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Huge Roman factory was 'hidden in plain sight'

Jonny Manning,North East and Cumbriaand
Jim Scott
News imageBBC Allyson Timm standing by the edge of the River Wear. She has shoulder-length blonde hair and is wearing dark-rimmed glasses, a grey scarf and bobble hat. Snow can be seen behind her close to the river.BBC
Allyson Timm was the first person to find the stones but had no idea what they were

The site of a large Roman factory has been uncovered on the banks of a river where it lay "hidden in plain sight" for hundreds of years.

The industrial hub was found by the River Wear at Offerton, near Sunderland, and has led to the discovery of hundreds of whetstones which were used to sharpen swords and farm tools.

The dig began in February 2025 and was excavated by local archaeology group the Vedra Hylton Community Association.

Allyson Timm was the first to find the objects but admitted she initially called them "Mars Bar stones" because she had no idea what they were.

"I actually found the first ones over the opposite side of the river and didn't have a clue what they were," she said.

"I'm so pleased to be part of [the dig] and we've all worked together.

"It's just amazing and now we've made history with it."

News imageDurham University and Gary Bankhead Five volunteers digging a trench in the mud at the river bank. One person is standing in the hole and is digging with a spade. Two others also hold spades while the two remaining men are holding metal detectors.Durham University and Gary Bankhead
The dig was conducted by members of the Vedra Hylton Community Association

About 800 stones have been found at the site but the dig team believe there could be thousands more hidden within the riverbank.

Durham University supported the excavation and said its research suggested Offerton was the first Roman site found in Britain where stone was deliberately quarried for whetstone production.

Sediment samples taken from the dig suggest the factory was in use between AD104 and AD238.

News imageDurham University and Gary Bankhead Some of the whetstones found at the dig site. They are long, dark and rectangular. They are differing lengths and have been laid out on a large rock by the edge of the River Wear.Durham University and Gary Bankhead
About 800 whetstones have been found by the riverbank

The excavation was led by Gary Bankhead, president of the Vedra Hylton Community Association and honorary fellow of Durham University's Department of Archaeology.

He said the whetstone production site was the largest in Britain, "without a shadow of a doubt".

"It's probably the largest number of whetstones found in the entire north-west of Europe," he said, "so it's a significant location, hidden in plain site."

Bankhead said the team had also uncovered several other objects from different periods which suggested Offerton was abandoned after the Romans left but later re-established as a settlement.

News imageGary Bankhead standing by the river. He has short, greying hair and is smiling at the camera. he is wearing a thick coat. The River Wear curves to the left behind him. Snow can be seen on the grass to the left.
Gary Bankhead called the Roman site a remarkable discovery

The finds included a post-medieval wooden jetty, an older stone jetty, chisels and stone splitting tools, a Tudor leather shoe and iron and stone cannon balls dating to the English Civil War.

A Civil War skirmish was already known to have taken place at Offerton but Durham University said the discovery of ammunition suggested the clash took place over a larger area than first thought.

"This isn't just a Roman site, it's Sunderland's story revealed through the dedication of local volunteers and researchers working side-by-side," said Bankhead.

"The River Wear has once again offered us a remarkable discovery and we are only beginning to understand its full legacy."

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