John Clayton (Newcastle)
Encyclopedia
John Clayton was an antiquarian
and town clerk of Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
during the nineteenth century. He worked with the builder Richard Grainger
and architect John Dobson
to redevelop the centre of the city in a neoclassical
style, and Clayton Street in Newcastle is named after him. He did much to preserve the remains of Hadrian's Wall
.
. He began work in the firm of solicitors that had been established by his father Nathaniel in the Bigg Market in 1778, and which became Clayton and Dunn, and qualified as an attorney in 1815. John become Under-Sheriff in 1816 before succeeding his father as Town Clerk 1822, remaining in post until 1867. He never married, but shared the family's townhouse in Fenkle Street, Newcastle, with his unmarried brother and legal partner, Matthew.
As well as his work in the city, Clayton was a keen antiquarian
, and his dedication to Hadrian's Wall
proved invaluable to its later preservation. He was born 10 June 1792. Four years later, his father purchased the Chesters Estate
, through which Hadrian's Wall runs, and which contained the site of Chesters fort.
While landscaping a parkland setting for his home, The Chesters, Nathaniel Clayton levelled out and grassed over much of the Roman fort. While doing so he collected various antiquities, but there is no evidence that he took a great deal of interest in the Roman history of his estate. However, from an early age John took a passionate interest not only in the fort of Chesters and its immediate surroundings, but in Roman remains in the nearby countryside.
From 1834 he began buying land to preserve the Wall, at a time when what is now a World Heritage Site
was little understood and being unthinkingly vandalised by quarrying and removal of stones for reuse. He even had some restoration work carried out on parts of the Wall.
Clayton’s enthusiasm helped preserve that central stretch of Hadrian’s Wall that includes Chesters (Cilurnum)
. Housesteads
and Vindolanda
. He carried out some of the first archaeological excavations on the Wall. His first published work, in 1843, was his excavation of the commanding officer's bath-house at Chesters. He was involved in excavations most years for the next half-century, both at Chesters and elsewhere along Hadrian's Wall, namely Cawfields (Milecastle
42), Castle Nick (mc 39) and Housesteads Crags (mc 37), Housesteads and Carvoran
. His archaeological work continued into his later years, and he was in his early nineties when he uncovered the spectacular sculptures of the temple to Mars Thincsus at Housesteads.
Clayton also brought early tourism to the Hadrian's Wall area and is to be thanked for establishing Chesters as an archaeological site open to visitors. A small garden pavilion on the estate was used to display his archaeological collection as well as other 'casual finds' and purchased acquisitions at Chesters for visiting friends and enthusiasts. Following his death in 1890, his nephew Nathaniel commissioned and had built a permanent museum which was completed in 1896 to house the Clayton Collection.
It is privately owned but curated by English Heritage
on behalf of the collection’s trustees and has now been refurbished to bring it up to 21st-century standards of conservation, display and interpretation. However, great care has been taken to respect its character and to retain the feel of a 19th-century gentleman antiquarian’s collection.
An anonymous quotation made about Clayton at the time, may be unfair, but gives an indication of how some people regarded him:
On Grainger’s death in 1861, he left debts of £128,582 and his personal estate amounted to only £16,913. Grainger’s debts included £30,000 owed to Clayton. A letter to Grainger’s executors shows that Clayton agreed to forego the £30,000 owed to him as well as the interest arrears on the debt.
Clayton died in 14 July 1890. The gross value of his estate was a remarkable £728,846.
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
and town clerk of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
during the nineteenth century. He worked with the builder Richard Grainger
Richard Grainger
Richard Grainger was a builder in Newcastle upon Tyne. He worked together with the architects John Dobson and Thomas Oliver, and with the town clerk, John Clayton, to redevelop the centre of Newcastle in the 19th century...
and architect John Dobson
John Dobson (architect)
John Dobson was a 19th-century English architect in the neoclassical tradition. He became the most noted architect in the North of England. Churches and houses by him dot the North East - Nunnykirk Hall, Meldon Park, Mitford Hall, Lilburn Tower, St John the Baptist Church in Otterburn,...
to redevelop the centre of the city in a neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style, and Clayton Street in Newcastle is named after him. He did much to preserve the remains of Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain. Begun in AD 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was the first of two fortifications built across Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.The...
.
Early life and career
John Clayton lived most of his life in the public eye. Son of Nathaniel Clayton (Town Clerk of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1785 to 1822), he was educated at Kirkoswald School in Northumberland and received classical education at UppinghamUppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
. He began work in the firm of solicitors that had been established by his father Nathaniel in the Bigg Market in 1778, and which became Clayton and Dunn, and qualified as an attorney in 1815. John become Under-Sheriff in 1816 before succeeding his father as Town Clerk 1822, remaining in post until 1867. He never married, but shared the family's townhouse in Fenkle Street, Newcastle, with his unmarried brother and legal partner, Matthew.
As well as his work in the city, Clayton was a keen antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
, and his dedication to Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain. Begun in AD 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was the first of two fortifications built across Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.The...
proved invaluable to its later preservation. He was born 10 June 1792. Four years later, his father purchased the Chesters Estate
Chesters (Humshaugh)
Chesters is a 17th century country mansion situated adjacent to Hadrian's Wall and the Roman fort of Cilurnum at Humshaugh, Northumberland, England. It is a Grade II* listed building....
