A Question for Antiquaries
A quantity of Human remains has been discovered recently at DOWN HILL, West Boldon where a reservoir is being constructed in connection with the Sunderland and South Shields Water Co. When the men began to cut through the top of the hill they came across an old trench running transversely across their cutting: this trench was about five feet wide and was cut down right to the limestone rock – a distance of five or six feet. A number of human bones lay close to the rock, and above them were some loose stones. There was not the whole of a skeleton though some bones may not have been noticed by the men, and may have been lost. Leg and arm bones and ribs etc are among them and also a well preserved skull, the jaw of which was full of good sound teeth. In the vicinity other remains have been discovered and a more extensive find is expected when the other part of the hill is removed, for the trench apparently runs right across the hill top. Just above where the bones were found a thorn bush was growing. There is an idea that a battle was fought on this hill or an adjoining one, and that the bones may be the remains of some of the warriors who fell and who were either buried there or whose bodies were left in the trench where they had been fighting.
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette Thursday 17th February 1898
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