The Bell was located on the western side of the High Street, just off Passage Road. It was rebuilt around 1896 after a fire, replacing and earlier thatched-roof inn.
The Bell Inn was once tied to Thomas William Elvy’s Dursley Brewery. The family business went bankrupt in 1906 and the brewery was sold to Godsell & Sons together with 21 tied houses, which included the Bell Inn.
In 1928 Godsells were taken over by the Stroud Brewery, which means that the photograph below must have been taken after this date.
Joan and George Goulding bought the Old Bell from the Stroud Brewery in 1952/53 for £850, it having been de-licensed in 1952.
Around the time of WWI Tom Dangerfield and his brother worked on a Severn Trow around the Severn estuary, whilst his wife ran the Bell Inn. When at home Tom would often spend his time with the customers in the Bell, whilst his wife worked behind the bar.
Once when returning from his Trow at Lydney by rail to Newnham before catching the ferry to Arlingham, a fellow passenger thought he recognised him and enquired “Do you keep the Bell at Arlingham?”. Tom replied “I’m bloody sure it don’t Kwupp I!”
Information above courtesy Jon Shaw
The building is now a private residence. Adjacent to the old Bell there is a housing development called Bell Orchard (GL2 7JS).
Map Reference: SO 708712
Licensing Details:
Rateable Value in 1891: £14.10s.0d.
Type of licence in 1891: Beerhouse
Owner in 1891: Richard Chapman, Dursley Brewery
Rateable Value in 1903: £16.5s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Beerhouse
Owner in 1903: Thomas Elvy, Dursley Brewery
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Owner in 1906: Godsell & Sons, Salmon Springs Brewery, Stroud
Landlords at the Bell Inn include:
1840 William Stenchment
1880 Charles Jones
1890,1891 George Pocket
1900 Frederick Vaisey
1900 Matthew Weeks
1903 George Sendell
1910 Thomas Dangerfield
1920’s (mid 1920’s) Thomas Bishop
1935 Rachel Annie Bishop (Born 1870, she later married)
1945 Rachel Annie Messenger
