Bell Hotel

Details

TEWKESBURY

SO83SE CHURCH STREET 859-1/2/110 (North side) 04/03/52 No.52 Bell Hotel

GV II*

Hotel. Dated in plaster panel above porch "IK 1696", (Jacob Kingsbury); large C19 or early C20 extensions. The original building close-studded timber-frame with mid-rails, rendered panels and underbuild, extensions in painted brick or rendered, some timber-framing, tile roofs, brick stacks. PLAN: compact C17 parallel plan and 3-room front range has 3 gables over a double-jettied structure facing E along Church Street, with single gable returns, and a small wing adjacent to the Gloucester Road perhaps of this build; entrance at left end to lobby, with 2 principal heated rooms to the right with shared stack. Long wing to Mill Street, and large extension to W, facing the car park. EXTERIOR: main front in 2 storeys and attic, with small 3-light casements to attic, 3:5:3-light casements with transom at first floor, and 3-light casement with transom to first bay of ground floor; to right of door 2 tripartite sashes with glazing bars. The casement windows have moulded bars and rectangular leading. In the first bay a broad open-gabled porch on Doric pilasters and timber panelled cheeks covers an early 5-panel door under a fanlight. Near the right gable is a large brick ridge stack with 2 diagonal flues. The right return gable in box framing with plaster panels is linked by a canted single-storey flat-roofed unit to a long C19 two-storey brick gabled wing following the line of Mill Street. The left return gable is also box-framed above rendered ground floor, with one casement at first floor, and a sash at the ground floor. In the cross-gabled front block all gables have deep soffits. In Gloucester Road a one-bay rendered wing has a 3-light C18 gabled dormer above a 16-pane sash at first floor, and two C20 lights at ground floor. Its steep tiled roof runs to the ridge height of the main building, and seems to belong to that structure in date. Beyond this a large C19 or early C20 wing with some framing is linked to the earlier wing by a part-framed 2-storey unit. The return to the W, towards the car park, has an entrance door far right, adjacent to a large external eaves stack. INTERIOR: considerably altered, but retains some C17 work at the ground-floor level. Roof not inspected. The porch gives to a large entrance lobby which has C20 panelling and fittings. To the right the lounge has a chamfered central beam with added cornice mouldings, open framed partition to the bar, in square panel pegged framing, possibly the original outer wall, and a large stone-cheeked fireplace with C19 stone lintel. At the opposite end of the room are 2 panels of C17 painted wall decoration under glass. Beyond this a smaller room also has central chamfered beam, and a C19 stone fireplace with wood surround. Beyond the lobby is a staircase hall containing a small winder staircase with stick balustrade. At the head of this stair is a good C17 plank door. HISTORICAL NOTE: The Bell holds an important position in Church Street, opposite the Abbey church (qv), and at a slight offset in the street, so that it faces E along its length. Probably on the site of a medieval hostelry, it is generally assumed that this was the original of Phineas Fletcher's house in Mrs Craik's "John Halifax, Gentleman"; it lies close to the Abbey Mill (qv) which also features largely in the novel, and externally presents a fine example of a C17 inn.

Listing NGR: SO8898232502

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

376690

Legacy System:

LBS

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