The Inn was formerly the brewhouse of Sparks Farm and parts of
the present building date back to the mid 1700’s. Tradition has
it that the name derived from the Bullock family, lords of the
manor until 1589.
In the eighteenth century the Courts Baron1 were held
at The Bull. Tithe dinners which were held for farmers after
payment of the annual tithes2 gave way to cricket
suppers.
The pub was once own by Simonds, a Reading brewer. Up to the
late 1960’s beer was drawn from the barrel in the cellar. In
1968, 76 year old Mrs Flower celebrated 40 years as landlady and
received a silver salver from David Simonds.
The present forge dates from 1728 when, as well as shoeing
horses and oxen, farm implements were made and repaired. It was
a working smithy up to 1982, when it was converted into a
restaurant.
The property is a grade 2 listed building.
More information about The
Bull Inn and Smithy can be found in the book
"Barkham - A History" by David French and Janet Firth which is
available from all good book stores.
The
following is an extract from this book...
| |
"Thomas Whiteing may have established the
custom, which was to endure until almost the end of the nineteenth
century, that the landlord of The Bull was also the village blacksmith,
since in the 1727 indenture he was described not as a victualler, but as
a blacksmith. This used to be common practice in many villages." |
|
________________________________________________________________________.
1. Courts Baron (court rolls, manorial courts or halmote
courts) regulated the administration of the manor by enforcing
local customs and agricultural practices, settling minor
disputes and debts by transferring property rights, notably
copyhold tenure, where tenant's legal title was based on a copy
of an entry on the court roll. All tenants of the manor
were meant to attend and could be fined for not doing so.
When copyhold tenure was abolished in 1922, the manorial court
system effectively ended.
2. Tithes
- a tenth part of produce, income or profits, contributed for
the support of the church or clergy.