History of Seaham - Stories and remarkable and memorable events in the history of Seaham Pubs and Clubs of Seaham Have you been on a pub crawl around Seaham recently?
The George, Deneside (since demolished)
Imagine what a night you would have had on a pub crawl around Seaham 145 years ago. in 1879 Kelley’s Directory records that there were nineteen public houses, one brewer and maltster and 14 licenced beer retailers making and selling beer from their home in Seaham.
The Duke of Wellington (formerly the Wellington Inn)
In the heyday of Seaham "watering holes” a local poem called the “Tale of Seaham Licencing Signs” recounts the names of many of the Public Houses in the town. It reads: –
“The fellows of the Royal Navy Reserve entered the Ship built of Royal Oak and sailed up to the Adam and Eve Gardens where they met with some Foresters who informed them that the Duke of Wellington, on leaving the Edinburgh Castle, had got into a Dray Cart. He was escorted by some noble Volunteers all loyal to the Rose and Crown and headed by a Highlander playing on his pipes. He passed through Northumberland. On arriving at the Bridge they were met by Marlborough, Zetland and Bradyll who had just returned from Canterbury. The assembled company here set down to discuss various subjects, the merits of Shakespeare, the latest achievements of the Engineers and the industry of the Bottlemakers. But they were repeatedly interrupted by the chattering of the Parrot. Then a party of Oddfellows suddenly entered the room and informed them that a Golden Lion had escaped from the Noah’s Ark and was speeding by the Colliery to the Times Inn hotly pursued by Lord Seaham wearing a Hat and Feather and mounted on a Kicking Cuddy."
This little ditty and some of the pubs feature in the spy thriller novel "A Master Mariner's Tale" set in Seaham in 1881. ( A MASTER MARINER'S TALE: The Adventures of a Reluctant Secret Agent eBook : Cooper, Fred: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store )
Forty years after Kelly's Directory was compiled in 1919 drinkers in Seaham were outraged when the Licenced Victuallers Association agreed with its members, that because of a national beer shortage, to introduce a rationing scheme. Only a small quantity of beer was to be served to customers every day so that supplies would not be exhausted.
Newcastle Chronicle 8th March 1919
The situation might have been even worse for drinkers in 1848 if the Methodist movement had succeeded in their campaign against the evils of drink. Lord Seaham appealed to Parliament on behalf of the Primitive Methodists to make the sale of intoxicating liquor illegal on a Sunday. At that time Sunday was the only day workers had off and many took the opportunity to spend the day in the pub.
Newcastle Courant 23rd June 1848
The Londonderry Arms, South Crescent
Take a look at Seaham Past history website (pub and club gallery photos) here .... Pubs and Clubs of Seaham (seahampast.co.uk)
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