Houghton le Spring, Rainton Waggonway to Resolution Pit

HER Number:
17106

District:
Sunderland

Site Name:
Houghton le Spring, Rainton Waggonway to Resolution Pit

Place:
Houghton-le-Spring

Map Sheet:
NZ35NW

Class:
Transport

Site Type: Broad:
Tramway

Site Type: Specific:
Wagonway

General Period:
Early Modern

Specific Period:
C19

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
With the development of more effective steam-powered pumping engines to drain previously unworkable deep coal seams and the development of nucleated collieries, the Rainton Waggonway, especially its southern lines, was extensively upgraded and re-organised by the Tempests, to whom it had passed by marriage from the Whartons in 1730. A number of new branch lines to collieries were constructed between 1816 (the Resolution Pit) and 1826 (Pittington Colliery).

Easting:
3205

Northing:
4907

Grid Reference:
NZ32054907

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 87) p163 & 172; Bell, 1829, Map of the Coalfield (TWAS 2/421)