Northumberland's Coastal Inns & Taverns

 by Richard Langford

A potted history of the Inns and Taverns on the coast of Northumberland dedicated to the memory of those who worked there, the buildings, history and the central part they played in the lives of the community and people who lived and passed through these communities over the last few hundred years.

I have previously researched the pubs of Chorley in Lancashire where I now live but was inspired to create this blog after twenty or so years of memorable holidays in the Northeast of England exploring the fabulous countryside, soaking up the history and whiling away many an hour in one of the wonderful old pubs along the coast. 

"There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn."
Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)

I was first inspired to research the history of pubs whilst tracing my family tree several years ago.  I was born in Britain's brewing capital, Burton-on-Trent and most of the paternal side of my family hail from the Black Country in the West Midlands.  When I learnt that a great uncle was previously the licensee of the Coach and Horses Public House in Tipton I began to scour the web and swiftly came across the most fantastic website called Hitchmough's Black Country Pubs, which is dedicated to plotting the history of over 5300 pubs in that area and is an amazing resource for historians and genealogists alike (www.longpull.co.uk).  This blog is not meant to copy what Tony Hitchmough has created over 40 years of research but is inspired by his work and hopefully will prove useful to anyone interested in Northumberland's coastal heritage, of which, the humble tavern will always remain an important part...warts an' all!