Site of Shotley Bridge Sword Factory, with extant later Mill (Shotley Bridge)

Shotley Bridge © DCC 2007

In about 1690, a colony of Germans settled at Shotley Bridge and set up business as swordmakers and knifemakers (1).

The former sword manufacture was used as a depot and office by a building contractor during the 1960s when the building was described as "lacking any special architectural feature and is mainly roofless. The interior has no original plant within it." At NZ09085287 were the living quarters of the craftsmen (now demolished, possibly in 1959). These were seventeenth or eighteenth century buildings. A much-weathered door lintel was inscribed, apparently in German, 'SEG...HN...ALLE S...EICH IN...Deinem EVW...UND ELE...WAS DIR BE...' (1)

Shown to be in use as a corn mill on OS first edition map. (23) (24).

Sword factory and cutlery works, founded by Germans circa 1690. Later used as flour mill until 1930, now a builders yard. The worker's houses nearby were demolished in 1959. (27)

Reference number:

D2350

Historical period:

Post Medieval (1540 to 1901)
20th Century (1901 to 2000)

Event(s):

Desk based assessment, Sword Factory, Shotley Bridge 1999; Tyne and Wear Museums Archaeology Department
Desk Based Assessment of the industrial archaeology of the North Pennines, 1993-1994; Newcastle City Archaeology Unit

Disclaimer -

Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.

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