The Definitive Guide to the History of
Pubs and Beerhouses in Coventry

Drinking in an Old English Town

Bugle, 17 Gosford Street

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	1845	1851	BUGLE
	1854	1856	CASTLE INN
	1856	1863	BUGLE
	1863	1863	WHITE BEAR
Gosford Street 1912. (Photo courtesy of David Fry.) A 'bugle' was a wild ox and until the sixteenth century its horn was used as a drinking vessel. Its other use was as a hunting horn, giving rise to the modern sense of 'bugle' as a musical instrument. In some cases the reference may be to a coach horn (or post horn) which was used by the guard on a coach. In August 1845 William Marson was granted a victuallers' license for the Bugle Inn, Gosford Street. The following March the Coventry Standard announced his death. In 1848 we have mention of the Bugle public house with large carpenter's shop, large garden and a bowling alley. By 1854 it is the CASTLE INN, formerly the Bugle and in 1856 back to the Bugle. In 1863 it has become the WHITE BEAR.
LICENSEES: 1845 - 1846 William Marson (died 27th February 1846) 1846 - 1847 Sarah Marson (William's widow) 1847 - 1849 Joseph Quinlan 1849 Joseph Lowe 1849 - 1850 Samuel Lawrence 1850 - 1853 James Farmer (or Palmer) 1853 - 1854 William West 1854 Henry Worrall (Jan to May) 1854 - 1855 William West 1855 - 1856 Mrs. Burbury 1858 Reuben Stanbridge
Street plan of 1851
Google map location (Due to the scaling on old maps, the pin location might not be 100% accurate.)