Benwell, bell pits

HER Number

16262

District

Newcastle

Site Name

Benwell, bell pits

Place

Benwell

Map Sheet

NZ26SW

Class

Industrial

Site Type: Broad

Coal Mining Site

Site Type: Specific

Coal Workings

General Period

MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Medieval 1066 to 1540

Form of Evidence

Subterranean Feature

Description

Evidence for early coal mining was identifed during excavations at Sunnybank Avenue, Benwell. Two possible bell pits and extensive drift mining galleries (HER 16263) were revealed dating to the medieval and/or early post-medieval period. One bell pit measures over 4m by 2.65m and was partially excavated to a depth of 1.4m. The other was 9m by 6m and over 1.5m deep - it as not possible to fully excavate either pit.

Easting

421550

Northing

564360

Grid Reference

NZ421550564360

Sources

Archaeological Services University of Durham, 2014, Sunnybank Avenue, Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne - archaeological works