Shown on 18th century plans. A rental of 1669 for part of the Throckley estate of Sir Francis Radcliffe lists the tenants 'for every going pit' as George Lerwin Marihl, Cuthbert Birtley Miln, the heirs of William Chicken and Jeremy Colhurst. Dodds (1930) says small pits were begun at Throckley in the late 17th century.