MAIN DIKE STONE
South Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
Location : eastern end of Aidan Walk, South Gosforth, Newcastle
OS Grid Reference: NZ2503168276
A sandstone monolith, approx 1.45m high x 40cm wide x 15cm deep.
Inscribed with the words :
OS Grid Reference: NZ2503168276
A sandstone monolith, approx 1.45m high x 40cm wide x 15cm deep.
Inscribed with the words :
Main
Dike
distance
from
Pit
349 yards
Cut 3rd June
1828
Dike
distance
from
Pit
349 yards
Cut 3rd June
1828
This stone marks the line of a geological fault.
A shaft sunk at Gosforth colliery in 1825 was found to be too close to the 90 Fathom Dike, an east-west landslip running across south-east Northumberland.
Over the next few years the shaft was continued, at great cost, until it finally reached the coal seam beneath it.
To celebrate its eventual success, a ball was held in 1829, 1,100 feet below ground.
From 9:30 am, between 300 and 400 guests were lowered in baskets, after which they danced until 3pm , candle and lamp-lit, to music provided by the Coxlodge Brass Band.
Refreshments were served, consisting cold punch, malt liquor and biscuits, and each person hewed a piece of coal as a souvenir.
A shaft sunk at Gosforth colliery in 1825 was found to be too close to the 90 Fathom Dike, an east-west landslip running across south-east Northumberland.
Over the next few years the shaft was continued, at great cost, until it finally reached the coal seam beneath it.
To celebrate its eventual success, a ball was held in 1829, 1,100 feet below ground.
From 9:30 am, between 300 and 400 guests were lowered in baskets, after which they danced until 3pm , candle and lamp-lit, to music provided by the Coxlodge Brass Band.
Refreshments were served, consisting cold punch, malt liquor and biscuits, and each person hewed a piece of coal as a souvenir.
There is another Main Dike stone in South Gosforth (St. Nicholas) churchyard. It is broken, recumbant and in danger of vanishing into the lawn.