSTANDING EARTHWORKS RECORDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA

ILLUS 4  LIDAR DATA (HILLSHADE AT 360)

ILLUS 5  SURVEY LOCATION SHOWING LIDAR DATA

ILLUS 6  B1 - GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH AND D3 HOLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (SOUTH)

ILLUS 7  B1 - GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH AND D3 HOLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (SOUTH)

ILLUS 8  D1 & D3 HOLLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (NORTH)

ILLUS 9 ROUTE OF B2 - GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH (NORTH), LOOKING NORTH 

ILLUS 10 SITE OF HOPEWELL PIT SURVIVING AS A BROAD AREA OF COAL-STAINED TOPSOIL IN FOREGROUND, LOOKING NORTH

ILLUS 11 ROUTE OF B1 - GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH, AS IT PASSES TOMMY PIT AND CROSS PIT, LOOKING NORTH-WEST

ILLUS 18-22 PROFILES OF B1 - GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH

ILLUS 12 RAISED EMBANKMENT ALONG B1 - GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH, LOOKING SOUTH-WEST 

ILLUS 13 DETAIL OF STONE FACING ON RAISED EMBANKMENT ALONG B1 - GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH, LOOKING SOUTH-WEST 

ILLUS 14  B1 - GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH, LOOKING SOUTH-EAST 

ILLUS 15 B1, GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH, LOOKING SOUTH-EAST 

ILLUS 16 B1 - GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH, LOOKING NORTH-WEST 

ILLUS 17 B1 - GREENWICH MOOR BRANCH, LOOKING SOUTH-EAST

ILLUS 23 SHAFT, LOOKING SOUTH-EAST 

ILLUS 24 SURFACE COAL WORKINGS SURVIVING AS LOW EARTHWORKS, LOOKING SOUTH-EAST

ILLUS 25 D3 - HOLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (SOUTH), LOOKING NORTH-EAST 

ILLUS 26 D3 - HOLLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (SOUTH), LOOKING SOUTH-WEST 

ILLUS 27 D3 - HOLLYWELL MAIN BRANCH, LOOKING SOUTH-EAST

ILLUS 28-30 PROFILES OF D3 - HOLLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (SOUTH)

ILLUS 31-34 PROFILES OF D3 - HOLLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (NORTH)

ILLUS 35 D3 - HOLLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (NORTH), LOOKING SOUTH-WEST 

ILLUS 36 D3 - HOLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (NORTH), LOOKING NORTH-EAST 

ILLUS 37 D3 - HOLLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (NORTH), LOOKING NORTH-EAST 

©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd
This report contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2018.

This report adheres to the quality standard of ISO 9001:2015

ILLUS 38 D3 HOLLYWELL MAIN BRANCH (NORTH), LOOKING SOUTH-WEST

ILLUS 44 D1 - HOLYWELL MAIN BRANCH, LOOKING SOUTH-EAST 

ILLUS 45 D1 - HOLYWELL MAIN BRANCH, LOOKING EAST 

ILLUS 46 D1 - HOLLYWELL MAIN BRANCH, LOOKING WEST 

ILLUS 47  D1 - HOLYWELL MAIN BRANCH, LOOKING EAST 

ILLUS 48 PIT HEAD, LOOKING NORTH-EAST

ILLUS 39-42 PROFILES OF D1 - HOLLYWELL MAIN BRANCH 

ILLUS 43 PROFILE OVER UNNAMED PIT

ILLUS 49 SURFACE COAL WORKINGS, LOOKING SOUTH-EAST 

ILLUS 50 POSSIBLE PIT/SHAFT, LOOKING NORTH

ILLUS 51 ISOLATED MOUND, LOOKING WEST 

ILLUS 52 ISOLATED MOUND, LOOKING NORTH-EAST

 Dewley Hill Surface Mine
Throckley 572000.000 72
Newcastle upon Tyne

High Callerton
Medburn
570000.000 70
Black Callerton

Callerton
568000.000 68

566000.000 66
0 200km

NZ
1:10,000,000 @ A4 14 16 18
Clara Vale

414000.000 416000.000 418000.000

569500

Sta
mfor 1016194
Callerton Lane

dha 1016194
m 0
Dri 14
130
ve

1016194 80
1016194 1016194

120
90

1016194

110 Stamf
o rdham
100 Road
CALLERTON
568500

se
Clo
Ponteland Road

1018678 a rin
nd
Birks Road

80 Ma
80 Dewley Burn 80
©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

70

k
ban
568500

Lady
ttle Road

90
80
North Walbo

A69
Drove R
oad

Grove
Nort

416000 417000 418000

hwa

Cayton
y

proposed development area

0 500m
scheduled monument Headland Archaeology North
1:20,000 @ A4 Unit 16 | Hillside | Beeston Rd | Leeds LS11 8ND
t 0113 387 6430
e north@headlandarchaeology.com
w www.headlandarchaeology.com
ILLUS 1 Site location
©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

