these magnificent aqueducts, these prodigies of art, were reared; fuch as that at Nismes, in France, which seems one of the wonders of the world.

That the inhabitants of Newcastle have been particularly attentive to procure a fufficiency of water, appears from the numerous cisterns and wells all round the town, both within and without the walls. We have the fine wells which supplied both the Black and White Friars' monasteries, with their large springs of excellent water, to this day. The eminences that almost furround Newcastle, would seem to indicate that plenty of good water might easily be procured; and this, upon trial, has been found to be the cafe.

The top of Pandon-bank is commonly called "Conduit-head." A refervoir still remains here, upon the grounds belonging to the late Rev. Nathaniel Ellison, behind some buildings, which supplies Sandgate pant with water. There are many fine springs about this eminence; and it is a conjecture, not at all improbable, that about Conduit-head there has been, in ancient times, a large reservoir for fupplying the palace of the Saxon kings, and after that, the fumptuous and stately monastery of the Carmelites, with water. If I might hazard a conjecture on the true etymon of Pandon, (fays Brand) I would define it to mean, The Hill of the Pand, Pond, or Refervoir. Dr. Thomas Henshaw, in Skinner's Etymology, on the word pant, or pand, tells us, that pond was anciently pronounced pand, from a Saxon word pyndan, to enclose or shut up. So that pant, the usual name given to the erections over the wells in Newcastle, is no more than pand, by a very small corruption, mean-, ing a little refervoir or pond.

But

But as the coal trade became rapidly more consequential, commerce and business increasing in proportion, numbers of people came to fix their refidence at Newcastle. The wells of water, in and about the town, were found inadequate to the demands of the inhabitants, and afforded, at best, only a precarious supply. The mayor and burgesses set to work, fo early as the reign of Edward III. anno 1349, to procure a permanent and sufficient quantity, at some distance without the walls; which is the earliest account to be found of aqueducts bringing water into this town.

Leland tells us, that when he visited this place, in the reign of Henry VIII. "there be three hedds of condutes for fresch water to the town."

More particularly we find, in July 26, 1647, an agreement between the corporation of Newcastle and Mr. William Gray, concerning water to be conveyed from his conduit in Pandon-bank to Sandgate. It appears, that part of the wastes called King's-dikes had been granted to the faid Mr. Gray, by way of recompence. The mayor and burgesses are mentioned at the fame time, as having a right to bring part of that water to the Manors, according to its ancient and accustomed course.

The common-council books of 1708 mention a liberty referved to the mayor and burgesses to dig and delve for water, and to take what part of Mr. Nichol's lands and grounds at Red Barnes, as shall seem meet for the advantage of water for the pants in Sandgate and the Keelmen's Hofpital.

February 4th, 1654, there is an order of commoncouncil for conveying the water from Cowgate, that

came under ground from All-Hallows' church-end, and had become a nuisance to that ftreet.

March 2d, 1656, there was an order of commoncouncil to treat concerning some water in Gallowgate, which was intended to be brought in, to supply the pants of Newcastle.

June 3d, 1657, there was a complaint before the common-council against Mr. Ralph Jennison, and Mr. William Wallis, coal owners, for having diverted a third part of the water usually coming to the pants in Newcastle, by finking below the level of the water-course. Mr. Jennifon was threatened with a profecution on this occafion; but on his fubmiffion, and staying the workings, the common-council stopped their proceedings against him.

Similar complaints were made against other gentlemen, for working coal-pits, and digging quarries, by which the supply of water to the town was drained away.

December 16th, 1675, loud complaints were made of a total scarcity of water, owing to vast numbers of private families having pipes and cocks to their houses. The common-council ordered the cocks to be stopped, or cut off.

January 1675, there was a committee of the common-council to confider of a proper place for another pant, befides that at Sandgate, about the Swirle, or or some convenient situation. It was erected at the east end of Sandgate, where it now stands.

August 8, 1677, there was an order of commoncouncil for the town's surveyor to build a well at Gallowgate, for the benefit of the burgesses and other inhabitants. It is there still, and affords a large fupply of good wholesome water.

Octo

October 4, 1680, a proposal was laid before the common-council, by a Mr. Cuthbert Dikes, to erect a water-engine for supplying the town of Newcastle with water from the river Tyne, for the convenience of brew-houses, victualling-houses, &c. and thus fave a great part of the spring water taken from the pants. A committee, appointed for this purpose, fixed on a place without Sandgate, where it was actually erected. This building was afterwards converted to large ftore-houses, &c. and is now called the "Foley," or commonly " Folly."

January 20, 1689, a pant was erected for the inhabitants of the Clofe.

September 15, 1702, the building committee were ordered to take care to bring water into the town from the Castle Leazes. It was brought from thence in 1704, to a pant at the head of the Side, and also to one at Newgate.

June 29, 1709, a committee was ordered to erect a cistern at the end of the Castle Leazes, to renew and keep the water coming from thence to the pants of Newcastle.

Still the inhabitants increasing, and confequently the demand for water; therefore, finding the supplies, mentioned above, to have been insufficient, they looked across the river for an additional supply from Gateshead-Fell, which, from its rocky and sandy foil, seemed to afford what quantity might be necessary of wholesome, well-filtered water.

We find, however, there was an order of commoncouncil for a lease to be granted to Mr. William Yarnold, 1697, according to the covenants there viewed and agreed on, for erecting cifterns and laying pipes in the town's liberties, in order to bring good and wholewholesome water to the inhabitants of Newcastle. This was called the New-water, and came from Gateshead-Fell, from a refervoir which was supplied by three springs in Great Ulworth moor.

In the year 1700, the common council granted leave to William Yarnold, Gent. to erect a cistern on the top of Cale-cross, carrying a pillar up in the middle, and laying on it a new roof of lead, at his own expence. He was allowed to erect a cistern at the White-cross, on columns, removing the then pillar and dial. Both these croffes have been pulled down, and new ones erected, but no cisterns, as before.

June 29, 1700, the new water was ordered to be brought out at a pillar, to be placed at the Head of the Side pant, where three spouts were to be fixed. In the year 1706, a pant was erected at Westgate, petitioned for by the inhabitants of that street. In consequence of the incessant complaints, from year to year, of the scarcity of water, in the year 1737 there was an order of the common-council that the public water fhould not be conveyed into the houfes of any of the inhabitants of Newcastle, except those of the mayor, recorder, aldermen, sheriff, and town-clerk.

In 1743, the water being conveyed to the brewery of Mr. Chriftopher Rutter, which ought to fupply the pant near the house of Sir Walter Blackett, was ordered to be cut off, and conveyed to the public pant there.

December 17, 1767, a committee was appointed by the common-council to confider how the town might be supplied with good and wholesome water. That the corporation might proceed on folid principles,

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