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St Martins pub history index
The early map in 1799 shows this as Bullen court, and there is a Castle at 6 Bullens court, Strand in 1839, and at 6 Bullin court, 407 Strand in 1846. The 1847 directory lists zero pubs here at Bullin court. The Nell Gwynne first gets a mention in February, 1850 as per the newspaper article in the Globe.
Bull Inn court exists for ever, and there was a Bull inn here until about 1670. Bull Inn court always exists between the Strand and Maiden lane, often being described as the Bull Inn court, Maiden lane.
The Bull Inn was visited by Pepys where he apparently met Nell Gwynne in 1667, a prostitute who was a mistress of King Charles. she was also the founder of Chelsea Hospital and mother of the first Duke of St Albans, apparently (her blue plaque suggests this is true).
A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in St Martins in Fields, London.
Nell Gwynne Tavern, 1 Bull Inn Court, WC2 - in March 2013
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address.
The Era 25 July 1847 - Transfers
Bull, Bull Inn court, Strand - These premises consisting of Nos 6 and 7 in this court, were formerly licensed by the sign of the Castle, and continued so until they were burnt down some time back.
By the Act of 9 George IV, power is given by the magistrates in the event of a licensed house being rendered unfit for the reception of travellers, to grant a new license of premises adjacent.
A new license to the premises at No 1 and 2 Bull Inn court, to William John Wilde, with the consent of the widow of the deceased landlord was made at the last licensing day.
License now granted.
Globe 28 February 1850 :
Don't let poor Nelly starve, were the last words of Charles II -
Visitors to the Metropolis and Theatres will find the Nell Gwynne Tavern and Chop house, Bull Inn court, Strand, three doors east of the Adelphi Theatre, and opposite Adam street, the best place for obtaining refreshments.
Table D'Hote every day (Sunday excepted) at half past five precisely.
Fish and Joints 2 shillings. Hot Joints until Eight; Suppers until One o'clock. Private rooms for Dinners and Supper Parties.
Superior Wines and Spirits. Barclay and Perkin Stout, Salts Pale Ale and Nell Gwynnes celebrated Punch in preat perfection. - John Archer and Thomas Holt, proprietors
n.b. An entrance also from maiden lane, and the new egress from the Boxes and Pit of Adelphi Theatre is next door to the Nell Gwynne Tavern.
1810 John Lockie, a descriptive London Street Directory in 1810 - "Bullen Court, Strand, at 407, nearly opposite the Adelphi, leading to 15 Maiden lane, Covent garden".
1839, Thomas Jekyll , Castle, 6 Bullen’s court, Strand/../../Pigots Directory
Bull Inn court :
1841/Thomas Bowers/Publican/30/../Census
1841/Elizabeth Bowers/../35/../Census
1841/Ann Carrold/Female Servant/35/../Census
1841/Ann Rankin/Independant/55/../Census
1841/Cornelius Kilby/Independant/20/../Census
1841/William Haddaley/Painter/25/../Census
1841/George Ayleworth/Shoemaker/55/../Census
1851/Archer & Holt/../../../Kellys Directory
1852/Archer & Holt, Nell Gwynne Tavern, Bullin court, Strand/../../Kellys Directory
1853/John T Archer/../../../Post Office Directory
1853/Thomas Holt & John Archer / Licensed Victuallers /../../London Gazette, 24 May 1853 **
Thomas Holt is licensee of a number of other public houses. He is the licensee of the Plasterers Arms
in June 1855 until February 1859. He is licensee of the New George, at Drury court
from March 1863 until March 1864.
April 1855/Richard Dunn/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era Newspaper
April 1855/Frederick Frampton/Incoming Licensee/../../Era Newspaper
1856/Frederick Frampton/../../../Post Office Directory
November 1857/Mr Webster ejected/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era Newspaper
November 1857/James Carter/Incoming Licensee/../../Era Newspaper
1860/Charles William Fitzmaurice Liddle / Licensed Victuallers /../../London Gazette, 3 January 1860 **
1861/Hiram John Stewart/Victualler/34/Ireland/Census
1861/Fanny Stewart/Wife/33/Sussex/Census
1861/Sarah Jane Stewart/Daughter/8/Deal, Kent/Census
1861/Hannah Stewart/Daughter/6/Deal, Kent/Census
1861/Emma Joy/Barmaid/21/Sandwich, Kent/Census
1864/David Smith, Nell Gwynne Tavern, 1 Bullin court, Strand WC/../../Post Office Directory
1869/Thomas Cooper, Nell Gwynne Tavern, 1 Bullin court, Strand WC/../../Post Office Directory
1871/Thomas Cooper/Licensed Victualler/34/Stepney/Census
1871/Emma Cooper/Wife/39/Wapping/Census
1871/Henrietta Brett/Barmaid/26/Shadwell/Census
1871/Algernon Hughes/Billiard Marker/22/Greenwich/Census
1871/Alfred Rudd/Waiter/17/Kennington/Census
1874/G Hayward, Nell Gwynne, 1 Bull Inn court, Strand/../../Licensed Victualler & Hotelier Directory
1881/William Rapley/Licensed Victualler/34/Brompton, Middlesex/Census
1881/Mary Kate Rapley/Wife/25/Kentish Town, Middlesex/Census
1881/Percy Rapley/Son/19 months/St Martins In Fields, Middlesex/Census
1881/Frances Ann Day/Barmaid/23/St Bardolph City/Census
1881/Francis Lee/Potman/18/St Andrews, Cambridge/Census
1881/Hannah Langford/Nurse Maid/15/Southwark, Surrey/Census
1882/William Rapley/../../../Post Office Directory
1884/William Rapley, Nell Gwynne, Bull Inn court, Strand/../../Post Office Directory
1891/Mrs Elizabeth Amy James/../../../Post Office Directory
1895/Alfred Thomas Pepper/../../../Post Office Directory
1899/Philip George Jenkins/../../../Post Office Directory
1906/ Gerald Blewitt Manley & Charles Henry Burgess, Nell Gwynne Tavern, 1 & 2 Bull Inn Court, Strand WC/../../Post Office Directory
1910/Owen Ward Ltd/../../../Post Office Directory
1915/Owen Ward/../../../Post Office Directory
1927/Owen Ward, Nell Gwynne Tavern, 1 & 2 Bull Inn Court, Strand WC2/../../Post Office Directory
1934/Owen Ward/../../../Kellys Directory
1938/Owen Ward/../../../Post Office Directory
1944/Owen Ward/../../../Post Office Directory
** Provided By Stephen Harris
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