, through which Hadrian's Wall runs, and which contained the site of Chesters fort.
While landscaping a parkland setting for his home, The Chesters, Nathaniel Clayton levelled out and grassed over much of the Roman fort. While doing so he collected various antiquities, but there is no evidence that he took a great deal of interest in the Roman history of his estate. However, from an early age John took a passionate interest not only in the fort of Chesters and its immediate surroundings, but in Roman remains in the nearby countryside.
From 1834 he began buying land to preserve the Wall, at a time when what is now a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
was little understood and being unthinkingly vandalised by quarrying and removal of stones for reuse. He even had some restoration work carried out on parts of the Wall.
Clayton’s enthusiasm helped preserve that central stretch of Hadrian’s Wall that includes Chesters (Cilurnum)
Cilurnum
Cilurnum or Cilurvum was a fort on Hadrian's Wall mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum. It is now identified with the fort found at Chesters near the village of Walwick, Northumberland, England...
. Housesteads
Housesteads
Vercovicium, now known as Housesteads Roman Fort, was an auxiliary fort on Hadrian's Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia. Its ruins are located at Housesteads in the civil parish of Bardon Mill in Northumberland, England, somewhat to the south of Broomlee Lough.-History:In the 2nd century AD,...
and Vindolanda
Vindolanda
Vindolanda was a Roman auxiliary fort just south of Hadrian's Wall in northern England. Located near the modern village of Bardon Mill, it guarded the Stanegate, the Roman road from the River Tyne to the Solway Firth...
. He carried out some of the first archaeological excavations on the Wall. His first published work, in 1843, was his excavation of the commanding officer's bath-house at Chesters. He was involved in excavations most years for the next half-century, both at Chesters and elsewhere along Hadrian's Wall, namely Cawfields (Milecastle
Milecastle
A milecastle was a small fort , a rectangular fortification built during the period of the Roman Empire. They were placed at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along several major frontiers, for example Hadrian's Wall in Great Britain , hence the name.Along Hadrian's Wall, milecastles were...
42), Castle Nick (mc 39) and Housesteads Crags (mc 37), Housesteads and Carvoran
Carvoran
Magnis was a fort on Hadrian's Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia. Magnis was originally built to guard the junction of the northbound Maiden Way with the Stanegate, the key supply route linking Coria Magnis (or Carvoran Roman Fort) was a fort on Hadrian's Wall, in the Roman province of...
. His archaeological work continued into his later years, and he was in his early nineties when he uncovered the spectacular sculptures of the temple to Mars Thincsus at Housesteads.
Clayton also brought early tourism to the Hadrian's Wall area and is to be thanked for establishing Chesters as an archaeological site open to visitors. A small garden pavilion on the estate was used to display his archaeological collection as well as other 'casual finds' and purchased acquisitions at Chesters for visiting friends and enthusiasts. Following his death in 1890, his nephew Nathaniel commissioned and had built a permanent museum which was completed in 1896 to house the Clayton Collection.
It is privately owned but curated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
on behalf of the collection’s trustees and has now been refurbished to bring it up to 21st-century standards of conservation, display and interpretation. However, great care has been taken to respect its character and to retain the feel of a 19th-century gentleman antiquarian’s collection.
Grainger’s plan for Newcastle
In 1834 Richard Grainger presented a comprehensive development plan to the Town Council for the land covered by the Anderson Place estate. John Dobson had already submitted a similar plan to the council ten years previously and been rejected, so Grainger needed someone with influence to encourage the council to accept the new plan. He was advised to move his legal account to the solicitor’s firm run by John Clayton, the town clerk. Clayton became Grainger’s advocate and adviser, and the council adopted his scheme within two months. Grainger’s scheme transformed the centre of Newcastle, but without Clayton’s influence and advice it might well have been rejected, as Dobson’s was. One of the three principal streets built under Grainger’s scheme was named Clayton Street in his honour.An anonymous quotation made about Clayton at the time, may be unfair, but gives an indication of how some people regarded him:
Has all the craft and subtlety of the devil. Great talents, indefatigable industry, immense wealth, and wonderful tact and facility in conducting business, give him an influence in society rarely possessed by an individual. Was unanimously re-elected Town Clerk because the Clique had not a man equal to supply his place. Can do things with impunity that would damn an ordinary man. A good voice, speaks well, and never wastes a word. Has a careworn, but sly countenance and spare person – limps in his gait from an accident – and loves the ladies.
Grainger’s financial difficulties
In 1839 Grainger paid £114,100 for the Elswick estate to west of Newcastle intending to build a railway terminus there surrounded by factories and houses. The expense of buying the estate almost bankrupted Grainger and by 1841 his creditors were demanding payment. Grainger was saved from bankruptcy by John Clayton, who worked very hard in persuading Grainger’s creditors to accept gradual repayment. Clayton had difficulty in persuading Grainger to restrict his expenditure, as correspondence between them shows. Clayton even intervened in a dispute between Grainger and his son Thomas and persuaded them to compromise.On Grainger’s death in 1861, he left debts of £128,582 and his personal estate amounted to only £16,913. Grainger’s debts included £30,000 owed to Clayton. A letter to Grainger’s executors shows that Clayton agreed to forego the £30,000 owed to him as well as the interest arrears on the debt.
Clayton died in 14 July 1890. The gross value of his estate was a remarkable £728,846.