Bulls Head, 55 French Street, Southampton, Hampshire

Southampton pub history index

This 14th century building, which was badly damaged in the wartime bombing of the city, has recently been restored because it is one of the finest examples of 14th-century architecture in the country. It is now listed as an ancient monument and is owned by English Heritage. Currently a museum, the building has had a varied career since it became a beer house known as the Flag back in 1820 and Benjamin Bond was the landlord. Eldridge Pope, the Dorchester brewers, took over the lease of the pub in July 1883 and finally bought it for £425 in January 1895. The brewery sold the building to the local authorities in 1932 or thereabouts. It was not a pub for all those years, however, because it was refused a licence in 1912. The brewery received the sum of £1541 4s in compensation and the building became a boarding house. The pub's address became 58 French Street when the street was renumbered in the first decade of the 20th century. The Building to the left is the back of The Duke of Wellington another old pub. *

Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Southampton, Hampshire . The Southampton, Hampshire listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.

Bulls Head, 55 French Street, Southampton

Kindly provided by Bob Bates

The following entries are in this format:

Year/Publican or other Resident/Relationship to Head and or Occupation/Age/Where Born/Source.

1871/Harry Lever/Bulls Head, 50 French Street/../../Coxs Directory ****

1881/John Holdaway/Publican/38/Southampton, Hampshire/Census ****
1881/Ruth Holdaway/Wife/37/Southampton, Hampshire/Census
1881/Thomas Holdaway/Son/7/Southampton, Hampshire/Census
1881/Sophia Holdaway/Daughter/3/Southampton, Hampshire/Census
1881/Ruth Holdaway/Daughter/2/Southampton, Hampshire/Census
1881/Emily Nott/General Servant/16/Southampton, Hampshire/Census

1898/Henry Allen/Beer Retailer, 55 French street/../../Kellys Directory ****