Houghton-le-Spring: Pubs & Clubs

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Houghton-le-Spring had over 40 pubs and clubs. This article explores a few...

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The original White Lion Hotel in 1902

BEERS, WINES & SPIRITS
An article on the many public houses found in the centre of Houghton-le-Spring in days gone by.
Copyright © Books of the North 2002 - 2011.
The following article by Paul Lanagan was published by the NGFL in 2002 and updated in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011:

During the Houghton Feast 2002 celebrations, I visited the Golden Lion public house for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped through the door as I was greeted with an old style public house with a bar and snug! The walls were adorned with quaint old photographs of the area and the staff were extremely helpful and polite. My meal was also delicious and reasonably priced. On the Feast Friday evening, Houghton was alive with an atmosphere that I had never experienced in the Broadway before - a show organ played all night, the pubs were full with locals, visitors, showmen and pipers, celebrating the launch of the Feast. The pub was jumping and everybody was in good spirits! I am now a regular and my favourite room is the aptly named snug.
Copyright © Books of the North 2002 - 2011.


The White Lion Hotel	The Britannia Public House

Amazingly, between the early 1800s and late 1950s, Houghton and surrounds had over thirty pubs and clubs!
Copyright © Books of the North 2002 - 2011.

This article is now out of date. To see the new version, which is updated, visit:
www.houghtonlespring.org.uk/pubs

These included:

Albert Inn, Newbottle Lane;

Bay Horse, Sunderland Street;

Black Boy, New Town, Houghton-le-Spring;

Black Horse, Market Place;

Black Lion Inn, Sunderland Street;

Bonnie Pit Lad (known as the Hole in the Wall), Hopper Street or Newtown;

Britannia Hotel, Newbottle Street;

The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, Sunderland Street;

Buffs Social Club, Frederick Place (closed 2011);

Colliery Inn, Quarry Row;

The Copt Hill, Seaham Road, Copt Hill;

Cross House, Hetton Lane (opp Burn Inn);

The County Arms, 54 Sunderland Street;

Derwentwater's Arms;

Dun Cow;

George & the Dragon, Market Place;

Glendale Club, Church Street then Hall Lane;

Golden Lion, Sunderland Street;

Grey Horse, The;

Houghton Comrades;

Houghton Social Club;

King's Head, Church Street;

Lamb Inn, Newbottle Lane;

Lambton Arms (opposite Silver Grid fish shop), Newbottle Street;

Malsters' Arms, Seaham Road, Market Place;

Market Tavern (renamed as Jolly Farmers, and then Spring Inn), Gilbert Street, Market Place;

Mill Inn, Prospect Place;

Mill Inn, Rainton Bridge;

Nags Head, 97 Newbottle Street;

Neshams Arms Inn, Nesham Place;

The Old Bank, 16/18 Sunderland Street (Dec 2008 – Oct 2009);

Plough Inn, Rainton Bridge;

Prince of Wales (aka the Flying Poker), Hopper Street;

Queen's Head (known as the Pillars), 32 Sunderland Street;

Ram's Head Inn, 122 Sunderland Street;

Red Lion Inn, Church Street;

Ye Robbie Burns (aka Robert Burns Inn), Newbottle Street;

The Royal Oak Inn (where Woolworths was), Newbottle Street;

Sportsman's Tavern, New Town, Houghton-le-Spring;

The Sun Inn, Market Place;

Victoria Inn, 10 Robinson Street;

The Wheatsheaf, 20 Neasham Place (converted to a house in 1973);

White Lion Hotel, Newbottle Street;

The Wild Boar (opened April 2011), Frederick Place.
Copyright © Books of the North 2002 - 2011.

The Golden Lion Pub, Houghton-le-Spring, c1940s

This article is now out of date. To see the new version, which is updated, visit:
www.houghtonlespring.org.uk/pubs

The Old Bank pub originated as a branch of the North-Eastern Banking Company

Making a brief appearance on the list was the Old Bank on Sunderland Street, which opened on December 19th 2008 but closed in October 2009.

