Bull Hotel

The interior layout has been altered this century with the removal of partitions to the main ground-floor bar area. Old boarded floor to the left-hand section of the present public bar (in the primary block); rough, chamfered main lateral beams. To the rear of the right-hand gabled section is a fine full-height narrow well stair of second quarter C17 date. This has a moulded rail and strapwork relief carving to broad strings; square newel posts with relief-carved glove motifs and that to the lower flight with additional S-carved decoration. The newels have rounded cappings, although one surviving geometric pendant (lower flight) suggests that there were originally, as one would expect, further pendants and geometric finials; flat, carved, shaped balusters. In a modern rear addition is a well with circular rubble parapet wall. This was formerly external, within the courtyard, and presumably belongs to the primary period. In a first-floor bedroom can be seen evidence of an arch-braced collar truss roof with cusped windbracing (wall-papered over). The C17 brick wing has a good late C17 oak dogleg staircase rising through to the second floor; this has turned balusters and square, flat-capped newels with C20 ball finials. What originally served as a large front parlour and a smaller rear parlour now form a large L-shaped dining room. The walls to both are lined with late C17 large-field panelling, with fielded panels in polished oak; panelled shutters and reveals and associated window seats. Each of the former rooms has a contemporary bolection-moulded stone fireplace (with modern paint finish).

Large gabled inn of 3 storeys with lower rear ranges partly enclosing a courtyard; irregular plan, plain brick chimneys. The building consists of a triple-gabled primary block with large central stack and earlier, timber-framed origins. Adjoining this to the L is a late C17 brick addition with shaped gable; slate roofs throughout. The main section has a ground floor of rough-dressed lime-and sandstone with timber-framed upper storeys, those of the outer bays tile-hung. The central bay is advanced and has 4 stone steps up to a porch entrance with moulded wooden cornice and recessed, fielded panelled door. Crenellated stone brattishing above, at the termination of the stone ground floor. Above the entrance, on the first floor, is a large wrap-around glazed bay, with 5-light mullioned and transomed window to the front and cross-windows to the returns. The second floor is jettied and has expressed decorative timber framing with similar gable. This is mostly late C19, though incorporates some primary strapwork elements; 3-light leaded casement windows and decorative bargeboards to deep verges. The outer bays have tripartite late Georgian sash windows to the ground and first floors, with 12-pane unhorned central sections and narrow flanking 4-pane sections; those to the ground floor have segmental rough-dressed relieving arches. The second floor has a single 9-pane sash to each bay. Whitened rubble side (R) elevation, with asymmetrical windows including sashes, casements and a large segmentally-arched 3-light leaded window to the stairwell. The C17 adjoining wing is of brown brick with sandstone quoining on a chamfered limestone plinth; shaped and kneelered gable with stone ball finials. The upper gable is plastered and has the painted inscription 'Bull Hotel'. Three plain sashes to the ground and first floors (that to the R on the ground floor formerly an entrance). These have projecting stone sills and flat stone arches. In the centre, above those to the ground floor, is an inset sandstone plaque with weathered inscription (1666 ELL). The first floor windows have a continuous iron balcony with simple decorative iron balustrade. Large 4-light mullioned and transomed window to the second floor, with bracketed wooden label and balcony as before; plain modern glazing. Projecting lateral chimney to the side (L) elevation, with further sash windows and leaded, wooden mullioned window facing Park Street, an early C20 replacement. Set back and adjoining this wing to the L is a covered brick gateway block with slated roof. This has an open lower storey forming a tunnel entrance through to the inn's rear courtyard. Wooden cross-window (plain-glazed) above the entrance. The rear of the main section has 3 gables of whitened rubble; that to the brick wing has its brickwork exposed and has a projecting end chimney with off-set dentil-course. An C18 storeyed block with former tunnel entrance adjoins the rear of the primary block to the L; windows include a 16-pane late C18 unhorned sash. Adjoining this to rear is a later L-shaped range with 4 early C20 garage insertions to its main face. Modern single-storey additions to the rear of the main sections.