William Donnison's Waggonway

HER Number:
17091

District:
Gateshead

Site Name:
William Donnison's Waggonway

Place:
Usworth

Map Sheet:
NZ35NW

Class:
Transport

Site Type: Broad:
Tramway

Site Type: Specific:
Wagonway

General Period:
Post Medieval

Specific Period:
C18

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
This line was established by William Donnison around 1750 to carry coal from pits in North Birtley on Birtley Common. It probably ran just west of Washington to Cox Green on the north bank of the River Wear. A spout is marked up as belonging to Donnison on Burleigh and Thompson’s map of the area.

Easting:
2836

Northing:
5782

Grid Reference:
NZ28365782

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
Alan Williams Archaeology, 2013, Waggonways to the South Bank of the River Tyne and to the River Wear; Turnbull, L, 2012, Railways Before George Stephenson (entry 78) 158 and 172; NRO: PSAN/BEQ/9/1/3/25