General · 8 January 2026
Roman whetstone factory discovered in Sunderland
Near Sunderland, at Offerton on the River Wear, a significant Roman industrial site came to light. More than 800 whetstones, alongside 11 stone anchors, were unearthed. This is the largest collection of whetstones of its kind found in northwest Europe. The items date between 104AD and 238AD, during the Roman era. The whetstones, used for sharpening tools, indicate Offerton likely served as a key production location for manufacturing them.
Reported by ITV · How we write briefs