The Cleveland Tontine Inn

The Cleveland Tontine is a historic sandstone building at the junction of the A19 and A172 roads in Ingleby Arncliffe, North Yorkshire. It originated as a coaching inn in the early nineteenth century, when a new turnpike road from Crathorne was connected to the established route between Thirsk and Stokesley. Investors used a tontine subscription to finance the project, raising £2,500 for the construction of an inn at the strategically placed road junction. A tontine was a form of investment arrangement in which subscribers collectively funded an asset and the surviving participants benefited from the continuing interest in it. The property became part of the regional coaching network during the period when stagecoaches and mail services connected Yorkshire and the north-east of England. Between 1827 and 1843 it served the Cleveland stagecoach route between Leeds and Redcar. It was also used by the Expedition service between Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne from 1823 to 1830, and by a mail route running from Leeds to South Shields between 1833 and 1840. Other shorter-lived routes also called at the inn. These connections made the building both a transport stop and a place for travellers, horses, meals and overnight accommodation. Before 1923, the building ceased to operate as an inn and was converted into a private residence known as Ingleby House. Its later hospitality role resumed after the Second World War, when it was adapted for use as a hotel and restaurant. The property therefore passed through several distinct phases: a commercially financed coaching inn, a private country house, and a modern rural hospitality venue. The building is also significant as a piece of North Yorkshire architectural heritage. It was listed at Grade II in 1952. The structure is built principally of sandstone, with a whitewashed rear wing and hipped Lakeland slate roofs. It has two storeys and a basement, a five-bay front, and a rear wing. Architectural details include a central entrance approached by a perron, engaged columns, a radial fanlight set within an archivolt, a pediment, a tripartite window, canted bay windows and sash windows. The west wing contains mullioned and transomed windows. Interior features include three early fireplaces with original iron grates and a basement fireplace dating from approximately 1600 that was moved to the building from another location. Provenance Inns purchased the property in 2016 and undertook a reported £1 million redevelopment that expanded the accommodation from seven bedrooms to 21. The investment positioned the Cleveland Tontine as a larger country inn and restaurant while retaining its heritage setting. In 2025, the property closed for conversion into a wedding venue and cookery school. The available reference material does not establish the final operating status, ownership structure or completion date of that conversion.

The Cleveland Tontine stands in Ingleby Arncliffe, North Yorkshire, at the meeting point of the modern A19 and A172 roads. Its history is closely linked to the development of turnpike transport in northern England. In the early nineteenth century, a turnpike was built from Crathorne to connect with the existing road between Thirsk and Stokesley. Because the junction was expected to attract travellers, a group of investors decided to establish a coaching inn there. Construction was financed through tontine subscriptions, which together raised £2,500. The inn became active during the high period of stagecoach travel. It was a stopping point for the Cleveland stagecoach, which ran between Leeds and Redcar from 1827 to 1843. Other services included the Expedition between Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne from 1823 to 1830, and a mail service connecting Leeds with South Shields from 1833 to 1840. Several shorter-lived routes also used the location. The property's role was consequently tied to the movement of passengers, mail and goods before the expansion of railways and motor transport transformed long-distance travel. At some point before 1923, the building was converted from a public inn into a private residence called Ingleby House. Its later history returned it to commercial hospitality: after the Second World War it became a hotel and restaurant. The building's architectural and historical value was formally recognised when it received Grade II listed status in 1952. The Cleveland Tontine is a two-storey sandstone building with a basement, a five-bay principal elevation and a rear wing. The rear section is whitewashed, and the roofs are covered with hipped Lakeland slate. The principal entrance is approached by a perron and framed by engaged columns, a radial fanlight within an archivolt and a pediment. The front elevation also includes a tripartite window and canted bay windows, while many of the other windows are sashes. The west wing contains mullioned and transomed windows. Surviving interior features include three early fireplaces with original iron grates, together with a basement fireplace dating from about 1600 that was relocated from another building. Provenance Inns acquired the property in 2016. The company reportedly invested £1 million in the site, expanding its accommodation from seven bedrooms to 21. This redevelopment reinforced the Cleveland Tontine's role as a heritage-oriented country inn, hotel and restaurant. In 2025, the property closed for conversion into a wedding venue and cookery school. The available source does not confirm whether the conversion has been completed or whether the inn continues to trade under its former hospitality format.

• 2025

  Closure for new hospitality use

  [1]Cleveland Tontineen.wikipedia.org

  The property closed for conversion into a wedding venue and cookery school.

• 2016

  Provenance Inns acquisition and expansion

  [1]Cleveland Tontineen.wikipedia.org

  Provenance Inns purchased the property and reportedly invested £1 million to expand the bedroom capacity from seven to 21.

• 1952

  Grade II listing

  [1]Cleveland Tontineen.wikipedia.org

  The building was designated a Grade II listed building in recognition of its architectural and historic interest.

• 1923

  Former inn converted into private residence

  [1]Cleveland Tontineen.wikipedia.org

  Before 1923, the property had been converted from an inn into a private house known as Ingleby House.

• 1833

  Leeds–South Shields mail service uses the inn

  [1]Cleveland Tontineen.wikipedia.org

  A mail service between Leeds and South Shields called at the Cleveland Tontine from 1833 to 1840.

• 1827

  Cleveland stagecoach service begins

  [1]Cleveland Tontineen.wikipedia.org

  The inn became a stop on the Cleveland stagecoach route linking Leeds and Redcar, a role it retained until 1843.

• 1823

  Expedition stagecoach service begins calling

  [1]Cleveland Tontineen.wikipedia.org

  The Cleveland Tontine served the Expedition route between Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne from 1823 to 1830.

Heritage country inn and hospitality venue combining historic architecture, accommodation, dining and event uses.

• Hospitality

  Hotel accommodation

  Accommodation was a central part of the property's post-war identity as a hotel and country inn. Following Provenance Inns' 2016 redevelopment, the reported bedroom count increased from seven to 21, making the site suitable for larger leisure, dining and event occasions.

• Food and beverage

  Restaurant dining

  After the Second World War, the building operated as a hotel and restaurant, offering food and beverage hospitality within a historic coaching-inn setting. The available references do not provide a detailed menu, culinary concept or named restaurant brand.

• Events · 2025

  Wedding venue

  In 2025, the property closed for conversion into a wedding venue. This represented a planned shift toward private celebrations and event hospitality, although the available material does not confirm the venue's eventual launch date or operating details.

• Culinary education · 2025

  Cookery school

  The 2025 conversion plan also included a cookery school, extending the property's use beyond accommodation and restaurant service into culinary education. No further information about courses, facilities or operators is established by the supplied sources.

• 2025

  Conversion into wedding venue and cookery schoolStrategy

  Background

  After operating as a hotel and restaurant, the property was scheduled for a change in use.

  Action taken

  The Cleveland Tontine closed for conversion into a wedding venue and cookery school.

  Aftermath

  The available source does not establish whether the conversion was completed or whether the property resumed trading under a new format.

  Source

• 2016

  Acquisition by Provenance InnsM&A

  Background

  The historic inn was operating as a hotel and restaurant when Provenance Inns acquired it.

  Action taken

  Provenance Inns purchased the property and invested a reported £1 million in redevelopment, increasing the bedroom count from seven to 21.

  Aftermath

  The investment expanded the property's accommodation capacity and supported its positioning as a larger heritage country-inn and hospitality destination.

  Redevelopment investment. £1,000,000 invested (2016)

  Source

1. 1Cleveland Tontineen.wikipedia.org