Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

A landlord is delighted after his Eaglescliffe pub has been listed by the Government to mark 200 years since opening of Stockton and Darlington Railway. The Cleveland Bay pub in Eaglescliffe, is one of seven new listings announced to mark the milestone anniversary of the railway that was launched on September 27, 1825.

The building, listed at Grade II, is the earliest identified pub in the world to be built specifically in association with a railway line. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport decided to list, and ultimately protect the pub, on the advice of Historic England in celebration of the birth of modern passenger railway services which ultimately transformed the world.

Peter Rafferty, 67, who has been landlord at the pub for 32 years alongside his partner Barbara Caygill, said: "We're over the moon about it. It's been here over 200 years and now it's listed it means it will be here another 200 years. It can't be knocked down or altered so it's got a nice long future ahead and we're delighted."

The Cleveland Bay was built for the chairman of the Stockton and Darlington Railway for the opening of the railway's Yarm branch line in 1825. It is a prototype railway station, predating the railway's own public houses, which saw the early development of the concept of the railway station.

Although the Cleveland Bay (originally known as The New Inn) was not built by the Stockton and Darlington Railway, it was constructed for the company's chairman, Thomas Meynell, specifically because of the railway, to oversee the coal and lime depot at the end of the Yarm branch line (this depot was also owned privately by Meynell).

The public house and the branch line opened together on October 17, 1825, with contemporary accounts documenting the close association between the inn and the operation of the railway. The establishment proved to be a success and appears to have prompted the Stockton and Darlington Railway to commission their own public houses at the coal depots at Stockton, Darlington and Heighington.

All four buildings can be seen as early proto-railway stations, built before the concept of the railway station had fully evolved. The Cleveland Bay remains in use as a public house and is located within the Eaglescliffe Conservation Area.

The other sites listed to celebrate the birth of the modern railway are:

Havenstreet Railway Station, Isle of Wight, Grade II Woody Bay Station, Devon, Grade II Swanage Engine Shed and Turntable, Dorset, Grade II Northbrook Road overbridge, Dorset, Grade II Sheringham Station, Norfolk, Grade II Weybourne Station, Norfolk, Grade II

The Stockton and Darlington Railway pioneered and influenced the early development of mainline railways. When it opened in 1825, concepts that we now take for granted had not been conceived, including that of the railway station.

The Stockton and Darlington Railway shared its experience generously with visiting engineers and railway promoters, and was highly influential in the early development of other railways in England and abroad. Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, incoming chief executive of Historic England, said: "The development of England's railway system was one of the greatest achievements of the Victorian era. These new listings highlight key milestones in its growth and demonstrate how the railway has shaped our local places today.

"Every newly listed station announced today is open to the public to visit, so the protection of these sites means that they will continue to be seen and enjoyed by visitors for generations to come."

One well known visitor, Mark Labbett - better known as The Beast from TV show The Chase - stopped off at the pub's quiz night back in October 2019. Peter said: "He was a great chap, everybody had their photo taken with him too."

For Teesside news direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter