Benwell, Northumberland

Description
Benwell, a township a parish, and a village in Northumberland. The township lies on the river Tyne, the Roman Wall, and the Newcastle and Carlisle railway, 2 miles W of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, under which it has a post, money order, and telegraph office. Area of parish, 1302 acres; population of civil parish, 10,354; ecclesiastical, 27,039. Here are the oldest collieries in England, one of wliicli at the beginning of the 18th century took fire from a candle and burned for nearly thirty years. Benwell is believed to have been the Condercum of the Romans, and urns, coins, inscriptions, and other Roman remains have been found. Benwell Tower belonged at one time to Tynemouth Priory, and afterwards to the Shaftoes, and is now the bishop's residence. Benwell High Cross, to the E, was named from a cross that formerly stood there. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Newcastle ; net value, £350 with residence. Patron, the Bishop of Newcastle. The church is in the Perpendicular style, with a tower, built at a cost of £1600. There are Roman Catholic and two dissenting chapels and schools.