These sheep were passing the George IV Inn on the Close, whose landlord was James Cook. Few names in late Victorian Newcastle commanded as much admiration as his; he saved around fifty people from drowning in the Tyne. The second photo shows the same scene for comparison.
The animals were being herded from the Sheep & Pig market at Marlborough Crescent at the end of the day, probably heading for the Swing Bridge. Farmyard beasts were a common sight on the streets of Newcastle, and were often a nuisance. In 1840 a bull had entered a pub on the Close and climbed three flights of stairs, before crashing through the floors and landing in the bar. It then wandered off, unfazed by its adventure.
The George IV is to the right in the first photo, its entrance is facing the photographer and James Cook’s name is above it. His name also helps to date the photo. Cook ran the pub from October 1888 until May 1893, so it must have been taken in this five-year time frame. He moved to the Cannon Inn after this, which once stood opposite the Cooperage.
He was awarded a medal from the Royal Humane Society in 1894 for rescuing a young boy who had fallen into the river while watching a boat race. Thousands of spectators on the High Level and Swing Bridges saw Cook battle the current, despite having a sprained wrist, and bring the drowning lad safely to shore. It was far from his first act of heroism.
Cook had learned to swim as a child, a skill few city dwellers had at the time, and over the years he saved dozens of people from drowning. These included children who slipped from the quays, drunken sailors, workmen, and desperate souls who had thrown themselves into the river. His rescues stretched along the Tyne from Hillgate to Jarrow Slake, often at great risk to himself.
In one instance, he fished out a lifeless boy with a boat hook and brought him back to life; in another, he dragged an unconscious fireman from beneath a ship’s hull. He also rescued a daredevil known as Professor Phillips who had jumped off the High Level Bridge as a stunt in 1893, and was rendered unconscious when he hit the water.
Cook’s bravery cost him more than once – he ruined two watches during rescues – but he continued without complaint. Known for his modesty and compassion, he was also remembered for gathering poor children each year for boat trips up the Tyne, treating them to a day of fun and good food. He died at the Cannon Inn in 1919, aged 74.
The George IV Inn had its licence removed by the magistrates in 1918 and was demolished shortly afterwards. The corresponding building in the second photo was a bonded warehouse that was built on more or less the same spot as the George IV. It was converted into a bar called Pravda, which has been closed down for several years.