From at least 1815, Nurserymen or Seedsmen in Alnwick grew commercial crops ranging from trees to strawberries. Six tons of fruit left by rail each day in the latter years of the 19th century. An average of eight nurseries are found in Trade Directories from 1840-1940 with sites starting at the top of Clayport Bank to the bottom of Denwick Lane. The last to close was the Royal Oak Nursery in 1975.