android appIpswich Bull
listed building grade II
last updated Jan 28th, 2023.
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Ipswich Bull
also traded as Bull's Head
South, 52.05303,1.15877
closed 30th September 1961
last owner/operator: Cobbold's
35 Key St
grid reference TM 166 441
The Bull is shown on this OS town plan from about 1880 (larger map).
This old pub is now a mix of retail and residential use.
The timber frame of the building dates from the 16th century, though the brick fronting is from the 19th. It was one of Ipswich's most ancient inns; one of only 24 listed in a town assessment of 1689.
A Zeppelin destroyed part of the roof on 31st March 1916 and demolished an adjoining cottage, killing one man.
These premises were listed in the 1844 White's Suffolk Trades Directory with carriers operating from the inn to Debenham, Gislingham, Halesworth & Stradbroke. Carriers continued to operate from here until the 1920s.
It's also listed at Common Quay, John Street and Quay.
An announcement of the death on the 4th August 1810, aged 43, Mr Laws, of the Bull Inn, on the Common Quay, Ipswich.Ipswich Journal, August 1810***
Died, on 17.06.1856: Mrs Susanah HITCHCOCK, aged 76, many years landlady of the Coffee House Inn, Sudbury, & mother of Mrs SPURGIN of the Bull Inn, Ipswich.Ipswich Journal, June 25th 1856**
Briarbank 0.09 mile
Isaacs 0.09 mile
Lord Nelson 0.10 mile
Bin 93 0.12 mile
Spread Eagle 0.16 mile
Shamrock 0.23 mileHistorical interest
James Wright of Crowfield lost an ass but found it in the possession of George Dale, at the Bull Inn, Ipswich. Dale had bought the ass from a Mr Cutting 3 months earlier. Richard Ashby said that he had bought the ass from Mathew Berkingshaw and then swapped it for another. Mathew Berkingshaw was found guilty of the theft of the ass and sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment and hard labour. Ipswich Journal, Jan 1830**
Leonard Driver (Died 18 Aug 1911) is listed at the Bull in the Cobbolds & co Tenant rent book at £18pa from Jul 1887 to Jul 1911 (doc ref HA231/5/3)
Robert James Heard is listed at the Bull in the Cobbolds & co Tenant rent book at £10pa from Nov 1911 to Apr 1914 (doc ref HA231/5/3)…
Landlords
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
Closure date from Ipswich licensing records.
(information from Dudley Diaper)
(detailed information from Old inns of Suffolk by Leonard P Thompson)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
