Dunston’s development has been typical of a small village sited close to a large city in the heart of an industrial area, the expansion of industry in the late 1800′s and the development in Dunston itself of coalmining and export via the staithes, the large C.W.S flourmills and soap works complex, small scale-ship building and breaking, brick making and other industries, all led to the rapid growth in the 18th and early nineteen hundreds.
Terraced housing rapidly covered old farmland and of Dunston’s original cottages and houses disappeared, farmhouses were left isolated, surrounded by buildings instead of fields, some like Market Lane farm and Mount Hooley farms vanished beneath the newer housing while others like Dunston or Whitegate Farm on Dunston Road survived and were eventually protected by listed building status.
Prehaps the buildings most likely to survive the changes of times were Englands Public Houses and Dunston’s proves to be no exception*. An 1850
directory lists six pubs in Dunston, The Anchor, The Keel The Dun Cow, The Duke of Wellington, The Waterloo Hotel and The Blacksmith’s Arms.
A directory of 1883 adds The Royal Hotel, The Cross Keys and the Collingwood Inns. The Anchor Inn, changed its name to the Tudor Rose, The Keel pulled down in the 1990′s, The Duke of Wellington (will have to find info on this pub i have never heard of it), The Waterloo Hotel demolished and stood down bottom of Staithes Road in past the Excelsior Club and the Blacksmiths Arms which was the original name of “The Royal”.
Pubs and Clubs Now Gone ..
The Three Horse Shoes Inn..
This old pub was situated at the bottom of Haig Street roughly were Sandra Morgan's Shop was, the name would of came about from the close proximity to the Blacksmiths Forge that stood more or less where the bus stop is at present just down from Dunston Activity Centre. The Three Horse Shoes is name given to the Worshipful Company of Farriers or Horse shoe makers, this pub was demolished in the 1830′s.
The Chancellors..
This club stood on Ravensworth Road opposite The Cross Keys. (See picture below) For some reason it was known as The Cracker Club or just The Crackers. It was a favourite of the trimmers who worked at the nearby Staithes. They could obtain a pint after coming off night shift at 6a.m. Unfortunately it fell foul of the law and lost its licence.
The building was one of the oldest in the village. The 1901 census shows that living in the house, that was then named Ravensworth House, was the family of Joseph Cooper. Joseph was a Woollen Merchant and lived in the house since moving here from Huddersfield during the 1870s. After he retired he left the house, and it was taken over by The Comrades of the Great War Association, who ran it as a club.
The association was linked to the British Legion and when a new road (Wellington Road) was planned, the building was vacated and later demolished to make way for the road. The British Legion then moved to the building at the top of Haig Street and Davidson Place back lane.
The British Legion..
This club stood at the top of Haig Street and hugged the length of ash path that runs between the railway line and the now present Dunston Activity Centre, not sure when it closed but was demolished in the late 1970′s.
Terraced housing rapidly covered old farmland and of Dunston’s original cottages and houses disappeared, farmhouses were left isolated, surrounded by buildings instead of fields, some like Market Lane farm and Mount Hooley farms vanished beneath the newer housing while others like Dunston or Whitegate Farm on Dunston Road survived and were eventually protected by listed building status.
Prehaps the buildings most likely to survive the changes of times were Englands Public Houses and Dunston’s proves to be no exception*. An 1850
directory lists six pubs in Dunston, The Anchor, The Keel The Dun Cow, The Duke of Wellington, The Waterloo Hotel and The Blacksmith’s Arms.
A directory of 1883 adds The Royal Hotel, The Cross Keys and the Collingwood Inns. The Anchor Inn, changed its name to the Tudor Rose, The Keel pulled down in the 1990′s, The Duke of Wellington (will have to find info on this pub i have never heard of it), The Waterloo Hotel demolished and stood down bottom of Staithes Road in past the Excelsior Club and the Blacksmiths Arms which was the original name of “The Royal”.
Pubs and Clubs Now Gone ..
The Three Horse Shoes Inn..
This old pub was situated at the bottom of Haig Street roughly were Sandra Morgan's Shop was, the name would of came about from the close proximity to the Blacksmiths Forge that stood more or less where the bus stop is at present just down from Dunston Activity Centre. The Three Horse Shoes is name given to the Worshipful Company of Farriers or Horse shoe makers, this pub was demolished in the 1830′s.
The Chancellors..
This club stood on Ravensworth Road opposite The Cross Keys. (See picture below) For some reason it was known as The Cracker Club or just The Crackers. It was a favourite of the trimmers who worked at the nearby Staithes. They could obtain a pint after coming off night shift at 6a.m. Unfortunately it fell foul of the law and lost its licence.
The building was one of the oldest in the village. The 1901 census shows that living in the house, that was then named Ravensworth House, was the family of Joseph Cooper. Joseph was a Woollen Merchant and lived in the house since moving here from Huddersfield during the 1870s. After he retired he left the house, and it was taken over by The Comrades of the Great War Association, who ran it as a club.
