Countryside near Pegswood. Photo by Harry Rowland, 1980.

Pegswood is a small parish in south-east Northumberland, on the north bank of the Wansbeck and east of the How Burn. There is a range of archaeological remains, many connected with coalmining.

The earliest evidence of human activity in the parish is a {rectangular enclosure N11561} that overlooks the River Wansbeck, south-east of Climbing Tree Farm. It is probably late prehistoric or Roman in date and could have been a small farmstead.

In the medieval period a number of buildings and structures were built, including the Lady Chapel by the Ogle family and St Catherine's Well. However, little evidence has been found of any villages at this time.

Much more is known about the parish in post-medieval times when this area was an active coalmining community. The How Burn Colliery had its own tramway and other shafts and workings are known nearby, including a bellpit and an Old Engine House north-west of Pegswood. Other industrial activities included quarrying at Pegswood Quarry and this, together with coalmining often tied into a pre-existing railway system. The East Coast main railway line crosses the River Wansbeck here on a viaduct.