Embleton - Black Bull

Name: The Black Bull

Address: Front Street, Embleton

Remnants of the Black Bull (2025)

The Black Bull Inn was a beer house, located next to the Three Tuns Inn and was only open in the mid-1800s. The image above appears likely to be what remains of the building, now a single-storey bungalow, which is somewhat out of keeping with the other buildings nearby in the village. I suspect for one reason or another, the upper floor was removed in years gone by and the building re-roofed.

1861 OS Map

The earliest record I can find for the Inn is from the 1832 electoral register below, showing John Stephenson as the landlord.

1832 Electoral Register - John Stephenson

Listed Landlords at the Inn were, John Stephenson (1832-41), Margery Scott (1861) and Henry Fall (-1869). 

1838 Electoral Register - John Stevenson

1841 Census- John Stephenson

On the census above, John Stephenson is recorded as a 'tailor', his primary occupation, running the beer house known as the Black Bull as a means of supplementing his income. You can see the Three Tuns' landlord, Henry Patterson next to him on the census route up Front Street.

1841 Electoral Register - John Stephenson

1855 Whellan's Directory

1861 Margery Scott Black Bull Inn

Shown again on the 1861 census, the Black Bull is next door to the Three Tuns, which was being run by a Henry Fall. Over the next decade Henry was to replace Margery Scott and ran the Black Bull himself before its eventual closure in 1869.

Alnwick Mercury 01 April 1862

Newcastle Journal 20 September 1869

After Henry's license was refused it appears from census records that he continued to live at the property from where he ran his fish business.

1871 Census Henry Fall - Fish Agent & Grocer

1881 Census Henry Fall - Fish Merchant

The final reference I can find is on the press cutting below, where it appears the next resident 'opened up' for business with a licence only to fall foul of the law. 

ALNWICK PETTY SESSIONS

William Reed, Embleton, was charged with selling intoxicating liquors by retail at the Black Bull Inn, Embleton, on the 26th August, he not having a license for the same. P.C. Peter Spratt, stationed at Embleton, stated that he visited the Inn...

Published: Saturday 11 September 1886

Newspaper: Alnwick Guardian and County Advertiser

County: Northumberland, England

RIP the Black Bull!