The Northumberland Arms 1900
North East Historic Library
The building today is the second public house on the site, the first burnt down in the 1800’s. The stone building behind was the original brewery. A very interesting history, murders, intrigue and some very interesting publicans over the years.
The Publican in 1901 & 1911 was a Thomas Gillis, Age 33, married and from Pegswood, Northumberland, his family are not recorded as living there on the night of the census.
The most recent and well known publican gave the pub its local name of Hill’s. Mr Thomas Elliot Hills, born in New Hartley and 25 years as a miner, including some time working in the South African Gold mines
The Publican
Thomas Hill and his wife celebrating 50 years of marriage
The Old Brewery Building –
The present day car park was the location of Northumberland Square, part of the original “Allotment” location. Single storey terraced houses forming two sides of a square. Northumberland Square sounds very grand, one of many similar sqaures in the area, Benton Square, Willington Square and Wapping Square (ASDA car park now) being a few.
The brewery was not being used and was taken over by the Primitive Methodist group, who had a small meeting place in Allotment or Northumberland Square, this was possibly just someones front parlour and more room was needed urgently as the congregation grew.