Denton, Gowdy fishery

HER Number

12306

District

Newcastle

Site Name

Denton, Gowdy fishery

Place

Denton

Map Sheet

NZ26SW

Class

Agriculture and Subsistence

Site Type: Broad

Fishing Site

Site Type: Specific

Fish Weir

General Period

MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Medieval 1066 to 1540

Form of Evidence

Documentary Evidence

Description

A fishery belonging to Tynemouth Priory mentioned 1538-9 and 1565. By 1851 it was divided into two, the Black and Bright fishery, East Denton and Gowdy fishery, West Denton. Annual rent of the former was £12, annual rent of the latter £7 10s. Gowdy is a Northumbrian dialect form of goldy meaning golden. It also means 'a toy or plaything' or 'frolicsome, festive, wanton'.

Easting

419500

Northing

564000

Grid Reference

NZ419500564000

Sources

V.E. Watts, 1988, Some Northumbrian Fishery Names III in Durham Archaeological Journal, 4, 1988, pp 53-59;