The association was linked to the British Legion and when a new road (Wellington Road) was planned, the building was vacated and later demolished to make way for the road. The British Legion then moved to the building at the top of Haig Street and Davidson Place back lane.
The British Legion..
This club stood at the top of Haig Street and hugged the length of ash path that runs between the railway line and the now present Dunston Activity Centre, not sure when it closed but was demolished in the late 1970′s.
The Keel Hotel…
The Keel demolished in the 1980′s stood along the road from the Tudor Rose which can be seen on the far right towards the Royal, it was demolished to make way for a new road to take traffic to the Metro Centre.
Landlords..
1828 Thomas Frost Junior.
1858-65 John Penman
1934 John Burdes
1929-39 Alexander Deuchar Ltd
Dunston House Mechanics Social Club..
This historic club was founded on the 9th of October 1913 and has occupied its present premises for many years. Alterations and improvements have been made to the building which was originally owned by various well known families. The club is known locally by the name “Abode of Love”, although the founder’s grandson, Tom Goulbourn, has told us that his grandfather always called it “The Abode I love” However, the Committee like to think that the name refers to the hospitality for which the club has. Sadly The Mechanics closed down in April 2014, demolished 2016.
View interior pictures and of the demolition HERE and HERE
The Cross Keys...
Rebuilt as we know it in 1901 for John Rowell & son.
The Name Cross Keys, was a common sight prior to the Reformation, being the emblem of St Peter. When people walked to the Sunday service
they often stayed afterwards, at a house near the church, to drink beer and to watch or participate in sporting events. These venues became known as “public houses” and would use the sign of the saint to which the church was dedicated – the Cross Keys for St Peter, an Eagle for St John, a Lion for St Mark. The sporting events might include the racing or fighting of dogs, bulls, cocks or pheasants, or the hunting of foxes, with or without hounds – thus giving rise to further pub signs. The Cross Keys had behind it shown on a 1850 map a “Fighting Cock Pit”. The pub changed it name to the “Riverside Lodge” before changing to the “Metz” eventually shutting down in the 2000′s. The pub was destroyed by fire on the 30th July 2014.
Demolished 2016. View pictures of the demolition HERE
Landlords...
1827 Thomas Frost Snr
1838 T. Thompson
1844 George Henderson
1865 John Dunning
1889 Thomas Noble
1902 Joseph Hutchinson
1915 Henry Fail
1918 Robert Moffat
1907-39 John Rowell & Son Ltd
Pubs and Clubs Still In Existence -
The Excelsior Working Mans Club..
Staithes Road
Built in 1909 and originally started in Athol Street, and the first general meeting took place there on April 28th, 1907, when Mr. D. Whing and Mr. W. Bourn were appointed Chairman and Secretary respectively. In 1910 the Excelsior Social Club moved to their present premises. Felling police and the Home Guard used the Excelsior rifle range before its eventual closure in 1946. In 1940 the British Expeditionary Force were billeted in the Club concert room after their successful evacuation from the beaches of Dunkirk. These gallant men were given a brief respite from hostilities and benefited from the wonderful hospitality at the Excelsior.
The Clavering Social Club..
Please Note this article was written in 1968 prior to the old club on Clavering Avenue being demolished.
The Dunston Social Club situated at No's 147-151 Clavering Avenue, Dunston, or as its more affectionately termed by its members 'The Clav' has now reached another stage in its history. Soon the demolition squads will erase all trace of it so i think a brief history of the club which is rather a village institution would not be amiss, when the redevelopment of the Ravensworth Road area was planned our 'City Fathers' sitting in Whickham, knowing more of the local needs than the pundits of London, in their wisdom decided that the club must remain until another was built. You can not make 1,200 men homeless !
The 'Clav' became a thriving, vigorous and financially sound club, with a men only membership rule and a very successful football team, last seson 1967 they won the North Eastern Sunday League Premier Division, The Brennan Cup (The second year running) The League Cup, The Five-a-side Cup all of which keeps alive Dunston's football tradition (Shades of Atlas Villa). So one of the first buildings in the redevelopment area must be a new 'Clav', bigger, plushier, better. This is something that the new members are hotly debating now, should women be allowed in! even the very suggestion has created discord, so let us look back into the annals of the past. Unfortunately a fire in 1913 destroyed most of the the early books
and records but it did not destroy the memories of some of our senior citizens to whom i am very grateful and with the aid of some research i have unearthed the following facts... 151 Clavering Avenue in approximately 1893 was occupied by the Primative Methodists and they remained there
until their new premises on Ravensworth Road was built in 1897 (The old Sally Bash, now demolished).
The rooms were opened by Mr. Jack McKeand as a public billiards hall but it was not very successful about this time a number of prominent villagers including such eminent men as Dr. Foster, Charlie Nordman, Issac Bewley, Sgt. John Reynolds, Arthur Brunswick and other notables decided that the 'Gentlemen of Dunston' should have a club thus, in 1898 'The Clav' was born, i should not think it would be irreverent to say, on holy ground.
