In Hatfield's Survey (c.1382), under the heading of Whickham, there are four references to coal pits. Robert Hawyk had pits on 10 acres once held by Simon de Bassyngham; Cristiana Nikson pits on 11 acres once held by William Hering; Adam Punder pits on 8 acres called Collierland. All the tenants held 40 acres on the Crossmoor, described as a waste because of coal pits. It is not clear where these pits were.