Lanen
Callerto
Stamfordham Ro
ad

112 109 B3
111
110
569000

108
107
106
105
104
103

102

96
102
101

B2
Greenwich Moor Branch
10
99

0
97
97
98

93
94
96
Hopewell Pit
95

94
96 95
95 10 11
B1 wich M
Gree

91

85
n

86
568600

oor B

82

92
91 D2
ranc
h

89
89

82
90

82
89

86
85

84
89

91

83
90
90

87
90
90

89

88

77
89
87

88
88
88

75

77
86

83

51

76
78

83

76
unnamed pit
568200

75 75 75 75
75

75
76
52 76
D1

75
ell
83 Cross Pit Hollyw nch
77

76
ra
Main B
82

78
81

75
Ponteland Road

75
76
82

76

76
76
75
81 81

81 81 75
81

Tommy Pit 75
79

82
76

77
12
83

nch

Dewley Burn
n Bra

81
ll Mai

79 C
79

79
we

Dewley
Holly
D3
567800

Farm
80

80
80

81

shaft
79
81
81

78

79
78

187

152 158

A69 A
Cut End

415800 416200 416600

proposed development area earthworks surviving in 1992 survey

0 100m
possible mining activity identified no earthworks surviving in 1992 survey
1:5,000 @ A3 in geophysical survey

ILLUS 2 Walbottle Moor Waggonway showing branch lines as recorded in the 1992 survey
 Lanen
Callerto
Stamfordham Ro
ad

112 109
111
110
569000

108
107
106
105
104
103

102

96
102
101

10
99

0
97
97
98

93
94
96
95

94
96 95
95

91

85
86
568600

82

92
91

89
89

82
90

82
89

86
85

84
89

91

83
90
90

87
90
90

89

88

77
89
87

88
88
88

D1 & D3 - Cut End to Holywell Main Branch;

75 see Illus 8

77
86

83

76
78

83

76
568200

75 75 75 75
75

75
76
76

75
83
77

76
82

78
81

75
Ponteland Road

75
76
82

76

76
76
75
81 81

81 81 B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch and 75

81

75
Cut End to Holywell Main Branch; see Illus 6
79

82
76

77
83

Dewley Burn
81

79
79

79
567800

80

80
80

81
79
81
81

78

79
78

187

152 158

A69

B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch and

Cut End to Holywell Main Branch; see Illus 7

415800 416200 416600

0 100m
proposed development area
1:5,000 @ A3

ILLUS 3 Upstanding earthworks recorded within the proposed development area

©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

569000
568600
568200

Dewley Burn
567800

A69

415800 416200 416600

0 100m
proposed development area
1:5,000 @ A3

ILLUS 4  LIDAR data (Hillshade at 360)

©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

Lane n
Callerto
Stamfordham Ro
ad
569000

B2
Greenwich Moor Branch
568800

B1 wich M
Gree
n
568600

oor B

D2
ranc
h
568400
568200

D1
ell
Hollyw nch
B ra
Main
Ponteland Road
568000

nch

Dewley Burn
n Bra
ll Mai

C
we
Holly
D3
567800
567600

A69 A

415800 416000 416200 416400 416600 416800

0 100m
1:5,000 @ A3
ILLUS 5  Survey location showing lidar data
proposed development area earthworks surviving in 1992 survey 117m 79m
possible mining activity identified no earthworks surviving in 1992 survey
in geophysical survey
 76
pit/shaft

81
567950

82

78
79
77
83
567900

80

PROFILE 22 17 24

surface coal workings

567850
©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

567800

416700

proposed development area

possible mining activity identified in geophysical
survey
16
15

0 20m
PROFILE 21
1:1,000 @ A3

416400 416450 416500 416550 416600 416650

ILLUS 6  B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch and D3 Holywell Main Branch (south)
 567750

23

80
shaft
567700

81
14
B1 26

81
567650

D3
PROFILE 20

PROFILE 30
27

12

13
567600

PROFILE 29
PROFILE 19 25
78
raised causeway PROFILE 28
©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

