The Moor House Inn and Surtees Buildings
Front Street, Seaton Burn, Northumberland

The village of Seaton Burn is located on the old Great North Road (A1), 8 miles north of Newcastle-on-Tyne. In olden times, horse-drawn coaches stopped here. The advent of coal-mining in the 19th century brought an influx of population, accompanied by public houses to quench the miners' thirst.

On a stone above the main entrance of the "Moor House Inn" one can see the numerals "58", and infer that it was built in 1858. In the national censuses of 1861-1881, George Surtees is reported as beerhouse-keeper and inn-keeper. He was to remain at the Moor House until his death in 1887.

the way things used to be		the modern pub sign

The census books also record a series of 8 dwellings, adjacent to the inn, known as "Surtees Buildings [or Cottages]". They have been demolished in recent years, so we were unable to view them on our visit in 2005: but, we may speculate that George built and/or owned these properties. One old building still remains, behind the Inn -- see photo below.

facade	rear	behind the inn

Thanks: Danny Whitley, Jenny Slater, Sid Stone