Alnwick (Roxburgh Place) - Pickwick Inn

Name: The Pickwick Inn

Address: Roxburgh Place, Alnwick

1864 Town Map

The Pickwick Inn started life as a brewery, one of several within the town in the early 1800s, the others including the Angel Brewery (Fenkle Street), Alnwick Brewery Co. Ltd (Dispensary Street) and Clayport Brewery (Clayport Street), but it later opened as an inn alongside the brewery, so was something of a brewpub of yesteryear 

The inn closed in 1890 and despite efforts to reopen it a couple of years later, this was refused by the magistrates. The building no longer stands today, having been demolished in the 20th century and the area redeveloped for housing, with Pickwick Place now standing on the site.

A comparison of the 1864 Town Map & Goggle Maps 2026

Whilst very little remains of its history today, there is still an ancient passageway that runs between Green Batt and Bondgate Within that bears reference with the name, Pickwick Lane, presumably named after the brewery.

Listed landlords at the inn were Robert Charlton (1841-), Charles Greenwood (1871-), John Nolan (1879-87), John Albon (1887-) and Richard Brown Taylor (1890).

1841 Census Robert Charlton (Mason)

1851 Census Robert Charlton (Brewer)

1852 Poll Books Robert Charlton

The first references to Alnwick’s Pickwick Inn date from the Whellan Directory of 1855 although the brewery was probably started in the 1840s by Robert Charlton.

1855 Whellan's Directory Robert Charlton

The 1858 Post Office Directory below shows Robert Charlton (brewer and stonemason) remaining at the inn. 

1858 Post Office Directory

1861 Census Robert Charlton (Brewer)

1871 Census Charles Greenwood

1879 Kelly's Directory - John Nolan

1881 Census John Nolan

ALNWICK PETTY SESSIONS
Saturday, February 6, 1887.—Before Mr. J. Craster (chairman), Major S. F. Widdrington, and Mr. T. Clutterbuck.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY—TWO SOLITARY CASES
A barman of Alnwick was summoned' for being drunk and disorderly on the 13th ult. The case was dismissed.—A sailor of Amble was charged with being drunk and disorderly on the 20th ult., and was fined and costs. The case was proved by P.O. W. Watson. 

BARS AND HOTELS

Mr. Chas. Percy applied on behalf of Thomas Oxenham, hut-keeper on the new line, for a transfer of license from George Cox, late of the Railway Inn, Alnwick Moor. The application was granted.—The application of J. O. Mann for a transfer of license from James Redpath, of the Queen's Head Hotel, Alnwick, was granted.—The application of John Albon for a transfer of license from John Nolan, Pickwick Inn, Alnwick, was granted.

Saturday,  Feb. 12, 1887

Publication: Morpeth Herald

The Licensed Victuallers in The Publicans Alnwick and district have off Alnwick. recently formed themselves into an association for the better protection as well as promotion of their interests as a trading community. Perhaps the time has arrived when they feel it necessary they should do so, for it is apparent that the publicans' business in the ducal town is not near so lucrative as it was formerly. There are many causes to account for this ; but one point is obvious, people nowadays have not so much idle time to while away in a public-house, nor have they as much money at command. A retrospect of the last quarter of a century shows that more than half of the public-houses in Alnwick existing during this period have been closed, and are now the private residences of respectable townspeople. As it may be interesting to some of our readers, we will commemorate those fully-licensed inns which hare been closed during the past twenty years. Canongate Street: Black Horse, Stag Inn, Crown and Globe. Bailiffgate Street: Red Lion. Narrowgate Street: Alnwick Castle Inn, Half Moon Inn. Pottergate Street: Ship Inn. Paike Street: Shakespeare Tavern. Bondgate Street (North Side): Northumberland Arms, Post Boy. Bondgate Street (South Side —from the Tower): Masons' Arms, Cattle Market Tavern, Cross Keys, King's Arms. Corn Market: George and Dragon. Clayport Street (South Side): William IV., Pack Horse. Clayport Street (North Side): Clayport Tower Inn, Anchor Inn. Green Bat: Queen's Head Hotel (now the site of the police barracks.) South Road: Royal Oak, Willow Tree. 

There have also been several beer shops closed. Thirty-one public-houses are still licensed in Alnwick (including the Bee Hive in the Market Place, which has been shut up for several years, and the Pickwick Inn —formerly a brewery —in Roxburgh Place, which has been wanting a tenant since November last. It, however, cannot be said that temperance has made any great incur upon the publicans' trade in Alnwick, if we take a similar retrospective view. Sixteen and seventeen years ago, Good Templarism flourished in Alnwick—like all novelties—there being three distinct lodges of the brotherhood, and upwards of 600 members. Now there only exists one lodge, the youngest of the three, which has had a very fitful life, but is now, we understand, in more improved circumstances than it has been for several years. There is a mighty lot can be said, for and against the liquor traffic. In our opinion prohibitory measures have a far more demoralising effect than a free unlimited sale. 

Saturday,  Mar 21, 1891 Morpeth Herald

ALNWICK PETTY SESSIONS

Saturday, September 17, 1892. Before Major S. F. Widdrington, of Newton Hall (in the chair), Mr. C. B. P. Bosanquet. of Rock; and Mr. John Tato, of Oaklands, Alnwick; also Mr. Jos. Archer (clerk.) 

ADJOURNED BREWSTER SESSIONS

REFUSAL OF AN OLD PUBLIC-HOUSE

At the adjourned licensing meeting for East Coquetdale Ward, held on Saturday last before Major S. F. Widdrington (in the chair), Mr. C. B. P. Bosanquet, and Mr. John Tate, application was made by Mr. Adam Douglas, solicitor, for the license of the Pickwick Inn, at Alnwick, to be transferred to John William Somers, tailor. Mr. Douglas intimated that notice of objection against the granting of the license had been served by the police; but he wished to point out that although the premises had been closed for some time, yet there was no offence against the house. At the annual brewster sessions in 1890, the license was granted to one Richard Taylor, who left the premises very soon afterwards. Then one of the owners of the property died, and his heir-at-law being a child, the ownership became complicated, with the result that rather than have an unsuitable tenant in the house, it was thought advisable in the interests of justice to leave the place as it was—without a tenant. —Superintendent Rutherford': It is two years ago come November since the last tenant left. —The Chairman : What became of the other owner ?—Mr. Douglas : There are matters I will submit to the Bench privately, which I cannot submit in open court. They had now got, he assured the Bench, a good tenant, who had had experience in managing the canteen at the 3rd Northumberland Fusiliers camp. The house had been closed, as Superintendent Rutherford said, for a year and nine months, but it had not been any injury to the public. —The Chairman : I think it has been a great benefit to the public. (Laughter.)— Mr Douglas continuing: Those who frequented the house got accommodated elsewhere no doubt; but he presumed that where houses were closed it ought to be only when there were offences against the public.—Superintendent Rutherford, in reply to the Bench, said the nearest public-house was 150 yards distant from the Pickwick. He would aliso like to mention that their man Somers was not taking the house upon own account, but was only to be a servant. Somers had told him so that morning.—Mr. Douglas: Under the circumstances it is desirable that we must have a good tenant in the first place, and secondly a short tenancy until we get the ownership properly determined by the court. —The Superintendent: It is badly situated for a public-house.—The Chairman stated the Bench were of opinion that the house having been unoccupied for two years was sufficient evidence that it was not required, and therefore they would refuse the application for the transfer and also the granting of a renewal of the license.