On 22/05/2022 at 19:12, Anne Gilbert said:

I wonder if this is the same opencast area that I know about. It was behind our house in Netherton Lane (on the map now it says Westlea in that area). In 1963 my brother George drowned  in a trench in an old opencast site which hadn't been filled in. It was soon filled in after that. Does anyone remember anything about that, please?

Sorry @Anne Gilbert -  don't know anything about the tragic incident involving your brother. 

As for the opencast it did spread from the Westlea area - High & Low Ewart Hill - Acorn bank, where the Golf course is now  and almost down to Humford baths. There was a bridge build over the Bedlington Bank and then over the River Blyth, from Bedlington to Bebside, for the Euclid trucks to travel over.   

Edited May 23, 20224 yr by Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)

Thanks so much for sharing that map. It makes me want to explore all those places again!