See NAA 2001, 36-46 for detailed survey information on Thorncliffe Road and Lee 2003:ch5 for detailed information on Newbiggin Wood. These woodlands, which lie of steeply sloping land, are all likely ancient woodlands. Archaeological survey has shown that much of this area was heavily exploited from the 17th century onwards for the extraction of both coal and iron ore. Many archaeological remains including shafts, bell pits and tramway earthworks remain within these woods as well as more recent railway and 'aerial ropeway' remains from the later expansion of the Chapeltown works and collieries of Newton Chambers and Co. Legibility of previous character types is uncertain as we have no evidence as yet for earlier landscapes.