Sadly, Hockley lost some of its most important history last night, popular pub, The Bull Inn suffered a bad fire last night.
Described as
The Bull Inn is a 16th century Grade II listed country pub on the edge of Hockley Woods that has welcomed visitors through its historic doors for hundreds of years. Local legend has it that one of the beams once formed part of the York scaffold from which Dick Turpin was hanged. Although there is little evidence to corroborate the legend, there is no doubt that the ‘butcher turned notorious highwayman’ plagued the area of Essex in the 1730’s with his Essex gang.
Credit Linda Peall
The fire raged from 2pm last night and we've been sent these photos and video of the building burning and the aftermath of the destruction. Fortunately there are no reported casualties.
Video & Photos Credit Adrian Eves
What a tragedy. A true local landmark enjoyed by so many people. But it need not be the end. The Bull can probably be restored, given determination and using insurance funds. There will be those who will push for demolition, words like ‘unsafe’ and ‘beyond repair’ will be used. True it would be cheaper to demolish and build something new on all that land. But this is a Nationally Listed building loved by the community. If you want inspiration look at the old bakery building in Prittlewell (on the corner opposite the church), badly damaged by fire and renovated by Malcolm Ginns to the maginficent building that now exists.