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1/263 GREEN BATT 1. 5330 (North Side) No 34 NU 1813 SE 1/263 II 2. Built 1856 as Alnwick Court House, new District Council Treasury. Classical front of 2 storeys and 5 windows. Ashlar with rock faced quoins (chisel draughted margins) and plat band. Simple eaves cornice to slate roof with coped verges and footstones. Two ashlar gable end chimneys and large central vent. Late glazed sash windows with moulded architraves on 1st floor. Central doorway with bracketted pediment. Lower 2 storey one window extension to north-east with raised dressings and crow-stepped gables. Interior formerly vaulted, still much exposed ashlar.

On site of former Wesleyan Chapel and Candle Factory.

34 — 38 Green Batt is the former Alnwick House of Correction and former courthouse and police station, in use as such from 1807 until the new police station was built in mid-20th century. Three buildings/areas on the site are specifically listed. The listing is in three parts, all Grade Il

List Entry Number 1371356 - Former Correction House Yard at Rear of No. 34 Green Batt
List Entry Number 1156934 - 34 Green Batt
List Entry Number 71156959 - 36 and 38 Green Batt

The site is a former House of Correction for prisoners serving short terms of confinement and from 1856 included a Magistrates’ court and police station. Historical records are scarce and incomplete. It is built of stone; rough dressed in places and ashlar to the front. Before 2011 the entire site was used by the Urban and then County Councils for administrative purposes, but it was not well maintained.

In the mid-20th century a new police station rendered the buildings redundant and the site was taken over by the then Urban Council for administrative purposes, followed by Northumberland County Council until 2008. In 2010 Alnwick Community Development Trust purchased the buildings from Northumberland County Council and converted them into a Youth Hostel, with major internal structural changes that were given full planning permission and listed building consent in 2010.

In 2011 the Development Trust went into liquidation and the building was re-purchased from the liquidator by Northumberland County Council ana transferred to ARCH. The Alnwick Development Trust trading arm continued to operate the Hostel as a tenant of ARCH {now Advance Northumberland) changing its title to Alnwick Youth Hostel. The property is now owned by Northumberland County Council.

---------- Morpeth Herald - Saturday 09 June 1866  -------

GREAT RIOT AT ALNWICK BETWEEN THE MILITIAMEN AND THE POLICE.

