Northumberland Inns and Taverns: Alnwick (Clayport)

Name: The Blue Bell Inn

Address: Clayport Street, Alnwick

1962 Blue Bell Inn and William Carter’s fruit and confectionary
shop which now forms part of the public house

The Blue Bell Inn dates back to 1802 and remains a going concern to this day. Located just a few yards up from the pedestrian junction of Chapel Lane with Clayport Street the inn has expanded over the years to incorporate the shop next door, although the upper floor of the shop was removed in the second half of the twentieth century.

Hereford Journal Wednesday, July 18, 1810

First mention of the inn in the press was from the above newspaper, which was announcing bankruptcies and appears to make reference to a William Watson and his son William Watson Junior as 'common brewers' linked to the Blue Bell, so I suspect they may have been some of the earliest landlords.

1864 Town Plan

Listed landlords at the Blue Bell were William Walton (1810), James Thompson (1829), Jane Young (1834), Thomas Wilkinson (1839), Robert Straffen (1841-51), John (James) Hood (1858-76), Robert Murray (1866), John White (1877), James Smart (1879-89), Elizabeth Smart (1889-91), William James Taylor (1891-93), Andrew Johnson (1893-), William Harvey Johnson (1894), Eleanor Cairns (1901), Thomas W Cockburn (1902), William Clark (1911), James Dickinson (1914), George Brown (1921) and William B Richardson (1939).

1829 Pigot's Directory - Js Thompson

1834 Pigot's Directory - Jane Young

Newcastle Courant Friday, May 31, 1839

1841 Census - Robert Straffen

1851 Census - Robert Straffen

Newcastle Courant Friday, Dec. 2, 1853

1858 Post Office Directory - John Hood

1861 Census - John Hood

A Fatal Fall

On Friday, the 14th ult., an inquest was held at the house of Mr. James Hood, Blue Bell Inn, Alnwick, before Mr. Hardy, coroner, on the body of Mr. George Carmichael, aged 37 years, labourer, whose death was occasioned by a fall down a cellar stairs, under the following circumstances. On the Wednesday previous, deceased and Joseph Swan had been engaged at Windy Edge, a farm adjoining the town, but had finished their work in the early part of the afternoon, when they adjourned to the Blue Bell Inn, where they had several glasses of whisky. About six o'clock in the evening deceased left the room where they were drinking, to go into the back-yard, saying be would return again. In the passage leading to the yard is the cellar door, which is divided horizontally into two parts; the lower division not being more than three feet high, and being usually fastened by a latch, the steps leading down being very steep. The landlady, Mrs. Hood, immediately followed deceased out of the room, and was close behind him as he went along the passage. When he came opposite the cellar door he made a stagger, fell over the half-door, and was precipitated to the bottom of the stairs, death being instantaneous. The jury returned a verdict of 'Accidentally killed by a fall', but recommended that the door in two halves should be made into a whole one; and the coroner strongly cautioned the landlord, James Hood, as to the present dangerous condition of the cellar. The jury gave their fees to the mother of deceased, who is a widow. Deceased was engaged to be married, and the time fixed for that event was, Saturday, the 10th ult., on which day he was interred.

Morpeth Herald Saturday, July 14, 1866

1871 Census John Hood

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, Jan. 11, 1873

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, Aug. 8, 1874

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, Oct. 10, 1874

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, Apr. 29, 1876

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, Apr. 7, 1877

Newcastle Courant Friday, Oct. 12, 1877

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, Mar. 2, 1878

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, May 11, 1878

REFUSING TO QUIT LICENSED PREMISES

John Bambro was charged with refusing to quit the Blue Bell Inn public house, Clayport Street, Alnwick, on the 14th inst., when ordered to do so by Mr James Smart, the landlord. Defendant came in drunk and wanted to fight, and had to be forcibly ejected. Fined 20s and costs, or in default 14 days' imprisonment.

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, July 27, 1878

1879 Kelly's Directory James Smart

1881 Census - James Smart

RIOTOUS CONDUCT AT THE MARCH HIRING

Peter Hutchinson was charged with refusing to quit the licensed premises of James Smart, Blue Bell Inn, Alnwick, and also with assaulting Elizabeth Smart, daughter of the landlord, on the 5th March last. Mr Chas. Percy, solicitor, appeared for the prosecution. Defendant became very quarrelsome, refused to leave when ordered, resisted when Mr Smart tried to eject him, struck Mrs Smart, and then struck Miss Smart on the face when she run up to protect her mother. Convicted and fined 20s including costs (or 7 days imprisonment in default) in each case.

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, Mar. 26, 1881

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, Oct. 15, 1881

Alnwick Mercury Saturday, Nov. 25, 1882

1889 Probate James Smart

1891 Census - Elizabeth Smart

Morpeth Herald Saturday, Nov. 14, 1891

SALE OF AN OLD ESTABLISHED INN AT ALNWICK

Mr H. S. Johnson yesterday offered for sale in the Town Hall, Alnwick, the old-established inn known as the Blue Bell, and situate in Clayport Street, Alnwick. There was a very large attendance, and after £600 was offered by Mr John Short, builder, a brisk competition took place between that gentleman, Mr A. H. Henderson, auctioneer, and Mr Hardy, fishing tackle manufacturer, Mr Short being declared the purchaser at £1,015, the sale having been declared an open one at £800. It is understood that Mr Short acted for Mr Joseph Grey, of the Nag's Head Inn.

Shields Daily Gazette Wednesday, Oct. 18, 1893

1894 Kelly's Directory William J Taylor

LICENSING MATTERS.

The license of the Hope and Anchor Inn, Alnmouth, was formally transferred to Mr. Thos. Read, formerly sergeant-major of the Royal Artillery, from Mr. Joseph Hedley. The license of the Blue Bell Inn, Alnwick, was transferred to Mr. Andrew Johnson, from Mr. W. Taylor, who has taken the Windy Edge farm at Alnwick.

The license of the Robin Hood Inn, Alnwick, was endorsed in the name of Joseph Scott, from William Scott, his father.

Morpeth Herald Saturday, Dec. 9, 1893

Blue Bell Inn courtesy of CAMRA

LICENSING AFFAIRS.
Mr. Edward Burn, publican, of Eglingham, applied for an occasional license to sell liquors, &c., in a tent on the Northumberland Agricultural Show ground at Alnwick on the 19th July.
Mr. Chas. Percy applied for the temporary transfer of the Blue Bell Inn, Alnwick, to William Harvey Johnson, brother of the late tenant .- These were granted, as was also the application of the Alnwick Brewery Company for the license to the canteen of the 3rd Northumberland Fusiliers.
Morpeth Herald Saturday, July 14, 1894