Northumberland Inns and Taverns: Alnwick (Clayport)

Name: The Three Tuns

Address: 3 Clayport Street, Alnwick

The Three Tuns now Adam & Eve

The former Three Tuns Inn in Alnwick has been renamed and extensively renovated. It is located at 3 Clayport Street and more recently has operated under names like the Alnwick Arms, JW's, and Mr Fox. Today, the site operates as a gastropub called Adam and Eve.

First reference I can find to the Inn is on the press release below from 1816, when the landlady was a Mary Rattray.

Indenture of Assignment executed by Ames Rankin, of Alnwick, in the County of Northumberland Watchmaker of his Effects, for the Benefit of his Creditors, will attend at Mrs Rattray’s, the Three Tuns Inn, in Alnwick, on Wednesday the 30th Day.
Published: Saturday 26 August 1815
Newspaper: Newcastle Courant
County: Northumberland, England

The Assignees of John Allison, of Alnwick, Shoe Maker and Spirit-Merchant, will meet at the House of Mrs Mary Rattray, Three Tuns Inn, Alnwick, on Wednesday the 16th instant, at three o’Clock.

Published: Saturday 14 December 1816

Newspaper: Newcastle Courant

County: Northumberland, England

1825 Black Price List - Rattray Family

Listed landlords were Mary Rattray (1815-), Charlotte Rattray (1829-1830), Thomas Snowdon (1830-1855), William Rogerson (1855-), James Golding (1856-), Jane Popkiss (1864-), Thomas Dixon (1874), Thomas Braithwaite (1876-94), Aaron Morton (1894-1900), Andrew Morton (1900-1921),William Turnbull (-1940), Mr R Thompson (1940-) and Ernie & Vera Newton (1970s).

1829 Pigot's Directory - Charlotte Rattray

c.1810

Charlotte was local to Alnwick and her brother, Foster Rattray was one of the 25 volunteers listed in 1805 as one of the Percy Tenantry Volunteers, a unique, 1,500-strong home guard originally raised by Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland, in 1798. Fully funded and equipped by the Duke to defend the northeast of England from Napoleon's French forces, the corps consisted of cavalry, artillery, and riflemen who served until 1814.

Charlotte gave up the Three Tuns in 1830 and the reins were taken up by Thomas Snowdon. Interestingly, some maps and historic records have the Inn listed as the 'Three Tons' but I believe this is probably a typographical error.

1834 Directory Thomas Snowdon

1841 Census Thomas Snowdon

A later reincarnation as 'JW's' 1980s

1851 Census Thomas Snowdon

1855 Whellan's Directory - Thomas Snowdon

TO BE LET, AND ENTERED TO AT WHITSUNTIDE NEXT

The THREE TUNS INN, Alnwick, as now, and for the last twenty-five years occupied by Mr. Thomas Snowdon. Particulars may be obtained of Messrs. Skelly and Smith, Alnwick Brewery Office.

Published: Friday 23 March 1855

Newspaper: Newcastle Chronicle

County: Northumberland, England

1858 Probate Thomas Snowdon

TO LET - THE THREE TUNS INN, ALNWICK

As lately occupied by Mr. Thomas Snowdon, and at present Wm. Rogerson. Particulars may be obtained at the Office of Messrs SKELLY and Smith, Alnwick.

Published: Saturday 24 November 1855

Newspaper: Newcastle Journal

County: Northumberland, England

1858 Post Office Directory James Golding

1864 Town Plan

1861 Census James Golding

Ten years later James was living on Walkergate, listed as an unemployed labourer, his stay at the Inn being relatively short-lived.

PUBLIC DINNER, in the Corn Exchange, Alnwick, on Thursday, the 15th of December next, at half past Three o'Clock. Tickets to be had off Mrs. POPKISS. Three Tuns Inn.

Published: Saturday 10 December 1864

Newspaper: Newcastle Journal

County: Northumberland, England

CORONERS INQUESTS
Held at the house of Mrs. Popkiss, Three Tuns Inn, Alnwick, before Mr. J. J. Harty. coroner, on the body of Isabella Swan, or Davison, aged 15 years, daughter of Mrs. Davison, shopkeeper, Clayport Street, Alnwick.
Published: Saturday 31 October 1868
Newspaper: Newcastle Chronicle
County: Northumberland, England

ALNWICK PETTY SESSIONS

Assault. Joseph Baines was charged with assaulting William Humble at the Three Tuns Inn, Alnwick, on the evening of Saturday 6th inst. Both of the parties are employees of Mr Thos. Robertson, cabinet-maker...

Published: Saturday 27 August 1870

Newspaper: Alnwick Mercury

County: Northumberland, England

1871 Census Jane Popkiss & nephew Thomas Dixon

LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS

... with garden behind, was sold to Mr Thomas Dixon, Three Tuns Inn, Alnwick, for £160. Agimcultubal Supply Association (Limited).

Published: Saturday 21 February 1874

Newspaper: Alnwick Mercury

County: Northumberland, England

1875 Probate Jane Popkiss

2011 Alnwick Arms

Thomas Braithwaite, Three Tuns Inn, Alnwick, returning thanks to the people of Alnwick and neighbourhood, for the support accorded him since entered the above Inn, begs respectfully to inform them that his cellars are now replete...

Published: Saturday 22 September 1877

Newspaper: Alnwick Mercury

1879 Kelly's Directory Thomas Braithwaite

1881 Census Thomas Braithwaite

2nd NORTHUMBERLAND (PERCY) ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS

On Tuesday evening, the head-quarters batteries of the above corps met in a pleasant re-union at the Three Tuns Inn, Alnwick, no less to choose their season of drill than to pay a parting tribute to Capt. Bingham, R.A., their adjutant.

Published: Saturday 15 November 1884

Newspaper: Morpeth Herald

County: Northumberland, England

A VOLUNTEER RE-UNION
The head-quarters batteries of the Percy Artillery Volunteers held their annual supper at the house of Mr Thomas Braithwaite, Three Tuns Inn, Alnwick, There was a large attendance on the part of members of the corps.
Published: Saturday 30 October 1886
Newspaper: Alnwick Guardian and County Advertiser
County: Northumberland, England

1891 Census Thomas Braithwaite

BE LET, on 12th May, the THREE TUNS INN, Alnwick

Apply to Hopper and Anderson, Brewers, Morpeth.

Published: Saturday 24 January 1891

Newspaper: Morpeth Herald

County: Northumberland, England

The Hopper & Anderson brewery ceased in 1900 when the business was put up for auction, the Three Tuns Inn being one of their houses.

1894 Kelly's Directory Aaron Morton

1897 Probate Thomas Braithwaite

The ‘Half-way House” Beal has been let to Mr A. D. Morton, Three Tuns Inn, Alnwick.

Published: Saturday 10 February 1900

Newspaper: Alnwick Guardian and County Advertiser

County: Northumberland, England

This spelled the end of Aaron Morton's time at the Three Tuns with his younger brother Andrew taking over when he left for Beal.

1901 Census Andrew Morton

Mr John Swan, Alnwick, was found dead the stable of the Three Tuns Inn, Alnwick, last night. He supposed to have committed suicide by taking poison.

Published: Friday 05 August 1904

Newspaper: Shields Daily Gazette

County: Durham, England