262 
embleton: notes on ancient coal mining. 
In 1330 the Prior of Tynemouth let a colliery called Heygrove, 
at Elstwick, for £6 a year; another colliery, also belonging to the 
Prior, in the East Field, was let for six marks a year; besides which 
he had one in the West Field, and another near Gallow Flat in the 
same estate in the years 1331-1334. Two men were drowned in the 
Gallow Flat Pit in May, 1658, the bodies were not recovered till 24th 
April, 1695, having lyen in the water for thirty-six years. 
About 1333, Philippa, queen of Edward III., had estates in 
Tynedale, where she long resided during Edward's stay in his 
campaigns in Scotland, and obtained a gTant from her husband to 
work coal mines there. 
Licence was granted to the Burgesses of Newcastle to dig coals 
and stones in the Castle Field, in 1351. On the 10th May, 1357, 
King Edward III. granted license to the men of Newcastle to work 
coal in the Castle Field and Castle Moor. He issued orders concern- 
ing the regulation of coal measures. At this time coals were also 
worked at Gateshead, on the opposite side of the river Tyne. This 
king gave permission for coal won in the fields of Gateshead to be 
taken across the Tyne in boats to Newcastle, in consideration of the 
owners complying with the usual customs of the port. After paying 
these dues, permission was given that the coal might be sent to any 
part of the kingdom, either by land or water, but to no foreign 
country except to Calais, which was then an English port. In this 
year coal was exported to London from Newcastle. 
As in the County of Durham, so in Northumberland, coals had 
been worked by the Romans during the construction of their celebrated 
wall. 
In 1762, when in digging up the foundations of the Roman 
station at Caervorran or Magna, some very large coal cinders were 
turned up, which glowed in the fire like other cinders, and were 
not known from them when taken out. 
At Habitancum (Risingham) near to a spot where traces of a 
furnace were noticed, more than a cart-load of coals were found, which 
Mr. Shanks removed and used in his own grate. 
At Walton House station, several rooms were found the floors of 
which, consisting of thick masses of strong cement, were supported on 
