176 FORESTS, WOODS, AND TREES 
II. NoRTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM 
Two local authorities and two private companies obtain 
their water supply from gathering grounds in these two 
counties. The gathering grounds have a total extent of 
41,197 acres, of which 110 acres are owned by Morpeth, 
and 3300 acres by the Newcastle and Gateshead Water 
Company. 
Morpeth obtains its water supply in part from (1) a 
gathering ground of 110 acres on Morpeth Common, be- 
tween 209 and 260 feet elevation, which is owned by the 
Corporation; and (2) a gathering ground of 194 acres at 
Tranwell, between 300 and 350 feet elevation, not owned 
by the Corporation. The total area of 304 acres comprises 
219 acres of hill pasture and 85 acres of plantations, and 
is free from habitations or farm steadings. No precautions, 
other than filtration, are carried out, except that a pipe is 
laid under the bed of the small stream leading the water 
into the storage reservoir at Tranwell. All the water 
collected on Morpeth Common is carried by under drainage 
direct to a filter bed. 
Tynemouth obtains its water supply from the Font im- 
pounding reservoir, with a gathering ground in the Font 
valley, Northumberland, of 7360 acres, situated between 
611 and 1447 feet elevation, the highest point being Tosson 
Hill. The Town Council own only the site of the reservoir 
and the margin around it. There are four farm steadings 
and houses upon the area, which formerly had some wood- 
land upon it, but there are now only a few living trees 
standing. The proportion of arable land is not stated. No 
special precautions are taken against contamination on 
the gathering ground, but the water is passed through 
filters. 
The Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company, which 
supplies Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Gateshead, and adjacent 
districts in Northumberland and Durham, obtain their water 
