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Ivychurch
01797 344355
http://www.thebellinnromneymarsh.co.uk/
https://whatpub.com/bell-inn
Above photo, circa 1890s from
https://ivychurchhistory web. |
Above photo, circa 1914 from
https://ivychurchhistory web. |
Above photo, circa 1918 from
https://ivychurchhistory web. |
Above photo, circa 1920 from
https://ivychurchhistory web. |
Above postcard, circa 1934, kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. |
Above photo, date and persons unknown. |
Above photo, August 1990 from
https://ivychurchhistory web. |
Photo taken 5 September 1994 showing the Bell Inn and St George's Church from
http://www.flickr.com
by bitterman63. |
Above photo by John Law, 26 August 2006. |
Above photo 2019. |
Above photo 2019. |
 
Above sign left, May 1985, sign right, July 1991.
With thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com. |
Above sign 2015.
With thanks from from Roger Pester
www.innsignsociety.com |
The building can be dated back to 1545 and has been serving ale and bread
since this time. It is situated next to St. George's Church.
It is said that the owlers and smugglers would give a hostile welcome to
strangers drinking there - not surprising considering the nearby church was
blatantly used as a warehouse for contraband.
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Passage below taken from their web site.
The "Bell Inn" was built in 1545 on the site of a much older medieval building,
probably a hostelry. The origin of the sign of The "Bell" dates back to
the 11th century when inns and taverns stood within the precincts of
parish churches. How many bells a particular church held, determined the
number given to the name of the inn. When The "Bell" was built, the Church
of St George held only one bell. The original building was much smaller
than now, being timber framed and thatched, and additions were made in
the 18th, 19th & 20th centuries. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Romney Marsh, and particularly The
"Bell," was something of a centre for smuggling. At that time, smugglers
known locally as “owlers”, called The "Bell" “The Stained Glass Window”. Smugglers ran in gangs of up to 200 men and church vaults and inn
cellars were used extensively for hiding all sorts of contraband. In
1744, it was recorded that the Sexton of St. George's warned the Rector
of Ivycurch “Bain't be no service s'morning parson, Westry be full wi'
baccy and pulpit full o' brandy” - needless to say, there was no service
that day! |
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Kentish Gazette 14 September 1787.
LOST.
Some Time past, out of the Grounds of Mr. John Skinner, in the parish of
Ivychurch, A Small Black Horn Heifer; a little White on her Rump;
Horn-marked on each Horn, S.W.
Whoever will give Intelligence of the said Heifer, either to Mr. John
Skinner at Lydd, or to Joseph Tolhurst or the "Bell" at Ivychurch, shall
receive all reasonable Satisfaction.
Sept. 9, 1787.
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Kentish Gazette 12 January 1819.
Death.
Jan 6, at the "Bells," Ivychurch, Mrs. Tolhurst, age 46 years.
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Kentish Gazette, 19 March 1844.
DEATH.
March 14, at Ivychurch, on influenza, Charlotte, wife of Mr. Henry
Springett, of the "Bell Inn," age 36, leaving eight children, the
youngest not more than a month old.
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Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette 23 March 1844.
DEATH.
March 14, at Ivychurch, Charlotte, wife of Mr. H. Springett, of the
"Bell Inn," aged 36.
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From the Kentish Gazette, 19 May 1857.
IVYCHURCH.
Fatal Accident.
An inquest was Held on Thursday last, at the "Bell Inn," on the body
of James Wimble, aged 21, who met his death from an explosion of
gunpowder. Benjamin Wood, Esq., surgeon, New Romney, stated:— I was
called to see the deceased between eight and nine o’clock last
evening. I found him suffering from a very severe fractured wound in
the skull. I saw it was a hopeless case, and used such means us were
advisable: he lingered about two hours and died. It was such a wound
as would be caused by the accident as represented to me at the time.
William Norman deposed:— I am bailiff to Mr. Cobb at his farm at
Ivychurch. About 8 o’clock last evening I was with the deceased in
the farm-yard: he was attempting to blow in pieces the root of a
large tree with gunpowder. I should suppose that there was some
powder scattered on the top of the stump; and while the deceased was
in the act of lighting the touch-paper with a match, the loose
powder must have set fire to the charge, which exploded before
deceased could move from the spot. A large piece of the wood struck
him on the forehead, and flew about three rods towards the barn. I
then saw him on the ground, and went to him and lifted him up. He
never spoke afterwards. William Bourne, waggoner to Mr. Cobb, was
present when the accident happened, and corroborated the evidence of
the last witness.
The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.
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From the Dover Express, 17 December 2015.
Fantastic pubs for a festive pie and pint.
COSY AND TRADITIONAL: The Bell Inn, Ivychurch.
GONE are the days of sitting in a beer garden sipping on Pimms. At this
time of year a real fire is much more important when choosing where to
have a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie or two.
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From the
https://www.kentlive.news By Victoria Chessum, 8 February 2019.
Inside award-winning pub The Bell Inn which is now on the market for £545,000.
The current owners said it was a hard decision to step away from their duties after 12 years.
The Bell Inn, Ivychurch, is up for sale (Image: Christie & Co).
A cosy country pub with a good reputation is up for sale as its long
standing owners make plans to retire.
The Bell Inn, in Ashford Road, Ivychurch, Romney Marsh, has gone on the
market for a freehold price of £545,000.
It comprises a restaurant, saloon bar, lounge area and a snug which has
the space for 65 covers.
There is also four bedrooms for the owners on the first floor.
Owners of 12 years, Mark and Vanda Rolfe, are now looking to hand over
the reigns as they step away from their publican commitments.
A statement from the couple said: "Sadly the time has come for us to
call time at The Bell.
"We have enjoyed 12 fantastic years here making many new friends and
forging links with the local community.
"However, we look forward to handing the business over to someone with
the same passion and enthusiasm as we have had.
"A hard decision but retirement calls."
The Bell Inn has a cosy pub feel (Image: Christie & Co).
The premises is being marketed for sale by Christie & Co, and it
features outside dining, a sheltered beer garden and backs onto the
village church yard.
Scooping past time awards, it has been given the CAMRA Pub of the Year
gong in the Ashford, Folkestone & Romney Marsh on four occasions.
This was between 2010 and 2016.
The pub has scooped awards in the past (Image: Christie & Co).
It serves home cooked food and real ales.
It scores four out of five stars on TripAdvisor and is ranked the best
place in Ivychurch to eat.
James Hughes, senior business agent at Christie & Co’s Maidstone office,
said: “The Bell Inn provides a fabulous opportunity to acquire a
profitable, award winning village pub that has been under the same
ownership for the past 12 years.
"It is ideally suited for either a hands-on owner operator looking to
capitalise on the already strong trade or alternatively, a multiple
operator looking to add a successful pub to their portfolio.” |
LICENSEE LIST
SPRINGETT Henry 1841-51+ (age 43 in 1851 )
FLISHER Edward 1861-82+ (age 64 in 1881)
also farmer
FLISHER George J 1891+
 (age 34 in 1891)
JELL Edward 1901+ (age 60 in 1901)
ELDRIDGE Henry Stephen 1903-13+ (also farmer age 41 in 1911)
ROLFE Mark & Vanda 2007-19
https://pubwiki.co.uk/Bell.shtml
Census
From the Kelly's Directory 1903
From the Kelly's Directory 1882
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