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Gallery
Market Place Market Place
Note the new building in the photo on the corner.
Regent Street Regent Street
Note the 'Old Red Lion Hotel'
Chapmangate Chapmangate
Note the independent chapel built in 1807 to the left.
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PDLHG Newsletters
#1 Oct 2020
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#3 May 2021

The Black Bull

The Black Bull was an old Cock Fighting inn. The York Courant of 1748 has a cockfight between the gentlemen of Holme and Weighton and the gentlemen of Pocklington was advertised in the York Courant to take place on three days in March "at Mr James Bagley's new Pitt at the sign of the Black Bull"
The most important meeting at the Black Bull was the public meeting to decide the building of the Pocklington Canal in 1801.

Canal Meeting
The York Herald - 12th September, 1801
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Black Bull 1803
The York Herald, November 5th, 1803
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Bull Pocklington 1819
York Herald - 1st May 1819
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Image reproduced with kind permission of http://www.thebritishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Bull 1823
York Herald - 3rd May 1823
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Image reproduced with kind permission of http://www.thebritishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Coaching inn
The Hull Packet Newspaper - 17th June, 1828
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Black Bull Coaching 1829
Hull Packet - 10th March 1829
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Image reproduced with kind permission of http://www.thebritishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Bull 1862
York Herald - 3rd May 1862
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Image reproduced with kind permission of http://www.thebritishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Cycling Club
This is presumed to be Pocklington Cycling Club taken outside the Black Bull sometime between 1913 and 1933, as the landlady above the door is 'Susannah Walsh'.
Black Bull 1
Black Bull 2
Black Bull 3
Black Bull 4
Black Bull 5
The Black Bull in the 1950's
 
Landlords of the Black Bull
   
1937 Kelly's Directory Black Bull Hotel (Edwd. Percy Steele, manager), Market pl
1933 Kelly's Directory Black Bull Hotel (J. S. Walsh, propr.), Market pl.
1929 Kelly's Directory Black Bull Hotel (J. S. Walsh, proprietor), commercial catering done, reasonable charges, Market place
1921 Kelly's Directory Walsh Susannah (Mrs.), Black Bull P.H. Market place
1913 Kelly's Directory Walsh Susannah (Mrs.), Black Bull P.H. Market place
1909 Kelly's Directory Tayleure Susan (Mrs.), Black Bull P.H. Market place
1905 Kelly's Directory Tayleure Arthur Pearson, Black Bull P.H. Market place
1897 Kelly's Directory Tayleure Arthur Pearson, Black Bull P.H. Market place
1892 Bulmers Directory Black Bull, Market pl; Arthur Tayleure
1889 Kelly's Directory Tayleure Arthur Pearson, Black Bull p.h. Market place
1879 Post Office Directory Moor Thomas, Black Bull, Market place
1862 The York Herald The late Mrs Johnson, For Sale: The Black Bull Inn with stabling for 80 horses, coachhouse, brewhouse, chandlers shop (see advert above)
1858 White's Directory Black Bull, Margaret Johnson, Mkp
1853 Yorkshire Gazette 26 March 1853 - Death - On Wednesday, the 2nd inst, at New York, aged 38, Mrs. Mary Ann Habin, eldest daughter of Mr. William Johnson, of the Black Bull Inn, Pocklington. She was highly respected by all who knew her.
1851 Census Margaret Johnson, Widow, Age 64, Innkeeper
1848 York Herald 17 June 1848 - Colossal Rhubarb — There were taken up in the garden of Mr. W. Johnson, of the Black Bull Inn, Pocklington, on Saturday last, a stem of rhubarb measuring 22 inches in length and 9 inches in circumference, and a leaf the circumference of which was 27 feet.
1844 Easton's Directory Johnson William, Black Bull Inn (Owner: William Johnson)
1841 Census William Johnson, Age 50, Innkeeper
1840 White's Directory Black Bull, Wm. Johnson, Market place
1834 Piggot's Directory Black Bull, Wm. Johnson, Market place
1826 Beverley Archives Alehouse recognizance for William Johnson of the 'Black Bull' at Pocklington
1825 The York Herald

27th Nov 1824 - Pocklington and Yapham. To be sold by Auction. At the Black Bull Inn, at Pocklington, in the C of Y, on Tuesday the 4th day of January 1825, at two o'Clock in the afternoon. All that valuable Freehold and Copyhold property situate at Pocklington and Yapham, in the C of Y, and near to the Pocklington Canal, in the following lots:
Lot 1. The above mentioned house, called the Black Bull, situate in the Market-Place, which has for time immemorial has been a well established and good accustomed inn, with suitable stabling, coach house, and outbuildings, and a croft adjoining, with barn and other buildings theirin.
Lot 2. Three Closes of rich Meadow and Pasture Land, lying together, containing about 10A 1R 3P, nearly two acres of which are Copyhold of the Manor of Barmby, fine small and certain. The above Lots are in the occupation of Wm. Gray.

