World's first purpose-built railway pub gets listed status

"At first, it seems as if the pub is remarkable because it is so traditional: beers, wines, spirits, crisps (four flavours), nuts (salted or dry roasted) and if you want cooked food, you'll be politely told to try elsewhere. But the railway prints, maps and giant mural of the Locomotion No 1 steam engine on the wall of the snug hint at something truly remarkable about the Cleveland Bay: it is the oldest purpose-built railway pub in the world"

"The heritage organisation announced seven new Grade II listings on Wednesday to mark 200 years since the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first public railway, opened on 27 September 1825. They include the Cleveland Bay in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, which was built at the end of the Yarm branch line on the instructions of Thomas Meynell, the chair of the Stockton and Darlington Railway company. With its Grade II-listed status, there's no chance of the Cleveland Bay turning into a gastropub."

"Landlord Peter Rafferty has been there for 32 years, but admitted he only discovered its status when local railway history enthusiasts started investigating its origins about a decade ago. There was a pub somewhere in the north-west which reckoned it was the first purpose-built railway pub, said Rafferty. But their railway line didn't open until 1827 so the Friends of Stockton and Darlington Railway said we must have a pub that's older than their pub. So that's when they started the research."

The Cleveland Bay is a traditional pub serving beers, wines, spirits, crisps (four flavours) and nuts (salted or dry roasted), with cooked food discouraged. Railway prints, maps and a large mural of the Locomotion No 1 steam engine adorn the snug. Historic England awarded Grade II-listed status to the Cleveland Bay as part of seven listings marking 200 years since the Stockton and Darlington Railway opened on 27 September 1825. The pub was built at the end of the Yarm branch line on instructions from Thomas Meynell. Landlord Peter Rafferty has run the pub for 32 years and learned of its heritage status after local enthusiasts researched its origins. The pub remains a traditional boozer that welcomes railway enthusiasts.

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