Our history

The stables has a rich history which spans over 120 years! 

The Top Yard was built in 1897 for the Globe Parcel Express Company who built the cottage, stables and a shed for their covered van.  When motor wagons replaced horses for haulage, Stepney Bank Stables were used as a slaughter-house, owned by Frank Wooter, a horse dealer. You can still see his name on the external wall.

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Before the 1940’s the area was once full of stables, owned by small carting companies who carted goods throughout Newcastle and provided the “chain horses” that could pull the heavy wagons uphill from the Quayside.  The stables were located under the arches of the Byker bridges in yards of Breamish Street, Foundry Land and Stepney Bank.  They were owned by firms like Grearson’s, Dickinsons, Currie and Co, Anderson’s, Bell, Scott and Sons, Gribbins, Rankin and Sons, Hoults and Baxters. Stepney Bank Stables is the only surviving stables from this time. 

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The original plans for the stables show that they could stable 16 horses. The original stable block now holds only 8 stables compared to thirteen in the 1890’s.  The reason for this change is improvements in horse welfare.  In the past horses lived in much smaller stalls where they were tied up, unable to turn or lie down.  Most horses in this country now live in loose boxes where the horses can move around freely and lie down. As welfare standards continue to progress we now have communal housing which allows horses to live in small social groups. Horses are a social species and need to be able to interact with other horses. 

 

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