Newcastle Water Works

A bit of history about early water works from the early 1700's in Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom.

Water Supply

The street names of medieval Gateshead, Pipewellgate and Oakwellgate show how the town was first supplied with water, although the exact locations of these early wells are not known. Wells and springs proved adequate until the seventeenth century when the formerly abundant supplies were interrupted by the sinking of many coal mines around Gateshead, and the authorities began to take an interest in water supply. The parish employed two pant-masters from 1632 whose duty it was to maintain the existing wells in a clean and serviceable state.

To make up the deficiency in the supply, water was brought from springs on Gateshead Fell and Heworth -' in lead Pipe downe to a pant (well) to be built for the use of the Towne'. At this time, Newcastle also needed more water and this was supplied from Gateshead. The land on the south of the Tyne is higher than on the north, an important factor in the gravity distribution system, which was the only method then available. In 1699 William Yarnold obtained an act of Parliament to supply Newcastle with water from Heworth Fell. Water from here was carried partly in an open trench and partly in wooden pipes to two ponds near the junction of High Street and Sunderland Road. From here, the supply was taken round the east of Holy Trinity to Oakwellgate, over the Tyne Bridge in lead pipes and up into Newcastle.

A part of this pipe was found by council workmen at Sunderland Road in May 1973. It was of wood, probably elm, three feet long, weighed approximately three stones, and the internal diameter was five inches. Although more than 260 years old, it was still in good condition, and some water was still flowing through it. The pipe is now in the Shipley Art Gallery.

Source: A Short History of Gateshead, Chapter Eight - Public Services, pp. 107-108, by I. C. Carlton, A.L.A., Gateshead Corporation, 1974, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom. Adapted from "A History of Gateshead", by F. W. D. Manders, B.A., A.L.A, Gateshead Corporation, 1973.