Newcastle, Tyne & Wear
40 Clayton Street West
Last Updated:
9 Jul 2024
Newcastle, Tyne & Wear
This is a
Dwelling, Pub, Bank
54.968841, -1.620427
Founded in
Current status is
Extant
Designer (if known):
John Wardle
Listed Grade II
I get the impression this side of Clayton Street doesn’t really get the appreciation it deserves, despite Grainger’s influence reaching this far. Quite literally, when we consider he actually died next door to this building in his home. It was the end terrace of Grainger’s block - the building next door looks slightly different as it was actually the site of a church one time over.
This is No. 40 and was built for Grainger by in 1837, just before his eventual financial woes after buying up Elswick. It was first a house, with this street being full of the well to dos and rising industrial gentry. A foreign bird dealer, hat dealer and tea merchants all resides in these parts to give you an idea. It was designed by John Wardle, who was by this time under the direction of Grainger but previously in the office of John Dobson. He also designed the Graingerville terraces in Elswick, and were put up for let under his name in 1840 before the Elswick estate had to be sold to Armstrong to mitigate Grainger's financial problems.
This place eventually became the Cattle Market Inn, visible in this iteration on the pic from 1885 with the church next door. It had opened by 1845, and hosted a whole plethora of events associated with the market next door. Floral and Agricultural shows, auctions and farmers & butchers meetings were all held here almost as a rural outpost when folk had to come into the big city. Given the time of opening, it will certainly have capitalised on the railway trade too. Thanks to its status as one of the premier meeting and conference venues in the area, it also boasted considerable lodgings, a "commercial room" and buffet.
The pub closed in the 1910s. In the 1930s, it appears to have been turned into a branch of Donegals tailors alongside 51-53 Grainger Street. They sold sports jackets, flannel trousers and suits.
In 1967 it became a branch of Barclays which is when I presume it found its rendered white coat. I’m sure someone will confirm, but I’m sure it’s either offices or private residences today.
Listing Description (if available)
Both these Ordnance Survey maps illustrate the Clayton Street West area between the mid to late 19th century. The 6 inch map provides us few clues given its low scale, but we can see the full terrace was still intact before one unit was cleared in favour of the Congregational Church. The modern layout of the town is still incredibly similar, especially given many of the buildings still exist.
The 1890s plan gives us further clarity. The whole street was scattered with hotels, pubs and churches. A Reformed Congregational Church, Scotch Presbyterian and Catholic Church all stood here, as well as Wesleyan not too far away on Blenheim Street. It appears all the alternative congregations crowded up here. Grainger's Terrace was also a convenient site for hotels given the proximity to Central Station. Both the Hotel Metropole and Crown Hotel were centrepieces of this district alongside the Queens Hotel and our subject today.
The 1919 Ordnance Survey continues to show the same commercial premises as the 1890s viewpoint, though the John Knox Scotch Presbyterian Chapel has given way to the Clarendon Hotel, further capitalising on the bustle of tourism and hotel demand near the station. Joseph Cowen's statue was also erected in 1906 by John Tweed under public subscription nearby.
40 Clayton Street West in 2024
Clayton Street West and Neville Street in 1885. The Cattle Market Inn can be seen, owned by Hewertson at this time. Tere also appears to be a urinal on the corner of both streets next to the Cathedral boundary wall. Source: Billy Embleton
40 Clayton Street West under the guise of Barclays Bank in 1995. Source: Newcastle Libraries