Out and About

Blackham's Hill

Blackham's Hill is at the summit of the two rope worked inclines on the Bowes Railway. One incline leads down to Springwell Colliery and the second in the other direction leads down to Black Fell. Blackham's Hill is an open area between the villages of Eighton Banks (in Gateshead Borough) and Springwell (within the boundary of the City of Sunderland).

The following two views are taken from the Bowes Railway’s Blackham's Hill passenger platform, which is situated on the branch off the Bowes Railway main line.

The above view shows the ‘new’ branch curving away towards Eighton Banks, skirting the edge of Springwell Quarry. In the distance can be seen the terraced houses of the village. The two main streets are Thomas Street and Sandy Lane. On the horizon is what was once a Primitive Methodist Chapel, now the Mount Community Centre. The chapel was rebuilt during the 19th century but its foundation goes back to the 18th century. In the top right hand corner is the Waggon Inn, named after the coal waggons that used to rumble past on the adjacent Pelaw Main waggonway.

The Pelaw Main carried coals from the Ouston and Birtley area, south of Gateshead, to the Tyne at Bill Quay. It ran parallel to the Bowes Railway at Eighton Banks. The two railways were separated by only a few hundred yards at this point. The passenger platform from which the view is taken stands on the ‘new’ curve built to join the two railways in the mid 1950s.

The second view shows the branch curving away to join the main Bowes Railway at Pelaw Main Junction East. Springwell Village is in the background beyond the Bowes main line. On the horizon, behind the village, is the North Sea at Tynemouth. Springwell Colliery Yard is off to the left.

The hauler house, which contains the winding engine for the two inclines, is out of the picture, to the left of View 1 and the right of View 2 above. The building is open to visitors and, when possible, the haulage is demonstrated in action. On these occasions visitors are able to watch the waggons being raised and lowered on the inclines by rope. The winding engine is powered by a 300hp electric motor (2750VAC) and operates two rope drums, one for each incline. The building can be seen in the view below looking up the incline from Black Fell, towards Springwell.

800 yards down the Blackham's Hill west incline (behind the camera) is the site of the next hauler in the chain of inclines. This is situated at Black Fell. This hauler will never move waggons again but the machinery is still largely intact and the site is presently awaiting renovation. There is a path from Blackham's Hill alongside the incline to the Mount Level Crossing halfway down the incline, on the Eighton Banks road. From here, visitors can reach Black Fell by following the road. The picture below shows a set of waggons being hauled up the Blackham's Hill incline from Black Fell.

There are many paths and walks in the area which may be explored on foot. These include the nearby remains of the Pelaw Main waggonway. The 'kip' and site of Eighton Banks haulage engine are about 200 yards north of Blackham's Hill platform. The waggonway has been renovated by Gateshead MAC as part of a network of waggonway footpaths. The section past the Waggon Inn has also been re-laid with railway track as far as Wrekenton. Trains will be run from Springwell, via the ‘new’ curve, onto the old Pelaw Main in the near future.

Layout

Blackham's Hill Index

Hauler House

This page last updated 30 November 2002