The Coach Inn, Lesbury
Lesbury
Last Updated:
18 Dec 2025
Lesbury
55.398428, -1.630162
Site Type:
Pub
Origin:
Status:
Extant
Designer (if known):
Still open
This is a classic honest coaching inn, perhaps dating as early as the 18th century but traceable only to the early 19th century. Some questions are raised however as the tithe plan below doesn't show any clear outbuildings or stables, which would like you to this conclusion. It may well have been a simple public house for quick stopovers. The local quarried sandstone around the lovely surrounds around the windows would suggest to me this is early 19th century.
The first mention I find is in 1844, when it was referenced in the local tithe plan under the ownership of the Duke, but under lease to a Mr Edward Bell. The public house featured "other buildings and a small close", perhaps referencing an outhouse or small stable. Edward Bell sadly passed away in the same year as this plan, though his son is noted as a publican in 1877 so may have been retained in the family.
Now, for most of its life this pub was called the Blacksmiths Arms (and to be fair it does look like that building on the right could have been a smithy!). Edward Bell Jnr retained this place until the 1870s, and throughout his tenure he hosted everything from auctions to inquests and village meetings. It was truly the civic centre of the settlement besides the church. Shooting was also held in the back field.
It remained under this name until some time in the 20th century - hard to figure out when. It was however reopened as the Coach Inn in 1991 after a long refurbishment. From there it sadly closed again due to COVID, but has been lovingly restored and reopened in 2024.
Listing Description
Both of these plans survey Lesbury from the 1840s until the 1860s. The first, a tithe plan of 1844 held by Northumberland Communities, depicts a typical Northumbrian linear village strung across the main North-East road linking Alnwick and Alnmouth (and eventually Boulmer). The pub is noted on the tithe plan as number 33, and the apportionment confirms its use as a public house even this early. There are no buildings to the rear, which does retract from some rationale of it being a coaching inn. Lesbury House is quite notably the largest residence in the village, dating from the turn of the 19th century.
A few smaller buildings pop up by the 1860s, though the village is much the same as it had been for centuries. Industry was limited to milling, though I'm sure the railway brought a few residents in. It also relied on a ford to access land beyond the Aln, so logistics were likely limited to good weather unless you fancied a winding detour via Alnmouth.
Incremental change is again seen by the 1890s, with a number of new cottages cropping up west of St Mary's. Again though, its character is unwavered by any emerging industry north or south in part thanks to its location off the beaten path. Only through the half century later do you see more suburban developments dotted around the boundary of the village.
Despite the pub not actively being labelled, it was certainly in use and was named the Blacksmiths Arms. Close by was a number of other dwellings as well as a water pump, which still lies in situ embedded within a wall.
The Coach Inn in November 2025
Postcard of Lesbury and the Coach Inn in the first couple decades of the 20th century. Source: Northumberland Communities
