Durham Ox

The Durham Ox was located on Market Place. The building is said to have dated from the reign of King James II. (1686-1688) In the above picture the Durham Ox is adjoining the back of the Denman's Head Hotel, and is the lower roofed building, behind the lamp-post. 

The name came from a famous animal known as 'The Durham Ox', which toured around the country at the beginning of the 19th century. It was carried in a specially constructed vehicle, drawn by four or six horses. The ox probably tipped the scales around 2,400 pounds and stood five feet, five inches at the shoulders. Records of its size exist because they were measured by artist George Garrard for his 1802 "A Fat Holderness Ox called the Wonderful Ox (The Durham Ox)." 

A print of the Durham Ox, done in 1802 by  John Boultbee, "sold 2,000 copies
within the year, and was hung in homes, inns and coaching houses"

In 1877, W. H. Walton was also an 'Ale and Porter Merchant', a trade he had previously run on Church Street before moving to the Durham Ox. By 1900 he was listed as owning the Crown Brewery. 

In July 1908 the Durham Ox was reported as due to be dis-licenced, and the owners - The Home Brewery Company - was to receive compensation. The building was later demolished.

Known occupants were:

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Above image reproduced by kind permission of www.picturethepast.org.uk
Digital Image copyright © North East Midland Photographic Record. All other rights reserved.

Page updated 24th March 2006