BELL HOTEL Pub of Staplehurst

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Thursday, 23 October, 2025.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1828-

(Name from)

Bell Hotel

Sold 2014

High Street

Staplehurst

https://whatpub.com/bell

Above engraving after 1834, when the brow of Staplehurst Hill was lowered.

Above photo, circa 1860, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Also showing the "King's Head."

Above postcard, circa 1903, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe.

Above postcard, date unknown, kindly sent my Mark Jennings.

Above photo, 28 March 1983, by Jim Ashby.

Above photo, 2014.

Above sign, March 2002, kindly sent by Brian Curtis.

From the www.innsignsociety.com

In 1834 the road through Staplehurst was improved by removing the brow of the hill by the pub and filling in the deep valley to the north, by Little Loddenden. This was part of a plan to modernise the mail service by linking Hastings to Staplehurst.

It is suggested by Anita Thompson of the Staplehurst Society that the "Bell" was called the "Rose and Crown" as early as 1661.

More recently I believe the pub was sold for £375,000 in 2014 and has since been converted into flats.

Above plans 2014.

Above photo circa 2017.

From A Brief History of Staplehurst, by Anita Thompson, in 1661 in Staplehurst the "Kings Head" was called the "Bell" and the landlord was John Weston (1661-64).

It also refers to the "Bell," which was called the "Rose & Crown." The "Bell" and the "Kings Head" are neighbours, at each side of the Bell Lane/High Street junction.

The "Bell" is a 19th century building. Going 50 yards or so northwards and on the opposite side of High Street is where the "Crown" was. I think there might be some confusion there.

South Eastern Gazette,10 January, 1860.

CRANBROOK. Petty Sessions, Thursday. (Before George Finch, Esq., chairman, Capt. Tweedie, and Robert Tooth, Esq.)

Thomas Sells, of Staplehurst, was charged with having assaulted Mr. Edward Simmons, farmer, at the "Bell Inn," in that parish. Defendant admitted the offence, but as it was not an aggravated case he was fined 1s. only, and 9s. costs.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 9 January 1866.

WEST KENT SESSION.

This Session commenced at the Court-house. Maidstone on Thursday morning, before Gathorne Hardy, Esq., chairman.

George Pettit, 35, labourer, was indicted for stealing a shirt and an apron, the property of John Whiteman, at Staplehurst, on the 17th November, 1865.

It appeared that prisoner went to the “Bell” public-house, Staplehurst, and that the prosecutor went in, and seeing his washerwoman there gave her a shirt to wash. She took it to the washhouse behind, and while there prisoner asked her to lend him 2d. Next morning when she looked for the shirt it was gone, and the same day he was found wearing it.

Seven years’ penal servitude, several previous convictions having been proved against him. Another charge against the prisoner, for stealing boots at Marden, was not gone into.

South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 9th February, 1915.

At Cranbrook Licensing Sessions on Thursday the Chairman (Mr. W. H. Tylden Pattinson) announced that all the licences would be renewed with the exception of the "Kings Head," the "Bell," the "Lamb," and the "Crown," all in Staplehurst; and the "Prince of Wales," in Rolvenden Lane. These, on the grounds of redundancy, would be referred to the March Sessions. He congratulate it the licence holders on the way they had conducted their business.

LICENSEE LIST

GEORGE William 1828-32+