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Dating from the early 15th century, the Bull is the oldest pub in Colchester and reputedly haunted.
Colchester pub history index
6th August 2001
The Bull probably dates back to 1400, as borough records show that tithes in the form of three groats were paid to the Abbot in 1461; tithes were not usually paid until a building was at least 50 years old. In the early reign of Henry Tudor, all the chief citizens of Colchester gathered in the Bull with armed archers and pikemen ready to fight for their King, despite the fact that many Colcestrians were against the King.
In the 1660's the tap room at the Bull was used by the Market Sergeant, who sat to receive his dues when foreign traders brought their fine silks from Lombardy to Colchester. The 1700's proved to be very interesting years in the Bull's history and in 1741 Parson Palgrave, 'in holy indignation' sought out the witches of Colchester, and actually found two in the cellar of the Bull. The women were burned and the ashes of their bodies cast out of the town.
In 1791, William Coke, the son of the landlord of the Bull, was accused and convicted of murder. He was transported for life to Botany Bay where he became a respected citizen and in 1832 he returned to a full pardon and probably called back at the Bull to visit old friends.
During the period 1600 to 1850, the Bull was a very busy place, as the stage wagons called there. The speedier coaches arrived at the Red Lion but the more cumbersome stage wagons called at the Bull. (A journey to London from Colchester was a three day trip for the stage wagons.) ***
Residents at this address
1822/Thomas Phillips/../../../Pigot's*
1823-4/Thomas Phillips/../../../Pigot's
1828-9/Thomas Phillips/../../../Pigot's
1832-3/Samuel Phillips/../../../Pigot's
1839/Thomas Phillips/../../../Pigot's
1845/Hannah Phillips/../../../Post Office
1848/Thomas Phillips/../../../White's
1851/Jeremiah Hamblion/innkeeper/34/Woodbridge, Suffolk/Census
1851/Mary Hamblion/wife/39/Thorrington, Essex/Census
1851/Emma Whitemore/cook/23/Salcot, Essex/Census
1851/Eliza Grainger/house servant/19/Great Clacton, Essex/Census
1851/William Cowles/ostler/21/Wetheringsett, Suffolk/Census
1851/Elizabeth Holland/barmaid/11/Thorrington, Essex/Census
1851/George Ratford/’boots’/18/Berechurch, Essex/Census
1851/Jeremiah Hamblion/../../../Post Office
1852/J. Hamblion/../../../Kelly's*
1855/J. Hamblion/../../../Kelly's*
1855/Jeremiah Hamblion/../../../Post Office Directory **+
1861/John Abbott/Inn Keeper/50/Tendring Hundred, Essex/Census
1861/Elizabeth Kate Abbott/Wife/26/Colchester, Essex/Census
1861/Alice Mary Abbott/Daughter/7 weeks/Colchester, Essex/Census
1861/Emily Polley/Visitor, Harness makers daughter/19/Messing, Essex/Census
1861/Caroline Abbott/Visitor, Grocer/40/Tendring Hundred, Essex/Census
1861/Ann Hurrell/House Servant/24/Great Bromley, Essex/Census
1861/Ann Griggs/Servant, Cook/19/Nowton, Suffolk/Census
1861/Michael Simpson/Servant, Waiter/21/Birmingham, Warwick/Census
1861/Phoebe Gale/Nurse/54/Colchester, Essex/Census
1862/John Abbott/../../../Kelly's
1867/John Abbott/../../../Post Office
1870/John Abbott/../../../Kelly's
1871/John Abbott/../../../Post Office
1871/John Abbott/Inn keeper/60/Clacton, Essex/Census
1871/Elizabeth Abbott/Innkeepers Wife/36/Colchester, Essex/Census
1871/Alice Mary Abbott/daughter/10/Colchester, Essex/Census
1871/Helen Mary Abbott/daughter/7/Colchester, Essex/Census
1871/Maud Mary Abbott/daughter/5/Colchester, Essex/Census
1871/Elizabeth Mary Abbott/daughter/3/Colchester, Essex/Census
1871/John Thomas Abbott/son/1/Colchester, Essex/Census
1871/Charles Fitch/brother in law , former butcher/28/Birch, Essex/Census
1871/John Andrews/Lodger, 2nd class assistant Excise
Officer/23/Ireland/Census
1871/Walter Harvey/servant, pot boy/18/Layer Marney, Essex/Census
1871/Eliza Harvey/servant, cook/22/Dedham, Essex/Census
1871/Louisa Bransom/servant, housemaid/18/Colchester, EssexCensus
1871/Maria Rowland/servant, nurse/15/Colchester, Essex/Census
1874/Mrs. Elizabeth Cato Abbott/../../../Kelly's
1878/Frederick Rokes/../../../Kelly's
1881/George Allen/Licensed Victualler/25/Stanway, Essex/Census
1881/Alice Allen/Wife/20/Colchester, Essex/Census
1881/Emma Bird/General Domestic Servant/18/Dedham, Essex/Census
1881/Julia Layton/Cook/20/Fordham, Essex/Census
1881/Henry Biddy/Boots/17/Great Horkesley, Essex/Census
Note: Premises not named in 1881
1882/George Allen/../../../Kelly's
1886/Joshua Street/../../../Kelly's
1894/Thomas Ivory/../../../Kelly's
1895/Thomas Ivory/../../../Kelly's
1898/Thomas Ivory/../../../Kelly's
1899/Thomas Ivory/../../../Kelly's
1901/Thomas Ivory/Licensed Victualler/38/Hertford/Census
1901/Mary Ann Ivory/Wife/45/Monmouthshire/Census
1901/Lucy French/Barmaid/20/Brightlingsea, Essex/Census
1901/Laura Chapman/Barmaid/23/I[swich, Suffolk/Census
1901/Daisy Kettle/General Servant/18/Layer de la Hayes, Essex/Census
1901/Victor Gooes/Potboy/14/Brandon, Norfolk/Censusn
1902/Robert Meadows/../../../Kelly's
1907/H. Kemble/../../../Benham's
1908/Mrs. Harriet Browne/../../../Kelly's
1912/Thomas Ivory/../../../Kelly's
1914/Edward Arthur Hubbard/../../../Kelly’s Directory **+
1917/Frederick James Wells/../../../Kelly's
1919/Arthur Green/Licensee/../London/Petty
Sessions**
1925/Arthur Green/../../../Kelly's
1933/Arthur Green/../../../Kelly's
1937/Frank Percival Green/../../../Kelly's
1948/A A Wilson/../../../BT Telephone Directory
1954/Archie Wilson & Son Ltd/../../../BT Telephone Directory
1956/Archie Wilson & Son Ltd/../../../BT Telephone Directory
1958/Archie Wilson & Son Ltd/../../../BT Telephone Directory
* Provided by the Pubs, Inns and Taverns Index for England, 1801-1900
** Provided by Brian & Jill Fleming
**+ Provided by Stephen Harris
*** Information kindly provided by Jess Jephcott at http://www.camulos.com
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