Bull's Head

Located at the top of Listing Lane, this pub was once a hive of activity with attached barn, stables and blacksmith's shop.

1822 - Baines Trade Directory - Bull's Head, Gomersal. A confusing entry that shows 2 landlords; Joshua Mann & Benjamin Ross who was also a smith.

6 Jun 1841 - Census entry - Little Gomersal. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
Wm KNOWLES  25  Innkeeper (all born in Yorkshire)

Elizabeth KNOWLES  20

Mary KNOWLES  2m
Ann DOVE  15  Servant 

7 Jun 1843 - Licence Transfer - William Knowles of the Bull's Head, Gomersal to Joseph Newton. (believed this should be Newsome, see later entries)

6 Dec 1845 - Property Auction - Now occupied by Joseph Newsome, the inn, called the Bull's Head, with barn, stable, mistal, fold or yard and garden with blacksmith's shop attached and parcel of land adjoining.

3 Jun 1848 - To Let - A good beer-house at Cleckheaton, called the Upper George. Apply to Mr Newsom. Bull's Head, Little Gomersal.

30 Mar 1851 - Census entry - Little Gomersal. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
Joseph NEWSOME  Head  M  46  Innkeeper  Dewsbury
Sarah NEWSOME  Wife  M  45  Selby
Joseph NEWSOME  Son  M  21  Lab stone getter  Leeds
Walter NEWSOME  Son  11  Scholar
Elizabeth NEWSOME  Dau  M  24  Housekeeper  Pulton?, Yks
(NB - Joseph Newsome in 1855 has a new licence granted to him for the Rose & Crown, just at the rear of this house)

1857 - Kelly's Post Office Directory lists Mrs Mary Clayton at the Bull's Head, Little Gomersal. 

1 Nov 1858 - Licence Transfer - The Bull's Head, Gomersal from Mary Clayton to Joseph Hirst.

22 Aug 1859 - Brewster Sessions - Joseph Hirst of the Bull's Head, Gomersal had his licence suspended for one month (reason not reported on).

7 Apr 1861 - Census - Bulls Head Inn, Little Gomersal. Landlord recorded as Joseph Hirst & family.

23 Aug 1869 - Brewster Sessions - Annual session for the granting and renewal of licences was held at Dewsbury. It being the first session in which the new Wine and Beer Act was put in force. John Roberts of the Bull's Head, Gomersal had 2 convictions in the past year and was told his renewal would not be accepted, but the matter was deferred for a month.

30 Oct 1869 - Inquest held - Licensee recorded as Emma Sykes.

2 Apr 1871 - Census - Bulls Head Inn, Low Lane. Landlady recorded as Miss Emma Sykes and her father John. (John had previously had the White Horse at Hill Top)

4 Nov 1872 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Emma Sykes to Feurgus Wilson.

2 Mar 1874 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Feurgus Shaw to Joseph Shaw.

1 Mar 1875 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Joseph Shaw to Ben Thackrah.

3 Apr 1881 - Census - Bulls Head, Listing Lane. Landlord recorded as Ben Thackrah, his wife Eliza Ann and family.

5 Apr 1891 - Census - Quarry Road, Gomersal. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here. Landlord recorded as Ben Thackrah & his wife Eliza Ann.

May 1891 - Brewery - Acquired by Thomas Ramsden & Sons.

2 Oct 1891 - Court Case. Ben Thackrah convicted for opening outside of permitted hours on 27 Sep 1891. Fined £1 and costs.

2 May 1892 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Ben Thackrah to John Alfred Sherwood.

19 Aug 1892 - Court Case. John Alfred Sherwood convicted for opening outside of permitted hours on 14 Aug 1892. Fined 5s and costs.

3 Jul 1893 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from John Alfred Sherwood to Samuel Newsome.

6 Nov 1893 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Samuel Newsome to Ellen Newsome.

7 May 1894 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Ellen Newsome to Thomas Newsome.

27 Aug 1894 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Thomas Newsome to Robert Spencer.

7 Jan 1895 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Robert Spencer to John Smith.

31 Mar 1901 - Census - Bulls Head Inn, Gomersal. Landlord recorded as John Smith and family.

4 Feb 1907 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from John Smith to Mark Guy.

6 Jun 1910 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Mark Guy to Arthur Massheder.

2 Apr 1911 - Census - Bull's Head Inn, Quarry Road. Arthur Massheder recorded as publican with wife Clara and family.

2 Jul 1914 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Arthur Massheder to Albert Beck.

27 Mar 1916 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Albert Beck to Alfred Saunders.

28 Apr 1916 - Court Case. Licensee convicted of permitting consumption outside of permitted hours. Fined £10 or 2 months imprisonment.

7 Jun 1920 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Alfred Saunders to Squire Bentley.

1920 - Electoral Register - Bull's Head Inn, Quarry Road. Occupants recorded as Squire & Alice Ann Bentley.

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - Bulls Head (6 rooms)
Squire BENTLEY  Head  M  68y 1m, Scholes, Publican
Alice Ann BENTLEY  Wife  M  67y 10m, Heppental nr Halifax

1925 - Electoral Register - 171 Quarry Road. Premises not named but other records suggest it was here. Occupant recorded as Squire Bentley.

19 May 1925 - Probate Calendar - Squire Bentley of the Bull's Head Inn, Gomersal died 14 Apr 1925 and names his daughter Flora Clayton as Executor of his estate valued at £302 3s 9d.

8 Jun 1925 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Flora Clayton (Executor of Squire Bentley) to Edmund Harris Wood (previously at The Talbot Inn, Rawfolds).

3 May 1929 - Court Case - Licensee convicted of supplying outside of permitted hours and aiding & abetting consumption. Fined £10 & 4s costs.

1930 - Electoral Register - Bull's Head Inn, Quarry Road. Occupants recorded as Edmund Harris Wood & Ethel Wood.

2 Mar 1931 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Edmund Harris Wood to Ethel Wood.

30 Sep 1938 - Court Case -  Licensee convicted on 2 counts of supplying outside of permitted hours. Fined £5 & 4s costs and notification sent to brewery company.

6 Feb 1939 - Licensing Register. Transfer of licence from Ethel Wood to Ben Holmes.

29 Sep 1939 - 1939 Register entry - Bulls Head Inn, Quarry Road
Ben HOLMES  b. 26 Aug 1886  M  Publican
Helena HOLMES  b. 5 Jun 1889  M  Landlady
Doris HOLMES  b. 29 Jun 1915  S  Cloth weaver

17 Feb 1951 - Court case - Ben Holmes, licensee of the Bull's Head, Gomersal pleaded guilty to being the owner of dog which was not under proper control. He was ordered to pay costs.

12 Nov 1951 - Licence transfer - Temporary transfer of the licence of the Bull's Head Inn, Gomersal, granted to Fred Senior Goodall.