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The Bull, 4 Devonshire row, Aldgate EC2M

Aldgate pub history index

The Bull was a long‑established public house at 4 Devonshire Row, Aldgate EC2M, with its origins traceable to the early 19th century. Directory and insurance records record Walter Clark as the licensee around 1805–1809, establishing the Bull as a licensed victualler’s premises in this part of Aldgate by the opening years of the 1800s. Census returns and Post Office directory listings through the mid‑ and late 19th century show successive occupiers — including Isaac Fisher and later John North and Frederick Wylorn — reflecting ongoing operation and continuity of trade well into the latter part of the century. (pubwiki.co.uk)

Over the decades the Bull functioned as a typical City inn and public house, with census entries indicating that the publican’s household and staff lived on site alongside the business, a common pattern for licensed houses of this era. Through directories from the 1880s and 1890s the Bull is still listed, demonstrating its survival into the closing years of the 19th century. By the 20th century the premises had changed ownership and listing status, but the name continued to appear in pub lists into the 1980s. (pubwiki.co.uk)

The Bull thus represents a longstanding licensed house in Aldgate’s urban landscape, with documented licensed use from at least 1805 well into the late 19th century and beyond, illustrating the durability of tavern culture in this part of the City. (pubwiki.co.uk)

The Bull was established by 1805 and possibly associated with the nearby Bull Inn. At 18 Devonshire Street in 1869 **

Bull, 4 - 5 Devonshire Row - in September 2006

Bull, 4 - 5 Devonshire Row - in September 2006

Kindly provided by Stephen Harris

Residents at this address.

1805/Walter Clark, the Bull, 16 Devonshire street, Bishopsgate street/../../Holdens Directory

1809/William Clark, the Bull, 16 Devonshire street, Bishopsgate street/../../Holdens Directory

Morning Advertiser 20 November 1809 - Licensed Victuallers Association
The following are additional subscribers since the last advertisement of one pound, one shilling, i.e. one guinea:
Mr Clarke, Bull, Devonshire street, Bishopsgate street

1833-34/John Clarke, Bull, 17 Devonshire street, Bishopsgate/../../Pigots Directory

1841/Thomas Hessin/../../../P.O. Directory **

1842/Jas. Baker/../../../Robsons Directory **

1852/Benjamin Benjamin/../../../Watkins Directory **

December 1851/Benjamin Benjamin/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era

December 1851/Isaac Fisher/Incoming Licensee/../../Era

1856/Isaac Fisher/../../../Post Office Directory

1861/Isaac Fisher/Licensed Victualler/46/Wolverhampton, Staffordshire/Census
1861/Ellen Fisher/Wife/46/Knightly, Staffordshire/Census
1861/Ellen Fisher/Daughter/16/Pimlico, Middlesex/Census
1861/Sarah Fisher/Daughter/15/Pimlico, Middlesex/Census
1861/Charles H Fisher/Son/11/City of London, Middlesex/Census
1861/Alfred Fisher/Son/6/City of London, Middlesex/Census
1861/Lucy A Fisher/Daughter/3/City of London, Middlesex/Census
1861/William Mooney/Potman/52/Southwark, Surrey/Census

1869/John North/../../../P.O. Directory **

1871/John North/../../../P.O. Directory **

1871/John North/Licensed Victualler/34/City London, Middlesex/Census
1871/Amelia North/Wife/28/City London, Middlesex/Census
1871/John W North/Son/8/City London, Middlesex/Census
1871/Sarah M A North/Daughter/3/City London, Middlesex/Census
1871/Frederick W North/Son/1/City London, Middlesex/Census
1871/Ellen Edmunds/General Servant/31/Ireland/Census
1871/Alfred Barwell/Potman/25/Herts/Census
1871/Emme Bamford/General Servant/13/City London, Middlesex/Census

1873/John North/../../../P.O. Directory **

1881/Frederick Wylorn/../../../P.O. Directory **

1881/Fredk Wylorn/Manager (Pub/31/Dusbury, Devon/Census
1881/John Brown/Proprietors/20/City Of London, Middlesex/Census
1881/Henry Harvey/Barman/22/Saltash, Cornwall/Census
1881/Edward Dorling/Barman/21/Hackney, Middlesex/Census
1881/Sarah E Brown/Cook/35/Clerkenwell/Census

1884/Fred. G Brown/../../../Business Directory of London **

1886/Thomas C Brown/../../../Business Directory of London **

1891/George Frederick Brown/../../../P.O. Directory **

1899/Frederick George Brown/../../../P.O. Directory **

1891/Geo Fredk Brown/../../../Post Office Directory

1895/Frederick Geo Brown/../../../Post Office Directory

1899/Frederick George Brown/../../../Post Office Directory

1938/H W Brown & Co/../../../Post Office Directory

1983/BULL: 4 Devonshire Row EC2. Watney Combe./../../Pub List

1991/COLLINS: 4 Devonshire Row EC2. Grand Met-Watneys. Formerly the Bull./../../Pub Listing


** Provided By Stephen Harris


PUB HISTORY
And Last updated on: Sunday, 01-Feb-2026 15:25:19 GMT