Portrait of John Clayton

John Clayton (1792 -1890) is best known for his role as Town Clerk of Newcastle during the 19th century. Clayton was a keen antiquarian and he played a major role in preserving the remains of Hadrian's Wall at a time when there was little interest in conservation. He inherited the Chesters estate in 1843, and gradually expanded his holdings along the Wall, repairing and rebuilding many miles of the Wall and did archaeological excavations of several Roman sites.