Richard Cobden Inn, 40 Chandless Street

In 1817 the Government had passed a new Corn Law. This law banned the import of foreign corn, with the intention of raising the price of local corn. However, the winter of 1815-16 was long and cold and the following summer was extremely wet, resulting in a bad harvest. The lack of corn meant that merchants were able to set high prices for their produce, which was very unpopular. In 1815 the people of Newcastle, Sunderland, Darlington and South Shields signed petitions in protest of the new law. But by 1817 the average price of corn on Tyneside had soared and there were many protests.

Richard Cobden helped to establish an Anti-Corn Law League which succeeded in reducing the duty on oats, barley and wheat. He later protested against Britain’s involvement in the Crimean conflict.

This inn, which was named after the reformer, was situated at 40 Chandless Street. It was run by Swinburne and Co. from about 1900.