The building originated as a branch of the North-Eastern Banking Company in the mid 1800s.

Local resident Wendy Davison recollects socialising in Houghton’s pubs during her formative years.

“During the mid 1980s, when I was 18, everyone started in the Brit and worked their way along Newbottle Street. We used to end up in the Lambton Arms which was opposite where the Silver Grid fish shop is now. It was a nice pub with a good atmosphere.
We also used to go to the Birds Nest and Incognito on a Friday or Saturday night. These were inside the old brewery and were the only places where you could get a drink after 11 o’clock. They also played requests. The bouncers on the door used to think they were the God’s gift! Houghton was always packed and it was a good night out.”
Copyright © Books of the North 2002 - 2011.

Wendy also has fond memories of one of Houghton’s many publicans.

“Jack Wheatley had the Brit about 15 years ago. He was a lovely fella and was related to the Wheatleys who had the sweet shop. His sister, Elizabeth, used to do the karaoke nights, which drew a good crowd.”

No article on Houghton's public houses would be complete without mentioning the town's four lions - The Black Lion; The White Lion Hotel; The Golden Lion and The Red Lion Inn. These four lions guarded Rectory Square (now the Broadway) for many a year but now only the White and Golden Lions remain. The Red Lion Inn is mentioned in 1798 as one of the main Postal Inns from which riders and coaches conveyed both mail and passengers. In the 1800s, Houghton’s Magistrates were based on the top floor of the White Lion. You could get drunk on the ground floor, be sentenced upstairs and sent down (literally) to the two cells in the basement.
Copyright © Books of the North 2002 - 2011.

This article is now out of date. To see the new version, which is updated, visit:
www.houghtonlespring.org.uk/pubs

Houghton also has its own famous fictitious pub, the Blue Lion, as found in author Sheila Quigley’s crime novels. The Blue Lion, which is located in the middle of Houghton, was run by the evil Mrs Archer and is the scene of many gritty goings on.

The Blue Lion pub, as ran by the evil Mrs Archer in RUN FOR HOME

The real public houses were, of course, a favourite place for the area's many pitmen to relax and socialise in, while some date back much further than the nineteenth century and originated as old coach inns.

Former Houghton miner, George Davison, was one such pitman and has many memories of the long-gone pubs in Houghton.
“The Colliery Inn and Half Way House were within the vicinity of the pit gates, and some miners would call in for a pint before going home. Like everybody else, we used to do the rounds on a Friday night, starting at the Lambton. In the 1950s, the landlord of the Robbies was Tommy Lynn, and he had a jukebox in the bar which played records for a shilling per song.
We’d head up to the Pillars on Sunderland Street where there’d be a concert party with somebody playing the piano.”
Copyright © Books of the North 2002 - 2011.

This article is now out of date. To see the new version, which is updated, visit:
www.houghtonlespring.org.uk/pubs

But things were very different in the 1950s as George further explained.

“There was no TV then, just the wireless, and we couldn’t afford to go out every night, but everybody knew everybody and we could have a bit chat and natter with our neighbours. The beer was bloody strong and only cost about a shilling a pint!

Women weren’t allowed in the bar – they had to go into the snug. Once you had five in the snug, it was chocca!”

George also recollects visiting one of Houghton’s pubs before the age of 18 – on an errand for his grandmother:

“Before I was 11, I’d sometimes go along to the Colliery Inn on a night with a tea caddy can. I’d knock on the bar door and the landlord, Jack Robson, used say, ‘Another gill for auld Lena?’ and fill it up. I once had a sip on the way home and said ‘I’m not drinking this stuff’”

George remembers one incident in the 1950s when Eddie ‘Cantor’ Elliot, a fellow miner, got drunk at the Comrades Club and the ingenuity of the pitmen came to the rescue:

“Nobody could carry Cantor home so we went into the pit yard and borrowed a tub bottom. A bit like a bogey, it had two sets of wheels and was made of iron. We wheeled him home to Grasswell in it!”
Copyright © Books of the North 2002 - 2011.