PROFILE 18

416750
567550

proposed development area

possible mining activity identified in geophysical survey

0 20m

1:1,000 @ A3

416450 416500 416550 416600 416650 416700 ILLUS 7  B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch and D3 Holywell Main Branch (south)
©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

77 49

77

surface coal workings?

former field boundary 75

568200

ridge & furrow

marsh/wetland
PROFILE 40

76
PROFILE 43 44
46 45
D1
PROFILE 39
PROFILE 41
47
pit head PROFILE 42

48 unnamed pit

78
568100

38

77
PROFILE 34
ridge & furrow
former field boundary

PROFILE 33
former field boundary
76

76
ridge & furrow

D3
37

75 PROFILE 32

75
75

36

35
568000

PROFILE 31
possible pit/shaft
76

D3

77

50 78
79

416600 416700 416800

proposed development area

0 10m
20m
possible mining activity identified in geophysical survey
1:1,000 @ A3

ILLUS 8  D1 & D3 Hollywell MAin Branch (north)

 9

COAL WASTE

10
©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

ILLUS 9 Route of B2 - Greenwich Moor Branch (north), looking north  ILLUS 10 Site of Hopewell Pit surviving as a broad area of coal-stained topsoil in foreground,
looking north
 CROSS PIT

TOMMY PIT

ILLUS 11 Route of B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch, as it passes Tommy Pit and Cross Pit, looking north-west
 12 13 14 15

EMBANKMENT

16

18 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 78.81m

SW NE

19 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 79.50m

SW NE

20 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 80.47m

SW NE

17

21 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 82.18m 22 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 82.18m

©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

SW NE SW NE

ILLUS 18-22 Profiles of B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch

ILLUS 12 Raised embankment along B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch, looking south-west  ILLUS 13 Detail of stone facing on raised embankment along
B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch, looking south-west  ILLUS 14  B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch, looking south-east  ILLUS 15 B1, Greenwich Moor
Branch, looking south-east  ILLUS 16 B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch, looking north-west  ILLUS 17 B1 - Greenwich Moor Branch, looking south-east
 23

SHAFT

24

LOW EARTHWORKS
LOW EARTHWORKS LOW EARTHWORKS
©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

ILLUS 23 Shaft, looking south-east  ILLUS 24 Surface coal workings surviving as low earthworks, looking south-east
 25 26 27

EMBANKMENT

ILLUS 25 D3 - Holywell Main Branch (south), looking north-east  ILLUS 26 D3 - Hollywell Main Branch (south), looking south-west  ILLUS 27 D3 - Hollywell Main Branch, looking south-east

28 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 78.69m

NW SE

29 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 78.27m

NW SE
©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

30 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 78.26m

NW SE

ILLUS 28-30 Profiles of D3 - Hollywell Main Branch (south)

 35 36

31 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 75.26m

NW SE

32 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 75.28m

W E

33 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 75.10m
37 38
W E

34 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 75.16m

N S

ILLUS 31-34 Profiles of D3 - Hollywell Main Branch (north)

©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

ILLUS 35 D3 - Hollywell Main Branch (north), looking south-west  ILLUS 36 D3 - Holywell Main Branch (north), looking north-east  ILLUS 37 D3 - Hollywell Main Branch (north), looking north-east  ILLUS 38 D3 Hollywell
Main Branch (north), looking south-west
 ILLUS 44 D1 - Holywell Main Branch, looking south-east  ILLUS 45 D1 - Holywell Main Branch, looking east  ILLUS 46 D1 - Hollywell
44 Main Branch, looking west  ILLUS 47  D1 - Holywell Main Branch, looking east  ILLUS 48 Pit head, looking north-east

39 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 74.91m 40 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 74.83m

NE SW N S

41 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 74.66m 42 0 1:200 @ A3 5m 74.88m

NW SE NW SE
45

43 0 1:350 @ A3 10m
77.57m

SW NE

ILLUS 39-42 Profiles of D1 - Hollywell Main Branch  ILLUS 43 Profile over unnamed pit

46 47 48
©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt
 49

UNNAMED PIT

50

LOW MOUND
©  2018 by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd  DEWL17-Illus01-52-rmt

ILLUS 49 Surface coal workings, looking south-east  ILLUS 50 Possible pit/shaft, looking north
 51

52

ILLUS 51 Isolated mound, looking west  ILLUS 52 Isolated mound, looking north-east