Black Bull

Parts of this old building date back to the 1700s. The premises are located on Towngate next to the Methodist Church. The property still stands and is now Black Bull Farm. The premises closed as a public house at the end of 1933.

14 Jul 1812 - Newspaper article - A gang of 30 men intent on stealing arms attacked premises in Clifton village. Premises of George Pratt, innkeeper, were fired upon and his gun stolen.

1822 - Baines Trade Directory - Black Bull, Clifton. Landlord recorded as George Pratt.

10 Dec 1827 - Inquest - Held at the Bull Inn, Clifton, house of George Pratt, into the murder of Uriah Womersley at Kirklees Park the previous week.

1830 - Baines Trade Directory - Black Bull, Clifton. Landlord recorded as George Pratt.

6 Jun 1841 - Census entry - Black Bull, Clifton.
Ellen PRATT  25  Innkeeper  (all born in Yorkshire)
Sarah PRATT  65  FS
Joseph INGHAM  70  Ag lab
George PRATT  55  Ag lab

30 Mar 1851 - Census entry - Black Bull Inn, Clifton
Ellen SQUIRE  Head  Wid  39  Farmer 20 acres emp 1 lab & Victualler  Clifton
William PRATT  Serv  U  30  Ag lab  Clifton
Emma SAVILLE  Serv  13  Servant girl  Clifton
(NB - Ellen Squire is the same Ellen Pratt above having married James Squire at Hartshead in 1842)

7 Apr 1861 - Census entry - Black Bull, Clifton.
Godfrey BERRY  Head  M  49  Farmer of 34 acres emp 1m & Innkeeper  Deighton
Ellen BERRY  Wife  M  49  Clifton
Hannah COATES  Serv  10  General servant  Gomersal
(NB - Godfrey's wife is the same Ellen Pratt/Squire as above)

2 Apr 1871 - Census entry - Black Bull Inn, Clifton.
William A PRATT  Head  M  51  Farmer of 21 acres  Clifton
Maria PRATT  Wife  M  46?  Gomersal
Sarah E PRATT  Dau  5  Gomersal
Sarah NICHOLSON  Serv  16  Domestic servant  Clifton
(NB - William Armytage Pratt is the brother of the earlier mentioned Ellen Pratt/Squire/Berry)

3 Apr 1881 - Census entry - Black Bull, Clifton Road.
William A PRATT  Head  M  60  Innkeeper  Clifton
Maria PRATT  Wife  M  56  (birthplace blank)
Sarah E PRATT  Dau  15  (birthplace blank)

5 Apr 1891 - Census entry - Black Bull Inn, Towngate.
Philip FISHER  Head  M  52  Farmer & innkeeper  Skelmanthorpe
Elizabeth FISHER  Wife  M  50  Cumberworth
William H FISHER  Son  U  24  Farmers son  Cumberworth
Walter FISHER  Son  U  17  Farmers son  Crigglestone
Amanada FISHER  Dau  16  Crigglestone
Edith Ann FISHER  Dau  11  Scholar  Fenay Bridge

21 May 1898 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Towngate. From Seth Fozard to Sidney Schofield.

31 Mar 1901 - Census entry - Black Bull Inn, Towngate.
Sidney SCHOFIELD  Head  M  52  Publican  Bradley
Lavinia SCHOFIELD  Wife  M  49  Clifton
Emily SCHOFIELD  Dau  U  23  Clifton
Alfred SCHOFIELD  Son  U  21  Brass finisher  Clifton
Rachel GIBBS  Aunt  Wid  78  Clifton

26 May 1906 - Licence Transfer - Sidney Schofield, Black Bull Inn, Towngate to Cunliffe Charles Waller.

7 Sep 1907 - Court Case - Licensee of the Black Bull charged with permitting drunkenness. Fined 10s with 21s 6d costs.

28 Mar 1908 - Licence Transfer - Cuncliffe Charles Waller, Black Bull Inn, Towngate to Henry Johnson. 

27 Nov 1909 - Licence Transfer - Henry Johnson, Black Bull Inn, Towngate to William Henry Taylor. 

26 Nov 1910 - Court Case - Licensee of the Black Bull charged with selling adulterated (watered down) whiskey. Fined 10s with 17s costs.

2 Apr 1911 - Census entry - Black Bull Inn, Clifton (7 rooms)
William Henry TAYLOR  Head  M  64  Publican  Brighouse
Sarah TAYLOR  Wife  M  60  (5/8 children alive)  Wyke
Ernest TAYLOR  Son  U  31  Building contractor's labourer  Brighouse

25 Nov 1911 - Licence Transfer - William Henry Taylor, Black Bull Inn, Towngate to David Bottomley.

30 Nov 1912 - Licence Transfer - David Bottomley, Black Bull Inn, Towngate to Albert Edward Payne.

25 Jul 1914 - Licence Transfer - Albert Edward Payne, Black Bull Inn, Towngate to Walter Cookson.

31 Jul 1915 - Licence Transfer - Walter Cookson, Black Bull Inn, Towngate to Moses Martin.

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - Black Bull Inn, Clifton (7 rooms)
Moses MARTIN  Head  M  69y 6m, Rochford, Essex,  Farmer (OA)
Betsy MARTIN  Wife  M  60y 6m, Great Munden, Herts,  Home
Harold MARTIN  Son  U  30y 4m, Sawtry?, Herts,  Assisting father in general farm work
Cecil Arthur MARTIN  Son  M  25y 11m, Newark, Notts,  As above
Harriett A MARTIN  Dau-in-law  M  26y 8m, Whitby,  Home
Hilda MARTIN  Dau  U  21y 2m, Simber Magna, Lincs,  Silk worker, Wood Vale Mills, Brighouse
Ernest MARTIN  Son  U  19y, Warmford, Hants,  Mill hand, as above
Percy MARTIN  Son  U  17y, Warmford, Hants,  Assisting father in general farm work
Susanna COLLIS  Niece  U  22y 5m, Guildford, Surrey, Silk worker, Wood Vale Mills, Brighouse

26 Jul 1924 - Licence Transfer - Moses Martin, Black Bull Inn, Towngate to Henry Walker.

1 Feb 1933 - Licence Renewal - The question of renewing the licence for the Black Bull was referred to the Compensation Authority.

14 Jun 1933 - Compensation authority - 30 West Riding pubs were refused licence renewals. Locally they were: The Crystal Inn, Heckmondwike; White Hart Inn, Liversedge and the Black Bull Inn, Clifton.

27 Dec 1933 - Premises closed - Extinction of the licence.