Northumberland Inns and Taverns: Embleton

Name: The Greys Inn

Address: Stanley Terrace, Embleton

Built in the early 1840s from local Whinstone, this public house falls within the Embleton Conservation Area. The Greys Inn was named in deference to local landowners, the Greys, who lived at nearby Fallodon Hall, and it has now been a part of village life for nearly two centuries.

1841 Tithe Map

The 1841 map above does not show the Greys Inn, which also does not appear on the 1841 census, therefore confirming it was built in the early to mid-1840s.

1851 Thomas Wilkinson Innkeeper & Grocer

The first landlord recorded at the Inn was Thomas Wilkinson, running the a grocers store alongside the licensed premises.

1855 Whellan's Directory Embleton - James Elliott

When James Elliott took over the business a few years later, was recorded on the census as, 'Merchant & Brewer'. He was just 39 years old, had three children and was already widowed, so multiple incomes were clearly needed to support the family.

1858 Post Office Directory - James Elliott

1861 Census - James Elliott

It appears James stayed for six or seven years, but by 1871 he had moved his family to Jesmond in Newcastle where he continued to work as a 'Master Brewer'. The pub was advertised to let as early as 1862, and not long afterwards a blacksmith called George Tait had filled the void left by James.

Alnwick Mercury 01 December 1862

1871 Census - George Tait

Alnwick Mercury 17 July 1875

George's tenure at the Greys, like his predecessors was also shortlived reflecting how difficult it was to make the business pay, and by 1875 the pub was again to let. However, by the late 1870s Mark Appleby had moved in, one of the owners of the local Whinstone quarry, and for a change, he was to run the Greys for almost the next 30 years with his wife, Margaret.

Alnwick Mercury 28 June 1879

1881 Census - Mark Appleby

Morpeth Herald 02 June 1888

1891 Census - Mark Appleby

1896 OS Map

1901 Census - Mark Appleby

Morpeth Herald 09 January 1904

Morpeth Herald 23 January 1904

It appeared to be a difficult few years for Mark Appleby at the Greys in the early 1900s and by 1911 he and Margaret had retired, and were no longer living at the Greys. A year later, he sadly passed away.

1912 Probate Mark Appleby

Mark's widow, Margaret continued to live in Embleton and own the Greys Inn, letting it out for a period before moving to the Blue Bell Inn for a period prior to her own death in 1936. In 1932 the Greys was put up for sale, probably still owned by Margaret, by which time, the Appleby family would have owned the Greys Inn for around 60 years. Their son Mark Elliott Jnr carried on in his father's footsteps managing the Whinstone quarry.

1911 Census - Mary Cuthbertson

1914 Kelly's Directory - Margaret Ann Appleby

Mark Appleby Ltd Commercial Vehicle

EMBLETON

Upwards of 3,000 cigarettes have been collected by Mrs, Scott of the Grey’s Inn, Embleton, from customers, and these have been forwarded to the Northumberland Fusiliers at the front with the British Expeditionary Force.

Published: Saturday 14 November 1914

Newspaper: Alnwick Guardian and County Advertiser

County: Northumberland, England