A riot such as has never before been known in Alnwick, took place shortly after midnight of Saturday. Tbe rioters were the greater part of the men ef the Nortbumberland Light Infantry Militia, sided by large body of the townspeople: the popular violence was directed against the members of the county police force. The cause of the tumult was tbe indignation excited by the Manner which a sergeant of police maimed and maltreated a young tobacconist and member of the rifle corps, named Crawford, a week ago. The feeling had been heightened by the knowledge that the two young men who were taken along with Crawford had been fined, and that a summons had been sent to this unfortunate young man to appear before the magistrates on the 7th of July next, on a charge of resisting and assaulting the police in the execution of their "duty." But this feeling was most violent among the militiamen, against whom, it is but just to state, no single murmur of complaint for disorderly conduct has hitherto been heard from any quarter during the present training. The local police appear to have had some fears of an outbreak on Saturday evening, for tbey procured tbe assistance of a large body of constables from other districts, and these new auxiliaries patrolled the streets in all directions. This display of force, so far from inspiring fear, roused indignation almost to madness, and is believed to have been the immediate cause of tbe emeute which followed. police were under tbe orders of Superintendent Hsrkes. As tbe night advanced the attitude tbe militiamen became very threatening, and tbe more peacefully disposed smong tbe inhabitants remarked witb alarm that all tbe billets in Clayport were turning out. Tbe men were evidently bent on mischief. Several of those who were appointed for pjcquet duty, skulked and tbe picqutts themselves were quite ineffective to prevent tbe occurrences wbich followed. At midnight, wben tbe public-bouses were closed, the streets became more crowded than ever, and the excitement was tremendous. Soldiers, many their shirt sleeves, others in various ttages of military undress, were everywhere conspicuous. Presently one of tbs costless ones came down Clayport witb several pokers under bis arms, and laden witb accoutrements, calling be went, "Now, lads! whee wants poker, and wbee wants a bayonet Near tbe Corn Market be threw down his load on tbe street, and Kkere, belts, and bayonets were quickly seized bis companions. Weapons having thus been procured, the men forthwith rushed to the fraj, and commenced to stone tbe police wberoever they found them, and the police, assailed wben disunited, bad, of course, very muob tbe worst of it. Tbrce cf tbem were pursued with yells end showers of stones into the militis depot, wbere they took refuge Four were caught beside tbe bouse of Mr. Marshall, watchmaker, wbere they bed ensconced themselves in tbe shadow of the wall. Tbey were unmercifully peltsd, snd stood for some time helpless bewilderment, uncertain whicb way to fly At last they made bolt up Fringle's-yard, and fled, with the wild hunt in their rear, in tbe direction of Thompson Devisor 'a brewery, of wbich the police bave key. Tbe brewer was inside, and not little startled wben tbe gates flew open, and in rushed four-panic-stricken blue-coats, who secured tbsir safety by locking themselves in. In another place, two policemen, such was tbeir trepidation, were put to flight bv a drunken man, who made stagger st tbem. cried te tbsse who were wear to " run tbs ——• through." Police Sergeant Wstson, agsinst whom tbere was especial animosity, was set npon Fenkle-street, and received several injuries; and during tbe general melee, Superintendent Hsrkes himself was wounded in tbe neck with bsyonet. Tbe chief struggle took place in Bondgate Within, where the police, beaded by Mr. Harkes, made one time so resolute ebarge tbat tbe rioters were beaten back aod wavered; but overwhelming numbere eventually prevailed, might have been expected, the policemen were driven in bead long flight through Bondgate Tower, op Hotspurstreet, and to the very doors of the police station The rioters were for time undisputed masters of the town, but no damage was done by them private persons private property, and it be* came obvious tbat there was certain degree of organisation among them. They were obedient to tbe orders of one of their muraber, who appeared to be invested with the chief command. The police having been driven repeated volleys of stones into the police station, and a scattered fire having done mischief to tbe windows, at length, on the word being given, a simultaneous volley of missiles was let fly, wbicb shivered nearly every pane of glass in tbe building, injured part of the cornice at the further end of the justice-room. The mob, however, ran short of stones, and some might be seen digging them up from tbe streets with the heels of their boots. party of them went snd pulled down part of tbe railing wbich fences small plantation annexed to tbe pinfold, and wbich was close at hand, and one procured a huge stone, with whioh be proceeded to batter tbe doors of the police station. The townsmen were nothing behindhand in these proceedings, but tbe militiamen cried to tbem, Keep baek, and leave it to them," as tbey (the townsfolk) would be known and fined. At length the picquet was announced to be coming, and tbe soldiers beat a retroat. As soon as tbe coast was clear the police issued from their covert, formed four deep, and headed by Superintendent Harkes, witb drawn cutlass, marched to the top of St. Micbael's-lane, and tbeuce through other parts of tbe town, but found no enemy. The whole affray wss at an end by one o'clock on the Sunday morning; but party of wild youngsters continued for about an hour afterwards to stand before tbe Police Station and sing tbe popular sons of tbe day. In tbis agreeable amusement tbe police did not think fit to disturb tbem, None of tbe men billeted on Mr Crawford, publican, father of tbe young man whose leg was broken and wbose bead was cut by tbe police, took any part in the riot. does not appear tbat any dangerous injuries bave been received by any of the combatants. When tbe morning dawned one of tbe rails torn down near the " pinfold" was seen laid on the very top St. Michael's pant, alongside of the tutelary archangel and tbe vanquished dragon. On Major Brown receiving intelligence of the riot, be directed more police to telegraphed for, and a large acoession to tbe force already assembled Alnwick arrived in the course of Sunday forenoon. Tbe men of the regiment were assembled in tbe yard of tbe depot at two in the afternoon, and Adjutant Grey read over to them a paper, pointing out tbeir folly in having been induced by tbe people of the town to take up a quarrel not tbeir own, and informing tbem that on a repetition of their riotous conduct an order from tbe Horse Guards would be procured to stop tbe pay of those who took part in such disturbance, and that at tbe disembodiment they would be banded over to the eivil authorities. On Sunday evening Clsyport Street, tbe Corn Market, and some otber parts of the town were crowded with people gazing at tbe strong pickets that were con tinually parading tbe streets; but tbere was no disposition to create any mere disturbances, none took place. A small picket of police was sent out early the evening, but it seems to bave been prudently withdrawn, After nine o'clock tbe streets wore tbeir usual quiet appearance.