The Bell Inn

THE BELL INN, HIGH STREET

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1216001
Date first listed:
25-Sept-1951
List Entry Name:
The Bell Inn
Statutory Address:
THE BELL INN, HIGH STREET
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Date:
2000-05-05
Reference:
IOE01/01297/18
Rights:
© Mr JM Webber. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1216001
Date first listed:
25-Sept-1951
Date of most recent amendment:
30-Mar-1989
List Entry Name:
The Bell Inn
Statutory Address 1:
THE BELL INN, HIGH 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 BELL INN, HIGH STREET

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

County:
Cambridgeshire
District:
Huntingdonshire (District Authority)
Parish:
Stilton
National Grid Reference:
TL 16303 89289

Details

In the entry for- STILTON HIGH STREET (East side) Nos 1 and 3 (Stilton 10/54 Audio) and The Bell Inn) The address shall be amended to read -

TL 1689 STILTON HIGH STREET (East side) 10/54 The Bell Inn

------------------------------------

STILTON HIGH STREET TL 1689 (East Side) 10/54 Nos. 1 and 3 (Stilton Audio) and 25.9.51 the Bell Inn

GV II*

Inn, house and shop, formerly a coaching inn. 1642 dated stone on south gable, alterations and rebuilding c.1700 and C18; C19 part conversion to three tenements. Renovated with replacement of south-east wing c.1985. Coursed limestone rubble with Ketton limestone dressings and C18 red brick. Collyweston stone slated roofs and C19 pantiles. Two storeys with attics. original half H-plan with two wings at rear to north and south both demolished; bay to north rebuilt in C18. Six unequal bays to west elevation with cross gables to north and south and segmental headed arch to carriageway right of centre. Rear arch inscription painted blacok 'LONDON 74 HUNTINGDON 12 BUCKDEN 14 STAMFORD 14 MILES'. Three two storey canted bay windows and one of two storeys with attic and one ground floor bay. All bays originally with hollow-chamfered mullioned windows, some with block side lights, and wide hung C18 sash windows, inserted, others recently renovated. Deep plinth continuous around bay windows, moulded strings at head of windows at both floor levels are raised above archway. Two blank shields in spandrels above arch, and moulded imposts to jambs. Two tall symmetrical ridge stacks each with six ashlar shafts with common strings and cornices. Two entrances (Nos. 1 and 3), deeply recessed with wooden panelled reveals, approached by stone and brick steps with a C18 and C19 panelled door; right hand entrance with C19 door in inn in south bay. Interior: stop-chamfered ceiling beams. Back to back stone fireplaces with four-centred arches and moulded details to the inn and similar with plain chamfered details to Nos. 1 and 3, at each floor level. C17 staircase beside stack with octagonal newel post, and C18 open string staircase with moulded hand rail and turned balusters. Very fine wrought iron inn sign to right hand. Cooper Thornhill purchased the Bell in c.1730 and popularised the sale of Stilton cheeses, in 1796 a considerable cheese trade was associated with the inn.

V C H Huntingdonshire, p222 R C H M Huntingdonshire, p257 Pevsner: Buildings of England, p266 Sale particulars in British Evening Post, 14 July 1796

Listing NGR: TL1630389289

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
401295
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Inventory of Huntingdonshire, (1926), 257
Page, W, Proby, G, The Victoria History of the County of Huntingdon, (1936), 266
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough, (1968), 266
British Evening Post in British Evening Post 14 July, (1796)

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 Bell Inn

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 12-Jun-2026 at 20:09:52.

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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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