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Morpeth

The Black Bull Hotel, Morpeth

Last Updated:

8 Oct 2024

Morpeth

This is a

Pub, Posting House

55.167267, -1.687543

Founded in 

c1820s

Current status is

Extant

Designer (if known):

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Listed grade II

This is the Black Bull at Morpeth, which quite literally sticks out like a sore thumb thanks to its bow window extended across the centre of the house. It seems they were quite trendy at some stage as you can find a few across the North East. I find out this is an old posting stables!

The house was built in the early 19th century, and had been the Black Bull since its inception. In fact the name dates back even further, with an inn here under the Black Bull since at least the 1730s. It should come as no surprise given its ideal location that this was a perfect rest stop for the weary traveller.

The sign underneath was an important meeting place for all the prim and proper of the town. The trustees of the Northumberland turnpike met here in 1747 to discuss how best to spend the tolls earned from the road. Public auctions for surrounding farms were held here attracting folk over from the market to grab a piece of the pie.

Its clear this isn't that original one, but business must have grown to such an extent this new build was warranted. Perhaps the new bridge built in the 1820s and 30s instigated a bit of a boom, so this purpose built inn was erected with a stable yard round the back. In fact, the right bay is the original entrance through to the back. The stables facilitated the appeal of the hotel on the upper floors for those visiting the market or hopping up to Scotland.

The B&W shots from the early 1890s is from when the Black Bull was under the tenure of George Forsyth - You can see his name banded around the bow window. He actually held a posting stable here where he would lease out horses and carriages for mail carriers and travellers. Thus we can imagine round the back it'll have been like a big busy garage with a fleet of old wagons, vans and horses ready to traverse up the Great North Road.

What's lovely is this heritage still exists, decorated with the tuscan columns through to a new entrance into the inn.

Listing Description (if available)

Inn. Early C19. Scored stucco with Welsh slate roof. Regency style. 3 storeys, 3 bays. 10-panelled door in left bay. Centre bay is a 3-storey bow window, with stucco festoons between 1st and 2nd floors. 2-pane sashes elsewhere. Right bay has a carriage entry framed by attached Tuscan columns with fluted necking, frieze with festoons and paterae, and cornice.

Both maps above depict Morpeth from the 1820s through to the 1850s. Though Woods' plan of 1826 is a little tricky to analyse, it still proves a vital instrument for research at this particular time period. Though the Black Bull was certainly here, it may be the case the hotel we know was constructed just after as there is no depiction of the bow window. It would match up with my theory that it was built around the time of the new bridge opening, given it provided easy use for horses.

The 1859 plan however is comprehensive in detail. We see the Black Bull, its stable entrance and the huge line of stables within the old burgage plot. It leads all the way up the old mill race where I'm sure water was sourced. Though I'm not sure if it was a posting house at this stage, it was certainly successful as a hotel.

The Black Bull is easy to spot again thanks to the front bow window. This is when the pub was in use as a posting, featuring all the same amenities at the rear of the hotel. The mill race at the end of the yard had been covered over at this stage with the tannery and gardens built on with the iron works, Dacre Court and Stanley Terrace. Bridge Street however still retains much of its early 19th century charm today.

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The Black Bull, after a recent re-rendering, in August 2024

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The Black Bull and the yard entrance can be seen on the right. Note the dropped kerb and the Forsyth name banded around the bow window. Original source unknown.

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The Black Bull around the 60s or 70s, complete with its festoon which was recently removed. Unknown original source.

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