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Little Cornard Bell
Little Cornard Bell
also traded as One Bell
South, 52.00426,0.77376
Closed: possibly pre-1958, though apparently within living memory early in the 21st century.
Spout Ln
grid reference TL 904 376
The original (pre-fire) Bell is shown (though not named) on this old OS map from about the end of the 19th century (larger map)
The village history website confirms the building at this location to have been the Bell. It can be seen on the 1928 OS map as a beerhouse, but the 1958 map doesn't show it, so presumably it closed between those dates. Though about 2008 we spoke to someone who remembered it having been open, so it must have closed nearer to the latter year.
The current building will be about a century old, as a report in the Suffolk Free Press** on 30 Aug 1911 makes clear:
At a meeting of the Petty Sessions, Mr Mauldon said that the Bell Inn at Little Cornard which had been destroyed by fire has been completely rebuilt. The tenant, Miss Jane Bell was so affected by the fire she could not continue and she asked the bench if the licence could be transferred to her nephew Ernest Reeve. Granted.
The Suffolk Free Press** also reported on November 23rd 1910 on the fire that had occurred:
A fire has destroyed the Bell Inn at Little Cornard. The alarm was discovered by the landlady Miss Jane Bell who alerted her neighbours, Harry Rowe and Frank Isom. The owners are Messrs Mauldon.Large numbers of people visited the site on Sunday and Monday
Gallery
Historical interest
The beerhouse was reported in Upper Road in the 1871-1901 censuses. It's not reported in the 1911 census, possibly due to the fire. Jane Bell, Baker & Beer Retailer, Single/61/born Ballingdon, Essex, is reported at Vicarage Lane, Great Cornard, in the 1911 census, living with her nephew George Rowe.
In 1937 the pub was listed in Kelly's Directory as one of 220 pubs that were retailing beer that they were brewing.
Landlords
Footnote
(** reports reproduced with kind permission from Foxearth & District Local History Society)
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.