It is listed as an Alehouse from at least 1772 when Thomas Surry was licensee. The name reputably came when a whale died in the River Crouch in 1768.
Whalebone, Old Wickford Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex - in May 2013
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address.
The licensee in 1772 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Thomas Surry, at the Whalebone.
The licensee in 1806 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Levi Lambert, at the Whalebone.
1845/James Hill/../../../Post Office
1848/James Hills/Victualler/../../White's
1851/James Hills/../../../Post Office
1851/James Hills/victualler/40/East Hanningfield, Essex/Census **
1851/Eliza Hills/wife/36/Boreham, Essex/Census
1851/James Hills/son, scholar/10/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1851/Ellen Hills/daughter, scholar/08/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1851/Eliza Hills/daughter, scholar/06/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1851/Alfred Hills/son/04/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1851/Walter Hills/son/01/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1852/J. Hills/../../../Kelly's*
1855/J. Hills/../../../Kelly's*
1861/James Hills/widower, victualler/50/East Hanningfield, Essex/Census **
1861/James Hills/son, shoemaker/20/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1861/Ellen Hills/daughter, scholar/18/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1861/Walter Hills/son, scholar/11/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1861/Frederick Hills/son, scholar/05/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1861/John Marshall/lodger, ag lab/56/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1861/Joseph Chapman/lodger, ag lab/48/Finchingfield, Essex/Census
1861/Thomas Hudson/lodger, ag lab/58/Thurrock, Essex/Census
1861/George Prail/lodger, ag lab/28/Rettendon, Essex/Census
1862/James Hills/../../../Kelly's
1867/Mrs. James Hills/../../../Post Office
1870/Mrs. James Hills/../../../Kelly's
1871/Mrs. James Hills/../../../Post Office
1871/Thirza Hills/widow, innkeeper and farmer (8 acres)/41/Colchester, Essex/Census **
1871/James Hills/son in law sic/30/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1871/Kate Hills/daughter/05/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1871/George Playle/lodger, farm labourer/33/Rettendon, Essex/Census
1871/William Playle/lodger, farm labourer/38/Rettendon, Essex/Census
1871/Hezekiah Perkins/lodger, farm labourer/41/Woodham Ferrers/Census
1871/James Jolly/lodger, farm labourer/23/Halstead, Essex/Census
1871/David Allen/lodger, farm labourer/28/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1871/Samuel Bright/lodger, farm labourer/62/Rettendon, Essex/Census
1871/Thomas Stubbins/lodger, farm labourer/61/Sandon, Essex/Census
1871/Samuel Blazzier/travelling musician/55/Norwich, Norfolk/Census
1871/Isabella Blazzier/travelling musician/36/Norwich, Norfolk/Census
1871/Samuel Blazzier/travelling musician/10/Norwich, Norfolk/Census
1874/Mrs. James Hills/../../../Kelly's
1878/Mrs. James Hills/../../../Kelly's
1881/Thirza Hills/Licensed Victualler/52/Colchester, Essex/Census
1881/James Hills/Nephew, Manager/40/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1881/Henry Pett/Lodger, Agricultural Ploughman/35/Rettendon, Essex/Census
1881/James Playle/Lodger, Stockman/65/Rettendon, Essex/Census
1882/Mrs. James Hills/../../../Kelly's
1886/Mrs. Thirza Hills/../../../Kelly's
1891/Thirza Hills/widow, publican/63/Colchester, Essex/Census **
1891/William Bover/son in law, assistant publican/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1891/Kate Bover/daughter/assistant publican/Woodham Ferrers, Essex, Census
1891/Henry Pitt/boarder, ag lab/Rettendon, Essex/Census
1894/Mrs. Thirza Hills/../../../Kelly's
1895/Mrs. Thirza Hills/../../../Kelly's
1898/Reginald Cooper/../../../Kelly's
1899/Reginald Cooper/../../../Kelly's
1901/William Bowman/Inn Keeper/58/Grays, essex/Census
1901/Sarah Jane Bowman/Wife/48/Rainham, Kent/Census
1901/Earnest Jasper Bowman/Son, Sailor Bargeman/23/Shoeburyness, Essex/Census
1901/Percy Charles Bowman/Son, Barman/15/Shoeburyness, Essex/Census
1902/William Bowman/../../../Kelly's
1908/George Palmer/../../../Kelly's
1912/David Williams/../../../Kelly's
1917/David Williams/../../../Kelly's
1925/Mrs. Charlotte Deeks/../../../Kelly's
1933/Mrs. Charlotte Deeks/../../../Kelly's
1937/H E Chandler/../../../Kelly's
1950/Mr & Mrs W F Pelmear/../../../Black Eagle Journal ***
1988/R B Bowditch/../../../Watney Truman List
1990/R B Bowditch/../../../Watney Truman List
* Provided by the Pubs, Inns and Taverns Index for England, 1801-1900
** Provided by John Mead
*** Provided by Alex Wilkinson