Marsden
Marsden Grotto
Last Updated:
6 Jan 2025
Marsden
This is a
Dwelling, Pub, Restaurant
54.977051, -1.377663
Founded in
Current status is
Extant
Designer (if known):
Operating as The Grotto restaurant
This is the famous entrance & lift shaft for the Marsden Grotto, a historic public house nestled at the foot of the cliff near the rock.
Local folklore suggests a lead miner, Jack Bates, moved here from Allendale in 1782 in dispute against paying his rent back in the fells near Hexham. After "obtaining" explosives, he blasted a cavern into the rocks and thus created his own dwelling. Apparently there was over a dozen rooms featuring a kitchen and even a ballroom.
There's a good chance Jack the Blaster's body was found some years later. Some workmen removing limestone in 1836 discovered, at considerable depth, the skeleton of a man upwards of 6ft. A lead ball was found near the breast bone and had laid there for many years. It's sad to have been a pistol bullet 3 inches long, implying violence had been the cause of death.
Now there certainly was a cave here, and a Marsden Rock House was located at the site of the modern pub by 1839 as per the tithe award. The land was owned by the Bates family and a Mr Peter Allen lived here. He paid for the above workmen to clear some of the rock. He actually laid the body in situ for everyone to see in the June of that month - the skull and teeth being "perfect condition". He died in 1849 at the age of 51.
This would set the actual formation of the pub quite nicely as the 1850s, when we can first confirm its existence on the Ordnance Survey maps. The first mention of it operating is that the landlady was Miss Allen - presumably Peter's daughter or wife. At this time, the most accessible way to get down the cliffs were a set of steep steps where the lift is today - a bit lethal in a gust. The Allen's continued residing here for some years, and we know this because they hosted a pantomime by moonlight here in 1867. This was only a few years after a bad cliff fall almost destroyed the structure but improvements allowed business to continue.
By the turn of the century, we find out the license was transferred to Vaux who had purchased it from the Harton Coal Company. It was their intention to spending a "considerable sum" to make it more attractive to tourists seeing Marsden Rock. It was in 1938 that these refurbishments finally started, including adding the lift to ground level. Vaux continued operating until 1999. After a series of owners, the pub & restaurant has remained open since 2008.
Listing Description (if available)
Though the spelling as changed, you'll see little variation in the landscape between the 1830s and 1850s on these illustrations. We're lucky to gain an insight into the area as early as 1839, as tithe awards are not as accessible as they luckily are in Durham. We see Marsden Rock House, our focus, as well as the cave the supposed Jack the Blaster carved and resided. There was little else for a mile or two except farms, and we see a small shed for a clay pit, Marsden Hill Farm and Lizard House Farm. Both appear to figure substantial gin gangs.
The 1850s map tells us the same story, with a footpath now added to reach the "Marine Grotto", possibly aiding our theory it became a pub in the mid 19th century.
The 1890s Ordnance Survey map features the industrial encroachment which occurred in the latter half of the 19th century here. Marsden Quarry had been opened for a couple of decades near Marsden Hall, delivering limestone via the tramway to the limekilns bordering the railway. Those who worked here may have lived at Grotto Street, a a cluster of 4 dwellings hugging the coastline. Marsden Inn also moved to its 2nd site from Redwell Lane.
The entrance and lift shaft down to the Grotto in December 2024
A shot of the Grotto complex in the early 20th century, before a shaft was constructed in the 30s. Source: https://robertpriddy.com/Curios/South%20Shields%20curios/Grotto.htm
A front facing view of the Grotto entrance in December 2024