Recently, His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, celebrated his 60th birthday but probably not in a pub. Houghton’s own Prince of Wales was a public house on Hopper Street, and was known locally as ‘The Flying Poker’. The late Houghton historian, CA Smith, gave an explanation in the Sunderland Echo in October 1960 as to how the pub got this strange nickname:

"The landlady kept a slate on which unpaid bills for drinks were entered in ‘Baff’ week, when wages were fortnightly. Usually these debts were wiped off the following weekend, but woe betide the defaulters, who were chased out of the house by the landlady who would fling a short poker, generally used for mulling ale, after him, hence the appellation!
As time went on the poker got shorter consequent, presumably, on her unerring aim. Then John Thornton and some of his friends decided to make her a new poker at Hopper’s Forge – which they inscribed the ‘Flying Poker.’”

This article is now out of date. To see the new version, which is updated, visit:
www.houghtonlespring.org.uk/pubs

Times certainly have changed, as have the pubs, many of which have come and gone. Imagine the scenes that the old pubs have been witness to over the years. If only walls could talk...
Copyright © Books of the North 2002 - 2011.

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Paul Lanagan wishes to place on record his thanks to the following:

Thanks go to Linda Bromfield, George Davison, Wendy Davison, Ruth Savage, and Alan Vickers for memories and information. A glass is raised to Houghton’s ‘mein hosts’ for their hospitality (Paul from the Golden Lion and James Dunning from the Old Bank), Brian Dixon, and to the late CA Smith, one of Houghton’s historians.

A special thank you must be given to Ron Lawson, pub historian, not only for his generosity in sharing information but for his efforts in documenting the histories of all of old Durham’s pubs.

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PAGE UPDATED: 31/08/2011

Agar, Geo. vict. Victoria Inn, Robinson St
Berry, Wm. vict. Red Lion, Church St.
Clark, Timothy, vict. Lamb Inn, Newbottle Lane
Dixon, James Turnbull, vict. White Lion and Commercial Hotel, Sunderland St.
Dixon, T, vict. Halfway House, Newbottle Lane (see below)
Fleming, Mrs A, vict. County Arms, Sunderland St.
Fletcher, Rbt, vict, Bonny Pit Lad, Newtown vFuller, Francis, vict. & threshing machine prop., Copt Hill Inn, Copt Hill
Gray, Robt. vict, Colliery Inn, Newbottle Lane
Hall, H, vict. Newcastle Arms, Newbottle Lane
Hall, Hugh, vict. Golden Lion, Sunderland St.
Harrison, Marmaduke Tomlins Parkin, vict. Cross House, Hutton Lane
Haswell, George, vict. and farmer, Jolly Farmers, Market Place
Moffitt, Wm, vict. Robbie Burns, Newbottle Lane
Patrick, Edwd, vict. Black Horse, Market Place
Pickering, William, vict. Sportsman Tavern, Newtown
Place, Wm, vict. Mill Inn, Rainton bridge
Rennoldson, Thomas, vict and farmer, Wheat Sheaf, Neasham Place
Richardson, Mrs M A, vict. Bay Horse, Sunderland St.
Rigby, T, vict, Lamton Arms, Newbottle Lane
Scott John, shopkeeper, Newbottle Lane, Halfway House (see above)
Shields, W, vict, Nag's Head, Newbottle Lane
Smith, W, beerhouse, Prince of Wales, Hopper St
Smith, William Bell, vict. Queen's Head, Sunderland Street
Smyth, Mrs Isa, vict. White Lion, Sunderland St
Turnbull, Mrs E, vict. Royal Oak, Newbottle Lane
Turnbull, William Benjamin, grocer, wine and spirit merchant, Newbottle Lane
Waller, T, vict. Ram's Head, Sunderland St vWelsh, Nrs E, beerhouse, Albert Inn, Newbottle Lane
Wheatley, G. jr., vict. Malster's Arms, Newton
Wilson, G, vict. Britannia Inn, Newbottle Lane
Wilson, Wm, vict. Black Lion, Sunderland St

