The archaeological excavation of wooden waggonway remains at Lambton D Pit, Sunderland

Abstract

The timber waggonway tracks at the site of the former Lambton or Bournmoor D Pit at Fencehouses, near Sunderland are the best preserved and most substantial early wooden railway remains yet to be uncovered in this country. The archaeological excavation of the site exposed over 150 metres of in situ timber, allowing an in-depth analysis of the construction of wooden railways, and the study of individual features, including points and check rails. The related discovery of a brick rail-head platform and the masonry and brick remains of a colliery building also allowed the waggonway complex to be placed within its functional context. Observations from a number of leading figures in the research of early coal transport in the Great Northern Coalfield have been combined with the archaeological record of this highly significant site to provide a detailed description of the wooden waggonway and its relationship to the late 18th and early 19th century colliery.