The Old Bell Public House

BELL STREET 1. 5253 (South Side) No 38 (The Old Bell PH) TL 4832 1483:3/36 6.6.52 II GV 2. C16 H-plan house adapted, raised and extended in C17 to form U-plan with rear courtyard. C18 doorcases and windows. 2 storeys and cellar. Timber- framed and plastered. Weatherboarding to Gd floor of E flank and upper floor of SW wing. Steep old red tile roofs with bellcast and boxed eaves to front, hipped to E and gabled to W. Large central chimney at junction with E wing, at upper end of hall. External gable chimney at W end added to former service rooms. Old rear wall plate now cut by 1st floor windows, points to a formerly lower hall block flanked by narrow gabled crosswings each end. C16 queen-post roof structure with heavy cambered tie beams and heavy curved braces,remains in E wing. Main roof raised and hipped probably in late C17. Lower 2 storey outbuilding attached to W rear wing with timber- framed and weatherboarded pigeon-loft under old tiled roof. Lower storey renewed in brick. Street front has a high brick plinth and pargetting in small panels with chevron pattern infill. Irregular window spacing. Upper floor has 3 windows. Former 3 light mullioned and transomed wood casements recently replaced by 12 paned windows with top hung vents. Gd floor has 3 small bay windows, central one modern with square plan and leaded lights. Outer 2 are early C19 canted bays with 2/2:8/8:2/2 sashes and moulded cornices. 2 doors, one to W of central bay, one at extreme E of front. Fine matching door surrounds of c.1770. Narrow panelled pilasters each support a moulded bracket carrying a full entablature with dentilled triangular pediment. Frieze and architrave break forward over brackets and also in centre. Frieze has running Greek key pattern with fluted panels in centre and over each bracket W rear wing has C18 flush boxed sash with 6/6 panes on 1st floor. E flank has 2 light Yorkshire window to 1st floor. 2 light and 3 light C19 casements to rear. Fine open fireplace with iron crane on Gd floor, central bar. Exposed beams on both floors. Good plank door on 1st floor next to stack. Evidence of separate external stairs to wings, linked when roof raised. A former coaching inn.

Listing NGR: TL4832214827