In 1834 the Landlord of the Dun Cow pub, Houghton-le-Spring, was Samuel Bentley. In 1834 the Landlord of the Lamb Inn pub, Houghton-le-Spring, was Chas Pentney Skinner. In 1834 the Landlord of the ??? pub, Houghton-le-Spring, was Ralph Blackbird. In 1834 the Landlord of the ??? pub, Houghton-le-Spring, was William Thornton. In 1834 the Landlady of the Royal Oak Inn pub, Houghton-le-Spring, was Elizabeth Burnup. Pubs in the Houghton area c 1834 Pub Landlord location Bird in Hand William Hardy New Penshaw Black Boy William Crofton Pittington Black Boy Mathew Eales Moorsley Black Horse George Lawson Market Place Black lion Alex Newley Sunderland Street Board Ralph Lumley South Biddick Board Andrew Watson West Rainton Bonny Pit Lad Jno Streaker West Rainton Coal Wagon Cuthbert Cooke West Herrington Copthill Inn Blyth Robinson Bowling Lane Crown William Reed East Rainton Dun Cow Samuel Bentley Newbottle Lane Dun Cow Thomas Hutchinson Moorsley Fox and Hounds William Hunter Middle Rainton Gate William Forster Painshaw George and Dragon George Hudson Market Place Golden Lion John Welsh Sunderland Street Grey Horse John Johnson Robinsons Lane Grey Horse Robert Mitcheson Painshaw Half Moon Richard Downs Cox Green Jolly Farmers Elizabeth Steele Market Place Jolly Potter Robert Burnup Newbottle Keel Robert Todd Low Lambton Keel Thomas Wilkinson Painshaw staiths Kings Head Win Makepeace Church Street Lamb Chas Pentney Skinner Newbottle Lane Letters John Bailey East Rainton Letters Ralph Blackbird Newbottle Lane Letters George Carr Shiney Row Letters Peter Ditchburn Pittington Letters John Greenwell Hetton Lane Letters Rodger Haddick West Rainton Letters David Howe Murton –Le - Wins Letters John Liddell Boundary House Letters Mary Ramshaw Middle Herrington Letters John Scott Moorsley Letters William Thornton Newbottle Lane Letters William Wardle Wapping Letters Anthony Whinship Hill Top Londonderry Arms Robert Hill Shiney Row Londonderry Arms John Charlton Painshaw staithes Londonderry Arms Mathew Robson Colliery Row Maltsters Arms George Howe End of old town Marques Arms Robert Forster Pittington Mill Inn Anthony Kell Hill Side Mill Inn David Lawson Rainton Bridge Mill Inn Ralph Patterson Newbottle Nags Head William Green Rainton Gate Nags Head Jno Richardson Philadelphia Nags Head Thomas Winn Newbottle North Hetton Tavern Thomas Whinship Moorsley Oak Tree John Johnson West Rainton Pit Lad Archibald Lamb New Town Plough Thomas Meek Warden Law Queen Head Robert Binks Sunderland Street Rams Head Ralph Snaith Sunderland Street Red Lion Jesse Forster Painshaw staithes Red Lion Robert Liddell Church Street Red Lion John Ovington New Lambton Rising Sun Thomas Robertson Newbottle Rose and Crown Margaret Dawson Shiney Row Rose and Crown Ralph Green Herrington Bourne Royal Oak Elizabeth Burnup Newbottle Lane Royal William ? Cox Green Seven Stars Isabella Duncan Painshaw Shoulder of Mutton Daniel Meadley Shiney Row Smiths Arms John Horn East Rainton Smiths Arms Robert Newby Newbottle Sportsman Mary Watson New Town Sun Ann Balmer Market Place Three Horse Shoes Mark Mitchell Pittington Three Tuns George Davison Broom Hill Three Tuns George Green Rainton Gate Travellers Rest Jno Burlinson East Rainton Wear Tavern James Dowell Cox Green Wellington Ralph Green Pittington