Black Bull Inn, Pepper Lane

May 1933

During excavations in Pepper Lane for the foundations of the pillars at Messrs. Tetts buildings it was necessary to reach a depth of 15-ft. 8-ins. before the rock was found, thus showing that the ground there had been quarried about 8-ft. deep before the filling up was commenced. Within six feet from where the piece of wall stood a number of pieces of mediaeval and Norman pottery were found. This quarry was worked to a depth of 24-ft. at the Library, and to depth unknown at St. Michael's Church, now the Cathedral.

The "Black Bull" Inn, which stood in Smithford Street, was the most important inn in Coventry. It was demolished about 1793, and the Barracks built on the site, and part on the original stone foundations of the Black Bull. The Barracks having recently been pulled down for extensions to Messrs. Woolworth's stores and new Market Arcade, a number of interesting relics of the old Black Bull Inn have been brought to light again. The cooking range of the Barracks had been fixed in the old open fireplace, with its massive stones and recesses at each end where the turner of the spit could sit as he roasted the joints before the open wood fire. One of these recesses is to be seen at St. Mary's Hall. Another interesting find was a stone doorway which had been hidden by the bricks and plaster of the Barracks - this doorway was about 3-ft. wide, and 7-ft. high, and stood facing south-west across the city wall that ran through the grounds, and divided the Poddy Croft from the Bull grounds. Next to this doorway were double doors, and the beams of the overhead room still intact. The doorway was buried to the height of the arch, but the door and the hooks on which it hung were missing. It is very probable this door is in use in some old building in Coventry even to-day. The stone has been removed, also the step, and at present is placed in Mr. J. B. Shelton's yard awaiting some more public position for such an historic piece of masonry. The fastenings were by two bolts and a draw-bar of wood, which would be placed in position from the back of the double doors. The back way from the Inn to the Warwick Road would be a little to the north of the present road to the Barracks Square, about on the site of the Geisha Cafe, and running through into Warwick Lane to the entrance of the Grey Friars Gate, which stood at Lazenby's corner. As before mentioned, the "Black Bull" was an important Inn, for many years being kept by important families in Coventry, sheltering kings and queens. In 1485 Henry VII. with his army came to the City after the signal, victory over Richard III. at Bosworth Field. At that time it was kept by the Mayor (Robert Olney), who presented the king with a cup and £100, receiving a knighthood in return.

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