The 1904 Licensing Act gave magistrates powers to close public houses that were considered socially harmful. The Black Horse was built in the suburbs. At that time many public houses were built in the suburbs and designed to encourage respectable clientele since the licence could otherwise be withdrawn.[3]
The earlier public house was demolished and this building was erected in 1929–1930 to the designs of the architect Francis Goldsbrough of Bateman & Bateman. The client was the brewery company John Davenport and Sons. The stone carving was done by Sidney Smithin and the wood carving by Jean Hahn. The Black Horse was further refurbished in the early 21st century.[4]
John Davenport and Sons was taken over by Greenall Whitley in 1986 and afterwards the pub became a Wetherspoons house.