The Black Bull

Located on the main road from Millbridge to Hightown which has been known by several names in the past including Millbridge Lane, Liversedge Lane and Station Lane.

1803 - Liversedge Survey - Shows the owner of the Black Bull is John Nowell and the tenant is Michael Hemingway

1803 - Alehouse Licence - Granted to Michael Hemingway. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here

21 May 1810 - Property Auction - Several local houses and cottages along with the Black Bull, which is described as a large and well-accustomed public house, consisting of three low rooms with chambers over the same, brewhouse, granary, good cellars, swine yard, excellent stabling, cow house with hay loft over the same, new pump in front of the house well watered and with gardens etc. Current landlord being recorded as Charles Sykes.

1822 - Baines Trade Directory - Black bull, Millbridge. Landlord recorded as Thomas Marsland.

1830 - Baines Trade Directory - landlord recorded as Samuel Middlebrook.

23 Jul 1838 - Newspaper Article - The Liversedge Radical Association was formed at the Black Bull, house of Samuel Middlebrook, for the purpose of securing political rights of Englishmen.

1841 - Trade Directory - Pigot & Co., National & Commercial Directory records Samuel Middlebrook at the Black Bull, Millbridge. He was also a butcher.

6 Jun 1841 - Census entry - Mill Bridge Lane. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
Samuel MIDDLEBROOK  55  Publican (all born in Yorkshire)

John MIDDLEBROOK  25  Army?

Fanny MIDDLEBROOK  30

Eliza INMAN  25  Servant
Joseph WEBSTER  25  Butcher 

30 Nov 1846 - Death Notice - Samuel Middlebrook of the Black Bull Inn, Millbridge, aged 61.

1847 - Whites Trade Directory - Black Bull, Millbridge. Landlord recorded as John Middlebrook.

30 Mar 1851 - Census entry - Ashton Clough, Millbridge. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
John MIDDLEBROOK  Head  M  28?  Victualler  Morley

Ellen MIDDLEBROOK  Wife  M  29  Pontefract

Jane T MIDDLEBROOK  Dau  2  Millbridge
Benjamin MIDDLEBROOK  Serv  19  General servant  Earlsheaton 

1 May 1854 - Licence Transfer - The Black Bull, Liversedge. From Thomas Clarkson to G. Saville

1857 - Kelly's Post Office Directory lists John Stocks at the Black Bull Inn, Millbridge.

7 Apr 1861 - Census entry - 308 Mill Bridge. Premises not named but believed to be here.
Thomas INGHAM  Head  M  39  Innkeeper & tailor  Birstall
Susan INGHAM  Wife  M  33
Mary INGHAM  Dau  8
John INGHAM  Son  6
William INGHAM  Son  3  Mirfield
Elizabeth INGHAM  Dau  8m  Birstall
James ASHWORTH  Lodger  M  37  Whitesmith  Rochdale
Joseph ELLIS  Lodger  Wid  32  Dyer  Mirfield

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. The licence for John Millward of the Black Bull was granted without any objection.

20 Sep 1869 - Court Case - John Price was charged with being drunk and disorderly at the Black Bull, Liversedge, house of John Milward, and also damaging a window. Fined 7s and costs or 14 days in prison.

13 May 1870 - Court Case - Landlord of the Black Bull, Lewis Shaw, was charged with permitting drunkenness in his house. Fined 10s with costs.

2 Apr 1871 - Census entry - Black Bull Inn
Lewis SHAW  Head  M  64  Licensed victualler  Skircoat
Sarah A SHAW  Wife  M  52  Dewsbury
Joseph HORN  Lodger  U  37  Woollen power loom weaver  Wrenthorpe

1 Jan 1872 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge. From Lewis Shaw to John Crossland, formerly of the Sir Robert Peel Inn, Heckmondwike.

5 Jan 1874 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge. From John Crossland (deceased) to John Tetley Sagar.

1 May 1876 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge. From John Tetley Sagar to Godfrey Horsfall.

May 1876 - Brewery - Acquired by Springwell Brewery.

11 Jul 1877 - Property Auction - Held at the Black Bull Inn, Millbridge, house of Godfrey Horsfall.

3 Apr 1881 - Census - Millbridge. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here. Innkeeper recorded as Godfrey Horsfall & family.

16 Oct 1882 - Business Failure - Petition filed at Dewsbury County Court by Godgrey Horsfall of the Black Bull Hotel, Millbridge. Liabilities of £500.

20 Sep 1886 - Newspaper Article - A wedding takes place at Christ Church, Liversedge. The elderly couple hold a dinner party at the Black Bull, house of John Ogden, who recalls that 21 years earlier he served dinner to the groom and his first wife at the Golden Lion, Hightown.

2 Jan 1888 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull, Millbridge Lane. From John Ogden to Armitage Coates.

2 Jul 1888 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull, Millbridge Lane. From Armitage Coates to William Hill.

5 Nov 1888 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull, Millbridge Lane. From William Hill to Sam Graham.

6 Jun 1890 - Court Case - Samuel Graham convicted of permitting drunkenness on his premises. Fined 10s and costs.

5 Apr 1891 - Census - Black Bull, Station Road. Hotel keeper recorded as Sam Graham & family.

4 Jan 1892 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull, Millbridge Lane. From Sam Graham to William Fleetham.

4 Nov 1895 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull, Millbridge Lane. From William Fleetham to Willie Haigh.

31 Mar 1901 - Census - Halifax Road, Millbridge. Premises not named but evidence suggest it was here. Publican recorded as Willie Haigh.

5 Oct 1903 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge Lane. From Willie Haigh to William Henry Mann.

5 Dec 1904 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge Lane. From William Henry Mann to James Thompson.

1 Oct 1906 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge Lane. From James Thompson to Fred Taylor.

4 Oct 1909 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge Lane. From Fred Taylor to Richard Walton (previously at the New Inn, Roberttown).

2 Apr 1911 - Census - Black Bull Hotel. Publican recorded as Richard Walton & family.

7 Dec 1914 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge Lane. From Richard Walton to John Thomas Bowles.

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - 37 Halifax Road, Millbridge (4 rooms)
John Thomas BOWLES  Head  M  58y 9m, Bradford, Licensed victualler & cashier to stuff merchants, Black Bull Inn & Bradford Manu. Co. Ltd., Bradford
Mary Jane BOWLES  Wife  M  49y 3m, Thackley, Licensed victualler's assistant & home duties
James BOWLES  Son  S  25y 1m, Bradford, Machine moulder (iron), Brayshaw & Booth Ltd., Ashton Clough Road, Liversedge
Jane BOWLES  Dau  S  23y 8m, Bradford, Shorthand typist, James & M.S. Sharp & Co. Ltd (BDA), Orchard Dyeworks, Heckmondwike
Mary BOWLES  Dau  S  20y 2m, Thackley, Home duties
William BOWLES  Son  16y 0m, Bradford
Newton ROBINSON  Boarder  S  43y 2m, Denholme, Licensed victualler's assistant, Black Bull Inn, Liversedge

5 Feb 1923 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge Lane. From John Thomas Bowles to Mary Jane Bowles.

28 Dec 1936 - Court Case - Mary Jane Bowles, licensee of the Black Bull Hotel, Liversedge was fined £10 for supplying intoxicants during prohibited hours.

8 Feb 1937 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge Lane. From Mary Jane Bowles to Arthur Aspin.

3 Oct 1938 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge Lane. From Arthur Aspin to Richard Brain.

12 Jun 1939 - Licence Transfer - Black Bull Inn, Liversedge Lane. From Richard Brain to Harry Walsh.