The 'Clav' continued as a fairly exclusive private club until the 1st world war and like most places at that time had a nickname, it was referred to by many of the local residents as 'The Joy Wheel', in 1920 extensions and alterations were carried out and the club became a member if the C.I.U. unfortunately this did not have the effect the committee anticipated and after a while the reverted to a private club, few clubs could have had more devoted servants, Sid Carr was steward from 1922 until 1957. It was only advancing years which made the committee ask him to retire on a small pension, he was still a regular until his death on 22nd December1967, may he rest in peace.
The present chairman, John Cope (Dody) has given unbroken service to the committee since 1924, forty four years must be something of a record there is a long list of good and faithful servants too numerous to mention.
On the 15th April 1969, the impressive new building on Ravensworth Road was opened, at a cost of approximately £80,000. The 1,500 members of this private club enjoy a very comfortable lounge, spacious bar and a large concert room; a great improvement on 1926 when membership was only 87 and liquidation became a strong possibility. 22 Pictures of the Clavering Club can be viewed HERE
The Rowers Hotel..
St Omers Road
The Rowers stands at the bottom of St. Omers Road previously called West View Terrace, the pub was originally called “The Rowers Arms” in connection with the popularity of rowing on the River Tyne at the time.
The Anchor (Tudor Rose)..
The Anchor a religious name takes its name from the Letter to the Hebrews (6:19): “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope.” this pub served the locals, keelmen, boat builders etc who lived along side the river.
Landlords
1841 John Young
1858 J. Daglish
1865 Thomas Fulthorpe
1889 Robert Fulthorpe
1902 Robert Geo. Soulsby
1914 John Edwards
1915 James Porter
1929-34 J. M. Bruce
1939 John Rowell & Son Ltd Breweries.
1959 Newcastle Breweries Ltd take over John Rowell & Son Ltd
2005-15 David Cummings
The Dun Cow…
Ellison Road
The Dun Cow takes its name from the area in which it was situated the area around the pub was originally known as Cow Heel a hamlet separated from Dunston on the bank by a length of the lane that was to become Ravensworth Road, its purpose was to serve travellers coming down the Tyne Valley to Gateshead and acroos the old Tyne Bridge to Newcastle, along with travellers came farmers bringing animals and produce from farms up the valley to the more populated parts of Tyneside, hence the name Market Lane. View 25 interior pictures of the Dun Cow HERE
1828 William Laybourn
1838-44 Catherine Bell
1858-84 Robert Brown
1902-05 David Parker
1915 George Dobson
1929-31 L. Archibald Thompson
1934 George Gordon Graham
The Royal Hotel..
Railway Street
The Royal Hotel stands at the corner of Railway Street and Dunston Road, this pub was built in 1825 and thought to have previously been called
The Blacksmiths Arms but Christies Directory of 1870-75 names a Mr. McKenna as landlord of the Blacksmith Arms and a Mr. Dixon manager
of the Royal Hotel.
1907 Swinburne & Co.
1929-31 Newcastle Breweries
1934 Samuel Benson
Railway Street
The Royal Hotel stands at the corner of Railway Street and Dunston Road, this pub was built in 1825 and thought to have previously been called
The Blacksmiths Arms but Christies Directory of 1870-75 names a Mr. McKenna as landlord of the Blacksmith Arms and a Mr. Dixon manager
of the Royal Hotel.
1907 Swinburne & Co.
1929-31 Newcastle Breweries
1934 Samuel Benson
The Highwayman
Whickham Highway..
The “Highwayman”, which was built in 1963, stands on Whickham Highway in pleasant surroundings with panoramic views of Newcastle.
Holmeside Hall Social Club..
Myrtle Avenue
The inaugural meeting of shareholders of the Holmeside Hall Labour Social Club was held on the 9th March, 1954. Mr. L. Atkins was elected President, Mr. N. Rutherford, Secretary, Mr. J. Vickers, Vice President and Mr. T. Chicken, Treasurer. The Committee was also elected.
At the first Committee Meeting held on the 17th March, 1954, a report was given on the proposed site. It was also agreed that ladies could become shareholders and they could elect their own Committee which would be able to submit recommendations to the main Committee. On the 21st March,
1954, it was decided that the Club be registered with the Industrial and Provident Society, and that Planning Permission be sought for the site. At a subsequent meeting the Builders were selected and the Club was open for business on the 22nd December, 1955. The official opening of the Club was on Saturday, 17th March, 1956, and the special guests included Mr. J. Buggle, Whickham U.D.C., Mr. R. Bowey, Chairman and Secretary, Federation Brewery, Mr. Baddiley, Mr. R. Woof, M.P. and Inspector Mitford of Whickham Police.
Pubs i have no info on..
West End Workingmens Club
Dunston Road..
This club later became the New Collingwood. which is now apartments converted in 2006.
The Lord Collingwood..
This pub stood beside the Royal Hotel it moved into the West End Workingmens Club and changed its name to the New Collingwood.
The New Collingwood...
1939