Built around 1880 the Navigation Inn sits at point which was once a hive of activity, related to the port at Cargo Fleet. The building is attractive with it’s symmetrical design. However not a lot is actually written about it’s history. This is one of the many places in Teesside where I often wonder about the stories that the building could tell if it could talk…
The Navigation Inn, Cargo Fleet Middlesbrough
(04/11/2020)
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Now it stands somewhat isolated, at the back of a large new(ish) retail until, a railway line adjacent (with a soon to be closed signal box) and perched aside Ormesby Beck.
The Navigation Inn, Cargo Fleet Middlesbrough
(04/11/2020)
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The change in this area of Middlesbrough was enormous. The below map is the Cargo Fleet area as surveyed in 1853.
The land around Marsh Road and the area marked as Great Marsh is empty. However moving on to the map surveyed in 1892 not only do we see the Navigation Inn appear but also the marsh area being reclaimed.
Furthermore the conurbations of North Ormesby have grown, the pub also had a nearby railway station (which closed on 22nd January 1990).
Moving on to a map published in 1955 the area is in boom with industry and dwellings.
Naturally, with the de-industrialising of the area the traditional “post-work pint” customers would have dwindled. Like most public houses it has its regulars and with the coming of the Riverside Stadium the pub was busy with supporters (pre-covid).
The Navigation Inn, Cargo Fleet Middlesbrough
(04/11/2020)
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This bit of Ormesby beck runs towards the Tees via a concrete trunking, brutal, hard, forcing the water towards its end.
I stopped off here when walking home from South Bank, the day before the November 2020 lockdown.
I KNOW I AM HOME 
Interesting to see that the first housing development in North Ormesby was Hampden Street and a bit of Worsley St in 1853.
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Although you give the location of The Navigation as “Cargo Fleet” it was always considered as one of North Ormesby’s pubs .The closest dwelling houses to the pub were the houses at the east end of Short St which is definitely North Ormesby. My father was born in Short St in 1911 and often spoke of the Navigation as he worked over the road at the Teesside Bridge Engineering works .The only pub classed as in Cargo Fleet was the Crown, always referred to as “The Ruin”
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Thanks Geoffrey, simply giving Cargo Fleet as location given it’s proximity to not only the former railway station here but the river too… As you can see from early mapping North Ormesby is 1853 was actually quite distant with Hampden Street and Worsley Street… So doubt it would’ve been considered a North Ormesby pub then…
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