01 – Mechanics Arms

Opened about 1869 by John Elliott as The Mechanics’ Hotel.  The Ordnance Survey map of 1860 shows it as 3 separate buildings which were then knocked into one pub. It is one of six bars in Shields that have been called Mechanics’.

In the early 1900s it was owned by Westoe Breweries and was taken over by Bass Charrington in 1968.

Between 11 July 1974 and 7 October 1982 James Richard Briggs Dixon was the Licensee. Richard was a legendary character.  He fixed a 50 pence coin on the floor and if you bent down to pick it up you were obliged to put 10 pence in the charity box!

In the early 2000s it changed its name to become Hanlon’s Well.

It has changed back to being called The Mechanics Arms now. The building was owned for many years by Cameron’s but is now run by a subsidiary of Greene King.

Inside the Mechanics on the left would have been a snug and is now a lounge area there is a large central bar and at the right is the main bar area where karaoke is sometimes played.

Mechanics, left hand side lounge (Terry Ford)
Mechanics, right hand side bar (Terry Ford)

Sources:
British Newspaper Archives
Licensing Records
Terry Ford
Trade Directories

Photos:
Ron Lawson, Sunderland Antiquarian Society
Terry Ford