The 'Bull and Mouth' Inn

There once was a great coaching-inn on Aldersgate Street called the "Bull and Mouth". The original name of this inn was "Boulogne Mouth", the town and harbour of Bouloge, on the west coast of France, besieged by Henry VIII in 1544. The "gne" being pronounced by Londoners as "on", then eventually became "an".

The inn is recorded by William West (1770-1854) in his 'Tavern Anecdotes', published in 1825. He states that 'this is a house of much business, from whence several of the mails and various other coaches, to all parts of the kingdom, do take their departure'.

The site was demolished in 1888 but there is a City of London blue plaque on the site recalling the location of the inn. The inn had a huge sign outside the building which survived after the building was demolished. It is preserved at the Museum of London (outside the museum near the main entrance).

Bull and Mouth Plaque

Bull and Mouth

Bull and Mouth

Bull and Mouth 2

Bull and Mouth Sign 2

Bull and Mouth Sign