North Hylton, Toby Gill, supposed slipways

HER Number:
14799

District:
Sunderland

Site Name:
North Hylton, Toby Gill, supposed slipways

Place:
North Hylton

Map Sheet:
NZ35NW

Class:
Maritime

Site Type: Broad:

Site Type: Specific:
Slipway?

General Period:
Unknown

Specific Period:

Form of Evidence:
Conjectural Evidence

Description:
Local residents believe that shipbuilding slipways exist on the foreshore of the River Wear. Two channels (4m x 60m) are said to be carved into the rock in the river bed at an angle. Iron tools have been collected. The site has yet to be inspected by the County Archaeologist but the photographs submitted to the HER seem only to show natural fissures in the limestone bedrock. D. Wilson notes that the river was wider at this point. The name Offerton could be a corruption of Aufladen (Offloaden) meaning offloading. Inspect the site.

Easting:
3432

Northing:
5665

Grid Reference:
NZ34325665

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
Personal comment, Denny Wilson, 10 April 2012; Andy Lane PhD FGS, 20 Sept 2012, The Toby Gill Area, River Wear - Some Comments on the Geology