Company of Hostmen of Newcastle upon Tyne

Notes:

Established 1599 by royal charter which formalised a monopoly by hostmen in export of coal from the River Tyne - ie 'for loading and better disposing of sea coals and pit coals, grindstones, rubstones and whetstones on and upon the river and port of Tyne'. Hostmen, who had historically provided services to foreign merchants, came to act as middlemen operating between coal producers and merchants/shippers of coal. In decline early 18th century