The Bell Inn

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 13/12/2012

1954 SO 78 SE 33/4

ALVELEY ALVELEY No 6 (The Bell Inn)

II*

House, now public house. Early C17, incorporating late C12 stonework. Colour- washed render over timber frame; gabled plain tile roof; brick end, ridge and rear lateral stacks. 3-unit plan. One storey and attic; 3-window range. Flat rendered arch over mid C18 fielded 6-panelled door. Flat rendered arch over late C19 cross window with shutters to centre, and canted bay window with glazing-bar sashes to right; half dormer with late C19 three-light casement. Mid C19 lean-to and mid C20 flat-roofed extension to rear. Interior: deeply- chamfered ground-floor beams and stop-chamfered joists; open fireplace with chamfered bressummer to centre and C18 plank door adjoining stack; some exposed timber frame with wall bracing; trenched purlin roof with central raised cruck of very thin scantling and curved windbraces to bay on right. The Bell Inn is notable for a very fine group of reset mid C12 sculptured stones in the style of the Herefordshire school, and so the only known Shropshire example of the school style apart from Stottesdon. There are several interlace panels, some panels being in the form of an interwoven knot; rear exterior wall has interlace panel finished in the form of a scaled body with a large dragon-like head Panel set in rear wall has pair of figures each with arms raised across chest and hands turned out in attitude of prayer, set within an arcade having simple flat capitals to pillars. Internal rear wall has panel depicting Samson/Hercules and the Lion, retaining part of moulded frame but right half of scene is lost; adjoining panel depicts St Michael and the Devil, with figure in flowing, fluted robes leaning over serpent, the upper half having been lost. C20 stone fireplace to left ground-floor room has panel depicting a figure with fluted robe struggling through a tangle of interlaced foliage.

Listing NGR: SO7601884548