The Bell Inn was located almost opposite Ruardean church. James Evans was the owner and occupier of the Bell Inn in 1840. He was a farmer who also owned a malthouse. It is likely that he supplied malted barley for brewing which he used for his own use at the Bell. He also supplied other pubs making their ‘home-brew’d ales’. Another malthouse had been established in Ruardean next to the Malt Shovel which was owned by the Horlick family. It was in this malthouse that they experimented with their malt drink, Horlicks. Emigrating to America the Horlick family expanded production and the brand was an immediate success and Horlicks is still a well-known product all over the world. The malthouses were consolidated when James Evans went into partnership with George Robins, another local farmer, and they went on to establish the Ruardean Brewery next to the Angel.
Gloucester Citizen, October 1989 – 100 Years Ago – ‘Sale of the Bell House Hotel’: This superior and very old-established hostelrie was brought under the hammer, on Tuesday, of Messrs Cooper and Morris, auctioneers, of Ross. The attendance, in consequence of the heavy rain prevailing all day, was, although numerous, not as large as it otherwise would have been.
The important breweries of the three adjoining counties were represented, and the bids were confined to four firms. The property was put up by the Alton Court Brewery Company at £1,000 and biddings quickly run up to £2,000, when there was a lull. The auctioneer thereupon stated that although the property had been in the Evans family for nearly 200 years, Mr Evans, the present owner, had determined to sell out, and retire into private life. The property was therefore in the market and would be sold to the highest bidder.
A few more biddings were advanced, and it stood at £2,050, when a £10 bid was submitted, and the auctioneer, in accepting the same, facetiously remarked that small fish were sweet. After appealing in vain for a further response of a similar amount, he declared the property sold at £2,060, the purchaser being a gentleman well known in the neighbourhood.
There are various surmises as to upon whom it will ultimately devolve, and it has been suggsted that it is purchased as the nucleus of an entirely new Brewery Company.
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 21st March 1885 – Order of Foresters: On Saturday evening a new court, in connection with the Herefordshire District the Ancient Order of Foresters, was opened at the Bell Inn, Ruardean. This is the 28th lodge in the district, and will be called “Court Oak of the Forest”,” No. 7,306. The opening court was Court “Flower of the Forest,” No.4,369. There was a very large gathering of the principal officers of the district present. After the business about 60 sat down to supper, prepared by Host Evans. The Rev. T. B. Beesley, vicar of Ruardean, presided.
The Horlick family found world-wide acclaim with their malted drink, but Peter Horlick (born in Ruardean in 1842) had another claim to fame, although not so distinguished. It was said that Peter Horlick was the only man in the village who could stand on the steps of the Bell Inn and flip a penny over the spire of the church!
Arnold, Perrett & Co. Ltd. owned the Bell Inn in 1891 and 1903, supplying their Wickwar ales to the premises. Classified as an ale house it had a substantial annual rateable value of £51.0s.0d. in 1903. It closed at 10 pm.
An 1906 an inventory stated that the Bell Inn contained ‘attic rooms, four bedrooms, a box room, laundry, club room, sitting room, tap room, wine cellar, and a bar with drinking tables, a brass gong, pewter spirit measures, wooden spirit kegs and corkscrews. Outside, a long rectangular sign read ‘Bell Commercial Hotel’, and a smaller sign that informed visitors that the premises was licensed. The ‘stock in trade’ included bottles of whisky, sherry, brandy, port and cordials with over 70 gallons of beer in the cellar’. The Bell Inn was still trading in the 1950’s.
Gloucester Citizen, Monday 21st May 1945 – Forest Man Fined At Littledean. Trouble at the Bell Inn, Ruardean, on VE night led to a case before the Littledean magistrates in which the licensee, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Peates, summoned Harold Lewis, Crossways, Ruardean, for assault and for being violent and refusing to quit. Mrs. Peates said Lewis came into the bar about 10.20 p.m. and asked for beer. She told him it had all gone. Lewis said “I’m going to have some beer, whether or no, or I’ll kick it all up here.’’ He went to the tap room and she heard Mr. Russell tell him the best thing he could do was to get out. Lewis said he would smash the place up. Lewis struck Russell, but someone warded off the blow. Mrs. Peates ordered him to leave. Lewis hurt her arm and refused to go, but eventually they managed to eject him. Replying to Mr. J. W, I. Whiteman, Gloucester, for the defence, Mrs. Peates denied that there was a general uproar amongst the customers. Albert Nathaniel Russell, who was helping to serve the customers, also gave evidence. Supt. Large said unfortunately the police were not there because P.C. Boughton was in hospital at the time.
Landlords at the Bell Inn include:
1840 James Evans (owner and occupier of the Bell Inn, stable yard, malthouse and garden’.
1856, 1885 James Evans (aged 52 in 1881 – a widower. Licensed Victualler and Maltster)
1891, 1906 Albert James King
1906 Elizabeth King
1906 Eric Ellis
1915 (August) ‘The temporary transfer of the Bell Inn, Ruardean, from Edward Baskerville, who has joined the army, to Mrs Sarah Baskerville, his wife’.
1919,1927 Edward Baskerville
1945 Mary Elizabeth Peates