Quarrying of sandstone, which outcrops around the village, especially on the Common, for building puposes probably had a long history in Heddon on the Wall. In Roman times, a local source of quality stone would have been needed both for the curtain wall, its associated milecastles and turrets, and nearby forts. In later times, where Roman stone couldn't be reused, local quarrying would have supplied material to build houses, farmsteads and the church. Much of the structure of the old vilage is stone built.
The Romans were well aware of the quality of the stone from the Heddon quarries for as well as its use in building Hadrian's Wall, it was transported down river for use in the forts of Segedunum (Wallsend) and Arbeia (South Shields). It was used in particular for special quality masonry, including stones for dedications and altars. It was used for the colonnades of the headquarters building, the drains and the huge strong-room blocks beneath the Sacellum.
The vicar and churchwardens of St Andrew's registered their right to remove stone from the whole of Heddon Common for the repair of the church and other buildings and walls owned by the church.
The Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal (1839) p.379 records that St Nicholas' Cathedral in Newcastle was built in the 14th century in stone very similar to that from Heddon quarry but much decomposed. Parts were restored in the 18th century with the same stone, already decomposing.
It has been shown that sandstone from Segedunum and Arbeia, originally quarried by the Romans, was reused in the Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman phases at St Paul’s, Jarrow and at St Peter’s, Wearmouth (Wearmouth & Jarrow: Northumbrian Monasteries in an Historic Landscape by Sam Turner, Sarah Semple, Alex Turner, 2013). Perhaps that used in St Nicholas' Cathedral had a similar origin.
It has been shown that sandstone from Segedunum and Arbeia, originally quarried by the Romans, was reused in the Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman phases at St Paul’s, Jarrow and at St Peter’s, Wearmouth (Wearmouth & Jarrow: Northumbrian Monasteries in an Historic Landscape by Sam Turner, Sarah Semple, Alex Turner, 2013). Perhaps that used in St Nicholas' Cathedral had a similar origin.
Some details of the transport of stone from Heddon quarries in the waggonway era has recently come to light thanks to the research of Alan Clothier in his book, Beyond the Blaydon Races.
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