Blackett of Wylam

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The Blacketts of Wylam were a branch of the ancient family of Blackett of Hoppyland, County Durham and were related to the Blackett Baronets.

John Blackett (d. 1714) was the grandson of Christopher Blackett of Hoppyland (1612-1675) and the greatnephew of Sir William Blackett. In 1685 he acquired two farms at Wylam, Northumberland, and the Manor estate including the mineral rights, from the exploitation of which the family was to benefit greatly.

John was High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1691. His residence was Wylam House.

His son John (1712-1779) established coal mining and Wylam Colliery in the township in the mid 18th century. The waggonway connecting the colliey to the River Tyne at Lemington was built in 1748 and the colliery continued to flourish until about 1870.

The family were keenly involved in the development of steam power for the improvement of coal transportation. George Stephenson was born in Wylam in 1781. William Hedley, Timothy Hackworth and Jonathan Forster all worked at Wylam Colliery for Christopher Blacket(1751-1829), and there produced the famous early steam engines Puffing Billy and Wylam Dilly