Chorley's Inns and Taverns: Goosnargh (Inglewhite)

Name: The Black Bull Inn

Address: Button Street, Inglewhite, Goosnargh

Black Bull Farm c.2020

The Black Bull Inn and farm dates back to the early 1700s although it has been extended a number of times over its 300 year existence and also been used for a number of uses. Originally a farm with approximately 6 acres of land, it also operated as an Inn during the 1800s and was used as the village post office in the early 1900s before reverting to use as a farm and being split into several cottages.

The building pictured below shows how it was until the recent renovation, in a state of disrepair, a shadow of its former self.

Black Bull from geograph.org.uk by Alexander P Kapp

Listed landlords at the Black Bull were Richard Parkinson (1822), Thomas Smith (1831), Thomas Strickland (1830s), Thomas Waring (1840-), James Mercer (1851-61), James Metcalf (1864), John Lawrenson (1871), Robert Miler (1876), William Fell (1881-96), Frances Fell (-1996) and William Slater (1896).

Advertisements & Notices

...belonging to the heirs of the late Mr Hugh Thomas, of Hawkshead, Lancashire, now occupied by Mr. Thomas Smith, Black Bull Inn, in Inglewhite. For further Particulars and Treaty, apply to...

07 May 1831 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

Inglewhite lies two miles south of Beacon Fell Country Park. Cottages and the local village pub surround the market cross dating from 1500, on the shaft can be found the initials HCIW dated 1675, believed to be those of Justice Warren, who was at that time the Lord of the Manor.

Village Green

The village green, was once the site of cattle and sheep fairs which were stopped in the 19th century, by a vicar opposed to the practice of bull baiting. Roads leading into the village have the quaint sounding names such as Button Street suggesting the making of buttons, Silk Mill Lane and Trotter Street were horses were trotted prior to sale. The Congregational Church which is situated of silk mill lane was built in 1826. Silk Mill Lane derives its name from a bygone silk mill powered by a waterwheel adjacent to where the brook crosses the Lane. Barring a few stones, a boggy piece of land is all that stands testament to once popular St Mary's well stones. Peddlers cafe was once a smithy, made ammunition boxes during the 1st World War closing around 1992. The car park opposite the church was once common land complete with pond and ducking stool. In the wood yard once stood the Workhouse. Two more pubs once existed in the village namely the Queens Arms and The Black Bull.

(Courtesy of the Made in Preston website)

Advertisements & Notices

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION

By Mr. Henry Farnworth, at the house of Mr. Thomas Waring, the sign of the Black Bull, in Inglewhite, in Goosnargh, in the county of Lancaster, on Wednesday the 28th day of October, 1840, at Six o'clock in the evening.

17 October 1840 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

The above press cutting confirms that the Black Bull, like many country Inns during the 19th century was also used as an auction house and in 1840 the landlord was Thomas Waring, who is listed on the census a year later with his primary occupation, as a farmer.

1841 Census - Thomas Wareing

Advertisements & Notices (death)

On Friday, the 24th day of November, at the same hour and place, Thomas Strickland, formerly of the Black Bull, Inglewhite, in the County of Lancaster, Licensed Victualler, afterwards of the Three Fish Inn, Mitton, near Clitheroe.

28 October 1843 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

1851 Census - James Mercer

Advertisements & Notices

Lot 1-All that PUBLIC HOUSE called the Black Bull Inn, in Inglewhite, in the township of Goosnargh, in the county of Lancaster, with the brew-house, stable, shippon, and outbuildings

14 August 1858 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

1861 Census - John Lawrenson

To be Let, and entered upon on Candlemas end May next, the BLACK BULL INN, Inglewhite, in the township of Goosnargh, together with 7 acres arable, meadow, and pasture Land, or thereabouts.

24 October 1863 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

SUPPLEMENT TO THE PRESTON HERALD FOR THE WEEK ENDING APRIL 16. 1864

On Wednesday last, Robert Webster, farm servant at Hall, Garstang, went to the house of Mr. James Metcalf, Black Bull Inn, Inglewhite, where represented that he had been sent Mr. Forshaw, Inglewhite, farmer and horse keeper, have lodgings and beer...

16 April 1864 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

1871 Census - James Parker

PRESTON POLICE INTELLIGENCE

A similar charge was preferred against Robert Miller, landlord of the Black Bull Inn, Inglewhite

01 April 1876 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

Front door pre-renovation

BY AUCTION, BY MR. A. HARRISON

On Wednesday, the 9th day of May, 1877 at two o'clock in the afternoon, at the Black Bull Inn, in Inglewhite, in such lot or lots as may be decided upon at the time of Sale.

05 May 1877 - Lancaster Gazette - Lancaster, Lancashire, England

Post-renovation

1881 Census - William Fell

To Let

BLACK BULL INN

Inglewhite near Preston, together with 6 acres of good meadow and pasture land,

with immediate possession of both.

30 April 1884 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

1891 Census - William Fell

William and Jane Fell died within a month of each other in the spring of 1891 and daughter Frances Fell then took over at the Inn although this was to be short-lived, as by the mid-1890s a new landlord, William Slater, possibly the last at the Black Bull was to take her place.

1891 Burial William and Jane Fell

Black Bull Farm viewed from the Queen's Arms

PRESTON POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

A labourer, was charged with stealing a pair of moleskin trousers, valued 7sa, the property of Frances Fell, tenant of the Black Bull Inn, Inglewhite - The evidence showed that on the morning of the date mentioned there were four men in the kitchen...

02 December 1891 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

DISTRICT NEWS

All other Licensing Offences.

Wm. Slater, landlord of the Black Bull Inn, Inglewhite, was summoned for having his house open for the sale intoxicating drink during prohibited hours.

05 August 1896 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

AN INGLEWHITE LICENSE TAKEN AWAY

The police objection to the renewal of the license the Black Bull Inn, Inglewhite, was next taken. Mr. Blackhurst, who represented the owners did not ask for a renewal of the license to the tenant.

30 August 1897 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

1901 Census - Thomas Rogerson

1910 Lancashire Electoral Registers

The electoral register confirms that the Sowerbutts were in residence by 1910 and neither running a working farm or an Inn. I suspect when the renewal of the licence was refused in 1897 this spelled the end for the Black Bull Inn although Thomas Rogerson may have run a beer house there in 1901. At this time there were two other pubs, the Green Man and Queen's Arms within view of each other and all three vying for the same trade.