Dirty deeds...

In 1874 Seaham experienced the Mill Inn Election Riots, anti-Tory protestations at the fact that Seaham miners and other local workers were denied the vote.  The Riot Act was read to the crowd, police and soldiers were brought in and the protestors headed for the Mill Inn where they beat up the landlord and wrecked the pub because of his Tory sympathies.  

The New Mill Inn was built on the site in 1892