Gloucester Journal: 18th October 1884. To Let – The Bell Inn, Barton Street, Gloucester. Capital trade; good reasons for leaving. Apply to Thomas White, Auctioner and Appraiser, Gloucester.
The Bell Inn, near the Midland Railway level crossing (Barton Gates), was once tied to Godsell & Sons of Salmon Springs, Stroud. It had a large bell outside which acted as a pub sign. The address is given as 71 Barton Street in 1902 and 91 Barton Street in 1936.
Opposite the Bell was an area of land called Wildman’s Ground which was the site for the Barton Fayre. This land was later purchased by the Salvation Army.
The Bell called ‘last orders’ for the final time in 1939. The site of the Bell is now occupied by the GL1 Leisure Centre swimming pool.
Landlords at the Bell include:
1830 James Kimber
1856, 1859 Elizabeth Smith
1879 Thomas Barnes
1885 Frederick Wildman
1893 S. A Cooper
1902, 1906 Charles Morse
1919 Samuel Jones
1927,1936 Frederick Kibby
