Seaham
Duke of Wellington, Seaham
Last Updated:
1 May 2025
Seaham
This is a
Pub
54.837743, -1.333205
Founded in
Current status is
Extant
Designer (if known):
Pub is now closed
Another of the South Railway Street pubs is this one - a pure shadow of its former self with only the pub facade giving us an idea of its previous life.
This one has had two names - the Duke of Wellington and more recently the Duke of Seaham (not a name based on history mind!). The Duke of Wellington is quite a common name for pubs, as during the 19th century many were named in honour of military heroes or figures in the zeitgeist of the time. Wellington, like the Duke of York, was commonly used.
We can date this pub back to at least the 1870s, but I do wonder if this name was triggered by an actual visit by the Duke of Wellington a few decades prior. He took a jolly down the railway from Rainton with the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry - his good friends apparently, and therefore directly passed this pub.
The landlord of this place for some 2 and a half decades was Mr Frederick Fell palmer, a very well known figure in these parts. He served on the Seaham Harbour Urban District Council and was a founder & director of the Hetton Race Company, who promoted the Houghton Feast races. He also raced greyhounds himself, perhaps nearby at Easington or Houghton itself.
This pub changed its name to the Duke of Seaham quite late on though can't seem to find when, but closed in 2014. Ever since, its apparition remains but there's no signs of it opening. Shame really as its one of the few building left of this old terrace. You can also see the outline of the old single storey pawnbrokers which stood next door on the side elevation.
Listing Description (if available)
The Ordnance Survey maps here depict Seaham Harbour from the 1890s through to the 1910s, nearly until its centurion birthday. Our inn can be seen on South Railway Street, one of 3 constructed as part of the terrace after the advent of the Rainton to Seaham Railway in the 1830s. The network was absolutely huge, splitting from one track to around 15 in the dockland area. The terraces provided accommodation for all those working in the dock as well as the railway, engine works and nearby collieries.
The 1950s map edges closer to when this pub changed its name to the Duke of Seaham, though I'm fairly sure it remained the Wellington at this time. The elder terraces themselves had almost entirely knocked down at this point bar the pubs (privately owned as opposed to the municipal housing), and were replaced with more modern housing. The North Railway Street set partly survive today. Additionally, by this time the railway had rationalised to some extent, removing much of the track network on the North Dock with pure focus on the much larger South Dock all the way down to Dawdon Colliery.
The now plain but recognisable facade of the Duke of Wellington in April 2025.
The same Duke of Wellington from the south, with the railway to Dawdon Colliery in the foreground. I would estimate this shot to be in the 1970s or early 80s.
Unknown original source.
The Duke of Wellington can be seen in the background, with Minski's pawnbrokers closer. The footprint of the single storey until is still visible on the side of the pub.
Unknown original source.