Bulls Head
10 St Mary’s Street, Newport, TF10 7AB
This has at various times been described as an inn, an ale house and a hotel.
The earliest deeds may possibly be those of Richard Hodgkis who died in 1627 and owned an inn (not named). In the deeds a later John Hodgkiss, perhaps a descendent, is recorded, in 1789, as a victualler and butcher. Later the Moreton family owned the property and Lydia Moreton who, married a Richard Sillitoe, owned the property until 1840. The house is in the centre of the plot and was built by Lydia. The inn was always advertised as doing its own brewing, until 1901.
In 1876 an advert appeared which for the first time indicated a posting business. This was the taxi service of yesterday. You could hire a carriage or have one driven for you.
In 1907 Ernest Jones bought the property for £950. It was described as a Public House, Stabling & Garden. Fully Licenced, Free House. 7 bedrooms, Bath, WC, Club Room up. Bar. Smoke Room, Commercial Room, Kitchen, Scullery. Good building, very good repair.
Upstairs always had a function room. It was often used by the Oddfellows Friendly Society.
In the mid 20th century the opening hours were 10-2 p.m. and 6-10 pm. G Talbot recalled that Harry Duffel was very strict and always shut on time. When the towels went on the pumps, you had ten minutes to drink up. A pint of beer was 1/- (5p). All the pubs had teams in dominoes and darts leagues. Monday was always darts and Friday was dominoes.
Jones’ daughter Edith married Harry Duffell and in 1938 the property eventually became theirs. They bought next door (George & Dragon, 8 St Mary Street) as an extension to the hotel. In 1958 it was sold to Butler & Co of Wolverhampton, which eventually became part of the Mitchell and Butler chain and subsequently Bass Charrington. It was sold under the Beer Orders Act of 1989.
At the time of the sale, the new owner found timber framing in the property, which we believe dates to the 15thto 16th century, since they are very substantial timbers.
The rear buildings are similar to what they always have been with stables and a coach house.. In 1907 it was advertised as having accommodation for 28 horses, but obviously perhaps not all stabled. The feeding troughs have slate interiors and were presumably for water. These are now a rare surviving example.