Digging into Sunderland’s past

AN investigation is to be launched into a possible Roman dam in Sunderland.

The origins of an ancient stone structure which once spanned the River Wear between North and South Hylton have long been debated by historians.

Now experts from North East Archaeological Research Ltd are to spend the summer studying old maps, records and documents relating to the crossing.

“We will be carrying out a desk-based assessment initially,” said spokesman Phil Abramson.

“As an archaeologist I naturally like to dig, but we need more details first.”

Details of the investigation – funded by cash from Castle Ward’s Community Chest – were revealed at a public meeting in South Hylton on Monday night.

Castle ward councillor and local historian Denny Wilson said: “I really believe we have something here; we just don’t know what it is yet.

“This investigation, I hope, is the start of something big. If we could prove beyond doubt that the crossing dates from Roman times it would put Sunderland on the map.”

A flurry of ancient finds in the North and South Hylton areas, including a figurine, pottery shard and several coins, have re-ignited the Roman debate.

But, although generations of local historians have argued that the Romans built a dam to transport goods upriver, very few hard facts have been documented to support the theory.

Dr Gill Cookson, of the Victoria County History of Durham, is to review evidence as part of the North East Archaeological Research Ltd investigation and said: “There is a charter which shows a ferry crossing existed at Hylton in the 1320s but, as yet, I have not seen any evidence to confirm the Romans constructed anything in the neighbourhood.

“That is not, however, to say they did not. We approach this with open minds.”

Old maps of the River Wear reveal the mystery structure was known as the Brig Stones in the 18th and 19th centuries, and that it was used as a causeway by Wearsiders at low tide.

During Victorian times, the crossing was torn down by the River Wear Commissioners.

Hundreds of tons of stones were removed. Some were used in the foundations of Penshaw Monument and the North Pier, others were dumped on Roker beach.

“Archaeologists have looked at them, and they are clearly Roman in origin,” said Alan Richardson, of the Northern Archaeology Group. “I am in no doubt that there was a sizeable Roman structure at Hylton.”

Other Roman finds have also been documented across Wearside, including a Roman road at Low Ford, Roman cobbles in Grangetown and a Roman mosaic near the Magistrates’ Court.

“Despite the abundance of evidence, however, there has been an apparent refusal to accept that the Romans had ever been in the River Wear,” added Alan.

Also convinced of the Roman origins of the dam is local historian Ian Stuart.

“The Romans had bases at Biddick and Chester-le-Street and, to get up there by boat, they needed a dam at Hylton. Possibly they built a canal system as well,” he said.

“I’ve found old tools near to what I believe is an old Roman slipway, which could have been used by for splitting timbers or stone, as well as a piece of wall which is very similar to Hadrian’s Wall.”

Pam Tate, founder of Southwick History and Preservation Society, added: “The meeting showed there are various pieces of knowledge, stories and possible myths to be explored.”

Local historian and former police inspector Norman Kirtlan said: “I believe that Sunderland, and the Wear in particular, was important in Roman Britain.

“Evidence suggests that the mouth of the river was very likely to be defended by two forts, one north, one south. Why defend a river unless you actually have something to defend?”