4 hours ago
5
At first, it seems as if the pub is remarkable because it is so traditional: beers, wines, spirits, crisps (“four flavours”), nuts (“salted or dry roasted”) and if you want cooked food, you’ll be politely told to try elsewhere.
But the railway prints, maps and giant mural of the Locomotion No 1 steam engine on the wall of the snug hint at something truly remarkable about the Cleveland Bay: it is the oldest purpose-built railway pub in the world and, according to Historic England, deserves to be celebrated and protected.
The heritage organisation announced seven new Grade II listings on Wednesday to mark 200 years since the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world’s first public railway, opened on 27 September 1825.
They include the Cleveland Bay in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, which was built at the end of the Yarm branch line on the instructions of Thomas Meynell, the chair of the Stockton and Darlington Railway company.
Landlord Peter Rafferty has been there for 32 years, but admitted he only discovered its status when local railway history enthusiasts started investigating its origins about a decade ago.
“There was a pub somewhere in the north-west which reckoned it was the first purpose-built railway pub,” said Rafferty. “But their railway line didn’t open until 1827 so the Friends of Stockton and Darlington Railway said we must have a pub that’s older than their pub. So that’s when they started the research.”
The revelation has not given the Cleveland Bay much in the way of airs and graces. “If you go down to Yarm, every pub has got a knife and fork on every table,” said Rafferty. “We are a traditional boozer.”
But the revelation does mean it gets visits from railway enthusiasts who are welcomed as long as they don’t want a sandwich. “We do get people from overseas but it is mainly, and I’m not being disparaging here, railway anoraks and nerds who come and want to know the history and take photographs.”
Rafferty is thrilled by the listing. “The pub hasn’t changed much in 200 years, you’ve still got the same layout of bar, snug and lounge whereas a lot of pubs have been knocked through. Hopefully this means it has got a long future without being knocked about or changed.”
The announcement of Grade II listing comes during what has been a busy year of events and exhibitions marking 200 years of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
This weekend, a newly restored replica of Locomotion No 1 will recreate the original journey along sections of the historic line.
The listings have been made by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England and also include heritage stations that contributed to the rise of tourism in Norfolk, Dorset and Devon.
The other listings are:
-
Havenstreet railway station on the Isle of Wight: a small, rural station built in 1926 and considered a good example of a station operated by a single person
-
Woody Bay station in Devon, built in 1898 to a “chalet style” design reflecting the area’s nickname of Little Switzerland
-
Weybourne station and Sheringham station in Norfolk, two village stations important in connecting north Norfolk with the industrial heartland of the Midlands
-
Two sites on the Swanage railway heritage line in Dorset: Northbrook Road overbridge and Swanage engine shed and turntable
The listings were welcomed by the heritage minister, Baroness Twycross. “These seven sites are stunning examples of our railway heritage,” she said.
“Listing all of these incredible sites is the perfect way to celebrate Railway 200 and shine a light on the role of railways in shaping our national story over the last two centuries. These listings will ensure they are protected and can be enjoyed for another 200 years.”
