Alnwick (Clayport) - Anchor

Name: Anchor Inn

Address: Clayport, Alnwick

1864 Town Plan

Local historical records indicate the Anchor Inn operated from around 1792 until it closed in 1871. The buildings in this section of town no longer exist having been demolished to make way for new development in the 20th century and are now the site of the bus station and Morrison's supermarket behind.

Listed landlords at the Inn were John Graham (1829), Robert Davison (1834), John Hogg (or Hagg) (1841-), Elizabeth Graham (1858), Jane Popkiss & Elizabeth Dixon (1861),  C Crawford (1869), Mr Hood (1869) and John Curry (1870-).

1829 Directory John Graham

1834 Directory Robert Davison

1841 Census John Hogg

1851 Census John Hogg

Saturday,  Feb. 21, 1852 Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury

1855 Whellan's Directory - John Hagg

 

Wednesday,  Apr. 1, 1857 Alnwick Mercury

1858 Post Office Directory - Mrs E Graham

Thursday,  Mar. 1, 1860 Alnwick Mercury

By 1861, Jane Popkiss and her sister Elizabeth Dixon were running the inn together, just a few yards down from Thomas Watson at the Grey's Inn.

1861 Census Jane Popkiss & Elizabeth Dixon

Saturday,  Feb. 13, 1869 Alnwick Mercury

Saturday,  July 10, 1869 Alnwick Mercury

Saturday,  June 11, 1870 Alnwick Mercury

Saturday,  Sept. 10, 1870 Alnwick Mercury

Saturday,  Sept. 24, 1870 Alnwick Mercury

Following a difficult period for John Curry, falling foul of the Magistrates on a number of occasions, it appears he moved on from the Anchor, and the owners, Alnwick Brewery put the premises up to let. 

Saturday,  Nov. 5, 1870 Alnwick Mercury

Six months later, following numerous adverts posted in the local press it appears that no new landlord was to be found and the pub was closed for good.

Saturday,  Apr. 15, 1871 Alnwick Mercury

This section of Clayport Street between Fenkle Street and Dispensary Street was the most densely populated in terms of pubs during the mid-1800s as the map below attests, including the Anchor Inn, Grey's Inn, Clayport Tower Inn, Packhorse Public House, Freemen's Arms Inn, Blue Bell Inn and the Three Tuns Inn, so it's little wonder that so many went out of business. Those on the north side of the road have all been demolished and the site of the Anchor was where Lagny Street joins Clayport Street these days.

1864 vs 2026 Maps