The Old Bell Public House

The Old Bell Public House is a mid to late 18th century building that incorporates elements from an older structure, originally mentioned as a 'Bell' hostelry in 1483. The exterior features three storeys with painted coursed rubble and a Doric arcade at ground floor level, consisting of six arches, two of which are depressed and located to the right of the centre. The building has cornices supported by rectangular piers, a plain string course above and below the first-floor windows, a small moulded cornice, a plain parapet, and a hipped roof covered with old tiles.

The upper floor has three ranges of windows with plain stone surrounds and small keystones, featuring wide glazing bar sashes. The ground floor has irregular modern windows of the mullion and transom type. The western side of the upper floor is partly tile hung. At the rear, there is a roughly triangular stable yard accessible from No 44, which includes a two-storey stable yard made of coursed and squared rubble, with brick dressings and an old tile roof.

There is a long series of extensions, ranging from one and a half to two storeys, extending from the rear of No 48, separated by a narrow alleyway from those of No 46, with tiled roofs in seven diminishing stages. No 50 has a similar elevation treatment to the front of The Old Bell. The rear of No 54 features a tile-hung upper floor above a two and a half storey gabled extension of brick with stone quoins, two dormers, and a mix of large and small windows on the first floor, along with the remains of moulded surrounds and an arched opening on the ground floor to the right.

There is a connection to a two and a half storey extension at the rear of No 52. Inside, The Old Bell boasts a fine staircase at the rear of No 48, featuring turned balusters and a ramped rail with a dado, as well as a panelled room at the back of the current restaurant. The Old Bell is recognized as the best example of the historic inns in Warminster.