The Old Bell Public House

THE OLD BELL PUBLIC HOUSE, 38, BELL STREET

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1176218
Date first listed:
06-Jun-1952
List Entry Name:
The Old Bell Public House
Statutory Address:
THE OLD BELL PUBLIC HOUSE, 38, BELL STREET
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Location

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Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.
Date:
2001-07-26
Reference:
IOE01/04404/33
Rights:
© Ms Elaine Allen . Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1176218
Date first listed:
06-Jun-1952
List Entry Name:
The Old Bell Public House
Statutory Address 1:
THE OLD BELL PUBLIC HOUSE, 38, BELL STREET

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
THE OLD BELL PUBLIC HOUSE, 38, BELL STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Hertfordshire
District:
East Hertfordshire (District Authority)
Parish:
Sawbridgeworth
National Grid Reference:
TL 48322 14827

Details

BELL STREET 1. 5253 (South Side) No 38 (The Old Bell PH) TL 4832 1483:3/36 6.6.52 II GV 2. C16 H-plan house adapted, raised and extended in C17 to form U-plan with rear courtyard. C18 doorcases and windows. 2 storeys and cellar. Timber- framed and plastered. Weatherboarding to Gd floor of E flank and upper floor of SW wing. Steep old red tile roofs with bellcast and boxed eaves to front, hipped to E and gabled to W. Large central chimney at junction with E wing, at upper end of hall. External gable chimney at W end added to former service rooms. Old rear wall plate now cut by 1st floor windows, points to a formerly lower hall block flanked by narrow gabled crosswings each end. C16 queen-post roof structure with heavy cambered tie beams and heavy curved braces,remains in E wing. Main roof raised and hipped probably in late C17. Lower 2 storey outbuilding attached to W rear wing with timber- framed and weatherboarded pigeon-loft under old tiled roof. Lower storey renewed in brick. Street front has a high brick plinth and pargetting in small panels with chevron pattern infill. Irregular window spacing. Upper floor has 3 windows. Former 3 light mullioned and transomed wood casements recently replaced by 12 paned windows with top hung vents. Gd floor has 3 small bay windows, central one modern with square plan and leaded lights. Outer 2 are early C19 canted bays with 2/2:8/8:2/2 sashes and moulded cornices. 2 doors, one to W of central bay, one at extreme E of front. Fine matching door surrounds of c.1770. Narrow panelled pilasters each support a moulded bracket carrying a full entablature with dentilled triangular pediment. Frieze and architrave break forward over brackets and also in centre. Frieze has running Greek key pattern with fluted panels in centre and over each bracket W rear wing has C18 flush boxed sash with 6/6 panes on 1st floor. E flank has 2 light Yorkshire window to 1st floor. 2 light and 3 light C19 casements to rear. Fine open fireplace with iron crane on Gd floor, central bar. Exposed beams on both floors. Good plank door on 1st floor next to stack. Evidence of separate external stairs to wings, linked when roof raised. A former coaching inn.

Listing NGR: TL4832214827

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
160746
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.

Ordnance survey map of The Old Bell Public House

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 20-Jun-2026 at 20:12:22.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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