Seventeenth century coal mining on Bilton Common (Lesbury)
A map of 1624 of the Manor of Lesbury and Bilton shows a series of coal pits upon Bilton Common lying in two parallel rows, which were evidently worked by the bell pit system. By this system pits or shallow shafts were sunk down to the level of the coal seam and the coal at the bottom of the shaft was worked out. (1)
(The map has been reduced in scale from original plan; an approx area covered by these pits, which run north east-south west, is centred at NU 21321018)
(Area centred NU213102). This area falls in three fields which are all pasture land with a disused quarry running through them. There are no traces of the coal pits mentioned and no heaps of spoil nearby. The very large mounds, which lie along the north west edge of the quarry are waste heaps from it. (2)
Additional Reference (3)
(The map has been reduced in scale from original plan; an approx area covered by these pits, which run north east-south west, is centred at NU 21321018)
(Area centred NU213102). This area falls in three fields which are all pasture land with a disused quarry running through them. There are no traces of the coal pits mentioned and no heaps of spoil nearby. The very large mounds, which lie along the north west edge of the quarry are waste heaps from it. (2)
Additional Reference (3)
N5702
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1954; J H Ostridge
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