The Cleveland Bay in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, has been awarded Grade II listed status, marking it as the world’s oldest purpose-built railway pub. The designation, announced by Historic England, coincides with the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world’s first public railway, which opened on 27 September 1825.
Built at the end of the Yarm branch line on the instructions of Thomas Meynell, chair of the Stockton and Darlington Railway Company, the pub retains its original layout of bar, snug, and lounge. Landlord Peter Rafferty, who has run the pub for 32 years, only discovered its historical significance about a decade ago when local railway enthusiasts began investigating its origins.
Despite its unique status, the Cleveland Bay remains a traditional boozer, offering beers, wines, spirits, crisps, and nuts, but no cooked food. Rafferty noted that while railway enthusiasts—often referred to as “anoraks and nerds”—visit to photograph and learn about its history, the pub has not adopted airs and graces. “If you go down to Yarm, every pub has got a knife and fork on every table,” he said. “We are a traditional boozer.”
The Grade II listing is part of a broader recognition of railway heritage, with six other sites also receiving listed status. These include Havenstreet station on the Isle of Wight, Woody Bay station in Devon, Weybourne and Sheringham stations in Norfolk, and two sites on the Swanage railway heritage line in Dorset. Heritage minister Baroness Twycross welcomed the listings, stating they “will ensure they are protected and can be enjoyed for another 200 years.”
