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

The Cleveland Bay in Stockton is one of seven new Grade II listings announced to mark 200 years of public railways

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t 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 and, according to Historic England, deserves to be celebrated and protected.

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.