Black Bull Inn

June 1933

BLACK BULL INN (continued)

In 1569 Mary Queen of Scots was brought from Tutbury, and kept prisoner from Saint Andrew's Day until Candlemas (about two months) when she was returned to Tutbury. She was brought to Coventry by the Earls of Shrewsbury and Huntingdon. The citizens kept watch and ward at every gate that none might pass without examination.

On November 4th three of the Gunpowder Plotters arrived, one named Winter, and two brothers named Lyttleton. It is strange they should arrive on the very day that Princess Elizabeth arrived from Coombe, and she was hidden in the 'Crown House', now Palace Yard House, in the care of the Hopkins family.

From this Inn the three conspirators went to Dunsmore Heath, for the mock hunt to capture the Princess.

Again in 1643, after the attempt of Charles the First to enter Coventry, the Earl of Northampton, finding the Parliamentary army much in excess of the army he was trying to raise, had to flee through the doorway before mentioned, and get out of the city through Grey Friars' Gate.

During excavations several wells were discovered, also a large cesspit which contained early pipes and pottery. It is most probable the stone which was used in the building of the Inn was quarried from the site, as several places were excavated to a depth of 16-ft., and at one place the bottom of the quarry was not found. Finds were few, but nevertheless interesting. A few pieces of pinched base 14th century pottery were found; half of a pewter cup, adorned with cherubs; a child's small pewter teapot ; one piece of Norman pottery ; and a very nice Tigerware jug which came out broken, but with all the pieces inside at the bottom. These have been put together, and the pot to-day appears whole. Out of the same pit about twenty pipes of 16th century period were also found.