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Question
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Can you tell me something about The Bell at Winterbourne Stoke in the 19th century.
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Question asked on
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06 January 2004
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Answer
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There was an alehouse mentioned in 1756 that is believed to be The Bell. It is mentioned again in 1812 and 1839 as being on the eastern side of Church Street near the main road. In the Kelly's Directory of Wiltshire for 1848 it is not named but there is a George Kellow, beer retailer and farmer, in the village. It is most likely that this was The Bell and it did not have full license at the time, being a beer house. In the 1855 directory James Maslen is listed at The Bell. As the present Bell was built in the mid 19th century I would imagine that it was built between 1848 and 1855, was given a full license and attracted a new publican.
The new house is on the north side of the High Street in an area that was being used for new housing at the time with the pair of cottages alongside being contemporary. James Maslin was still there in 1859 when he also practised the trade of shoemaking. Later 19th century publicans were Thomas Chivers in 1875, Mrs Caroline Sheppard in 1889 and 1895, and Hugo James Lockyer in 1899. In 1903 he was also the assistant overseer.
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Bibliography
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Kelly's Directories of Wiltshire 1848 - 1903
Documents in the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office including A1 326/3 and 776/387
