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The Bull |
The Bull, which stood at 262 Upper Richmond Road, was an impressive three-storey coaching inn. It stood in the middle of a row of houses known as Clarence Row which was built in 1792, but the Bull was believed to be older.
In 1861 Henry Barley was the licenced victualler who lived on the premises with his wife Ann. Charles Fisher was the publican landlord in the 1901 Census living with his wife Emmeline and their nine-year old daughter Ethel. Sarah Ellis, Charles' widowed aunt also lived at the Bull, along with Alice, a barmaid, Lily, a cook and Mark, a barman. During the 19th century the Bull was used as a training headquarters for prize fighters. Watney's brewery had been the owners since the late 19th century.
At the time of the 1914 Valuation the building was described as being very old. There were five rooms on the top floor, one of which was small, and two bedrooms on the first floor as well as a bathroom and two club rooms. On the ground floor were four bars, a coffee room, kitchen, scullery and larder. There was stabling in the grounds with a coach house and 12 stalls.
The Bull was still being used by stagecoaches in 1937. However, this original building, along with adjoining cottages, was demolished in 1938 to make way for shops. It was replaced by a large modern public house and restaurant but still called the Bull. Famous top-name musical acts, from Cliff Richard to Screamin' Lord Sutch performed in the first-floor ballroom which could hold 170 people. Discos were held in the basement. It was an important local social centre, and the large first floor room was used as a council chamber by the Barnes Borough Council from the 1940s. The Bull was renovated and refurbished in 1981 but six years later it was finally demolished and three large shops built in its place.