The Old Black Bull

NORTH WITHAM LOBTHORPE LANE SK 92 SW (north side) 8/121 The Old Black Bull 19.2.52 (formerly listed as Bull Farmhouse) II Former coaching inn, now house. c.1731 with late C18 alterations and c.1800 extension. Red brick with ashlar quoins and dressings, coursed limestone rubble to rear, with ashlar dressings. Mansard slate roofs with raised stone coped gables, single gable and 2 ridge red brick stacks. Parallel ranges plan. 2 storey with attics, 6 bay front, first floor band, rusticated quoins, moulded eaves course. Off-centre panelled door with Gothick overlight in moulded stone architrave, pulvinated frieze and cornice flanked by pairs of windows, with beyond, to the right, a further panelled door with plain overlight. To first floor are 5 windows and to right a single glazing bar sash having ashlar lintel with keyblock. All other windows are plain sashes with serpentine lintels and incised keyblocks. Between second and third windows is an ashlar sundial. In the roof are 5 flat dormers with plain sashes and leaded cheeks. Rear range is in stone and added c.1800. Interior central room contains dado panelling and corner cupboard with semi-circular headed double door and fluted key. Room on left has Adam style fireplace with early C18 eared stone surround. Dogleg staircase with 2 turned and knopped balusters per tread and carved string. Cribb the boxer stayed here the night before the last bare fisted fight in this country, between Cribb and Molyneaux at the Thistleton Gap.

Listing NGR: SK9381821269