1825 Beverley Archives Alehouse recognizance for William Gray of the 'Black Bull' at Pocklington
1823 York Herald William Gray Takes over from Thomas Terry (see advert above)
1823 Beverley Archives Alehouse recognizance for William Gray of the 'Black Bull' at Pocklington
1823 Baine's Directory Black Bull, Thos. Terry, Market pl
1822 Beverley Archives Alehouse recognizance for Thomas Terry of the 'Black Bull' at Pocklington
1820 York Herald 15th April - Mr Cooper's Pocklington Cockings. See Cock Fighting.
1819 York Herald William Cooper Proprietor and Veterinary Surgeon (see advert above).
1809 York Herald Mar 4th - Mr Ibbetson's Black Bull advertising Pocklington Cockings. See Cock Fighting.
1803 York Herald William Bagley (see Adv. above)
1791 Universal Directory Bagley William, (F.) Victualler
1789 - 1791 Beverley Archives Various Alehouse Recognizances for William Bagley
1780-1787 Beverley Archives Various Alehouse Recognizances for Richard Bagley
1760 17Jun, York Courant On Saturday, the 5th of July next, at James Bagley's, the sign of the Black Bull in Pocklington, in the County of York, the sale to begin at three o'clock in the afternoon. A messuage, with the malt kiln, stables, garth and appertunances thereto belonging to widow Smith, and now occupied by John Beilby. For particulars inquire of Mr. Raper, in Coney Street, York, or Mr. William Agar, at Pocklington.
1754 - 1772 Beverley Archives Various Alehouse Recognizances for James Bagley
1750's Neave James Bagley, Butcher
1748 May 17, York Courant To be Fought, at Pocklington. A main of Cocks, at Mr Bagley's Pit; to weigh on Tuesday the fourteenth Day of June, and to fight the three following Days, namely Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; for eight Guineas a Battle, and eighty Guineas the Main or odd Battle; Between the Gentlemen of Lincolnshire and the Gentlemen of Yorkshire. There will be an Ordinary at Mr James Bagley's House, known by the name of The Black Bull, in Pocklington, during the said three Days of Cock-Fighting. N.B. To shew thirty-one Cocks on each Side, for the Main; and ten for Bye-Battles, for four Guineas a Battle.
1747/8 Mar1, York Courant To be fought

At Mr James Bagley's new Pit at the sign of the Black Bull, in Pocklington

A Main of Cocks, by the Gentlemen of Holm and Weighton, against the Gentlemen of Pocklington; to shew Thirty-One Cocks on each side for the Main, and Ten on each side for Bye-Battles; and to fight for four guineas a Battle and forty on the Main; to weigh on Saturday the 12th March, and fight on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday following. There will be an ordinary every day at the same house
Mr George Meek }
and ...................} Feeders
Mr Will. Marshall }
1746 May27, York Courant A Main of Cocks to be fought at Mr. James Bagley's new pitt in Pocklington, for ten guineas a Battle and a hundred on the Main; betwixt Henry Tarburgh, Esq., of Heslington and Edward Wormley, Esq., of Rickall to shew Thirty-One Cocks on each side for the Main, and Twelve on each side for Bye-Battles; to weigh on Tuesday the 24th June, and fight Wednesday, Thursday and Friday following.
Mr George Meek }
and ...................} Feeders
Mr John Emit..... }

1745/6 Mar 1, York Courant

A Main of Cocks to be fought at Mr. James Bagley's New Cock-pit, being at the sign of the Black Bull in Pocklington, between the Gentlemen of the West Riding and the Gentlemen of the East Riding; Each Side showing 43 Cocks, for 10 Guineas a Battle, and 100 Guineas the Odd. To weigh on Saturday 19th April, and fight Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday following.
Mr John Emmott } Feeders
Mr George Meek }
N.B. There will be a very good Ordinary every Day, during the Cockings, At Mr. James Bagley's house

1733 Beverley Archives QSF/103/C/23 William Greensides - recognizance
 
There is more information on Cockfighting in Pocklington here.

If you wish to add to the story of the Black Bull, or correct any of the above information, then please contact me.