The Bell Public House
THE BELL PUBLIC HOUSE, 4, TOWN LANE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1101413
- Date first listed:
- 20-Oct-1952
- List Entry Name:
- The Bell Public House
- Statutory Address:
- THE BELL PUBLIC HOUSE, 4, TOWN LANE
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2006-04-25
- Reference:
- IOE01/15490/31
- Rights:
- © Mr A. Gude. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1101413
- Date first listed:
- 20-Oct-1952
- List Entry Name:
- The Bell Public House
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE BELL PUBLIC HOUSE, 4, TOWN LANE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE BELL PUBLIC HOUSE, 4, TOWN LANE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Hertfordshire
- District:
- East Hertfordshire (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Benington
- National Grid Reference:
- TL 29927 23569
Details
TL 2923 BENINGTON TOWN LANE (south side)
11/22 No 4 (The Bell PH)
20.10.52
GV II*
House, already an inn by 1693, now a PH. Late medieval hall house with long W wing, hall rebuilt in mid Cl7 as 2 storeys with central chimney and jettied E crosswing. Altered in mid C19. Timber frame with basketwork panelled pargetting and weatherboarded apron. Steep old red tile roofs hipped with gablet at E end. 2 storeys range facing N with central chimney backing onto cross passage at W end with twin service doors (one retains 4-centred arched head) into 2 storeys W crosswing, jettied to N and with large external lateral chimney on N servicing large N room formerly separated by a passage from S room. Cl7 E wing less deep with space for stair behind front room. Lean-to rear extensions. Assymetrical N front with one window to upper floor of each gabled and jettied crosswing and one to centre. 3 windows to ground floor with door to cross passage in the angle with the W wing (6 panel: 2 flush, 2 sunk, 2 glazed) under flat hood on shaped brackets, and more recent central door to public bar (2 panels and half-glazed above) with similar hood. C19 2-light and 3-light flush casement windows with small panes on ground floor, except 6-light range to W wing with flap-down external shutter. Heavy bull-nosed joists and corner brackets to each jetty, exposed purlin ends to clasped purlin roofs. Tall T-plan red brick central chimney a third from W gable of hall range. 4-light ovolo-moulded Cl7 window on E end. Interior has large open fireplace in hall with a wall painting cl?20 over of a stag hunt in a wooded undulating landscape with mounted hunters and hounds. Ovolo moulded axial beam supported by chimney. Heavy, flat-laid exposed joists in NW room. Large early C18 corner cupboard in NE room with fielded and panelled doors. Cl7 staircase and exposed timber structure on 1st floor. Doors with strap hinges on hooks. Wide floorboards. Of special interest for ancient structure and c1720 wall painting. (RCHM Typescript)
Listing NGR: TL2992723569
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 159621
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 23-Jun-2026 at 06:07:40.
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