West Engines, Longbenton parish 1774

[Grandies]

Hi all,
I have found a burial for a  Mary, wife of George Boggon in the Bishops transcripts for Longbenton (shown Long Benton) in 1774.
We are originally from the Newcastle area so was surprised that We did not recognise "West Engines", altough it was 1774!
Has anyone come across this location before? Just curiosity.
Thanks in advance,
Eileen

[philipsearching]

There is a tree on myheritage for yuginovich which has a Thomas Dodds born 1778 West Engines, Longbenton but that's the only reference g00gle throws up.

Was Longbenton an industrial area?

Philip

[Grandies]

Mainly residential recently Philip, though this was in 1774.
In those days it was probably almost rural, though there were coal mines in the area.
You were lucky Google threw this reference up for you. It only brought up West Moor for me!
More searching I think.
Thank you for your reply.
Eileen

[maddys52]

There was an "Old Engines" in Longbenton
https://durhamrecordsonline.com/updates/tag/longbenton/

so perhaps there was a "West Engines"?

[hanes teulu]

Was it anything to do with John Smeaton, engineer?
https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/full/10.1680/rotljsmovoitcoheaace2ev2.51966.0040

Googling "longbenton engine" threw up various references, inc. National Archives

[hanes teulu]

"A poll at the election of a Knight of the Shire for the County of Northumberland daken at Alnwick 18th-24th Feb 1748...."

Castle Ward
Freeholder's Name - Soppitt, Ralph
Place of Abode - Long Benton Engine
Freeholds - Benwell

The date 1748 puts it pre. John Smeaton's development.

[Grandies]

Thank you all for these replies.
I will Google Longbenton engine and see where that leads me!

[hanes teulu]

Ralph Soppitt was advertising a new house to let in the Newcastle Courant 28 Mar 1747. It was situate at Benwell - Ralph's address is given as "Long-Benton Engines"

[Phodgetts]

I hope I am not throwing a red herring into the mix, but I wonder if the West or Old Engine was something to do with the Coxlodge Waggonway? About halfway between Benton Colliery and Gosforth Colliery, along the old waggonway, was a stationary engine on a rope incline. It would have stood more or less at the end of what is now Whitton Place and Cleveland Gardens, Longbenton. (NE7 7RE)

Old maps dating to 1859 show an extant building at the time, on the waggonway, and next to it seems to be a house and garden. Perhaps accommodation for the operating crew?

The location is accessible via the modern cycletrack which follows the route of the old waggonway.

P