Willington, Wagonway

This wagonway ran from George Pit, NZ 2881 6819 to near Bewick Pit, NZ 3054 6834. It probably served Bewick, George and Christo Pits (HERs 1161, 1125, and 1126). It was marked as 'Old' on the 1st edition OS mapping, so it was probably out of use by 1858. It was probably part of the original Willington Wagonway, from Bigges Main to Willington Square, which was opened in 1785 by Gibson, Bell & Brown and closed around 1800. It is shown on the tithe map of 1841 linking William (Billy) Pit, George Pit, Craster Pit and Bigge Pit.
A section of the wagonway was excavated in 2024 in advance of a housing development (event 5531 report 2024/17). It was constructed within a cut from a deposit of coal fines and gravel containing several fragments of degraded timber, overlaid by a surface of compacted coal fines. Other features were interpreted as wheel ruts and postholes or hoof marks related to the construction of the wagonway. Gullies had been added to the north and south of the wagonway.