The Bell Public House

TL 2923 BENINGTON TOWN LANE (south side)

11/22 No 4 (The Bell PH)

20.10.52

GV II*

House, already an inn by 1693, now a PH. Late medieval hall house with long W wing, hall rebuilt in mid Cl7 as 2 storeys with central chimney and jettied E crosswing. Altered in mid C19. Timber frame with basketwork panelled pargetting and weatherboarded apron. Steep old red tile roofs hipped with gablet at E end. 2 storeys range facing N with central chimney backing onto cross passage at W end with twin service doors (one retains 4-centred arched head) into 2 storeys W crosswing, jettied to N and with large external lateral chimney on N servicing large N room formerly separated by a passage from S room. Cl7 E wing less deep with space for stair behind front room. Lean-to rear extensions. Assymetrical N front with one window to upper floor of each gabled and jettied crosswing and one to centre. 3 windows to ground floor with door to cross passage in the angle with the W wing (6 panel: 2 flush, 2 sunk, 2 glazed) under flat hood on shaped brackets, and more recent central door to public bar (2 panels and half-glazed above) with similar hood. C19 2-light and 3-light flush casement windows with small panes on ground floor, except 6-light range to W wing with flap-down external shutter. Heavy bull-nosed joists and corner brackets to each jetty, exposed purlin ends to clasped purlin roofs. Tall T-plan red brick central chimney a third from W gable of hall range. 4-light ovolo-moulded Cl7 window on E end. Interior has large open fireplace in hall with a wall painting cl?20 over of a stag hunt in a wooded undulating landscape with mounted hunters and hounds. Ovolo moulded axial beam supported by chimney. Heavy, flat-laid exposed joists in NW room. Large early C18 corner cupboard in NE room with fielded and panelled doors. Cl7 staircase and exposed timber structure on 1st floor. Doors with strap hinges on hooks. Wide floorboards. Of special interest for ancient structure and c1720 wall painting. (RCHM Typescript)

Listing NGR: TL2992723569