Alnwick
Blue Bell Inn, Alnwick
Last Updated:
6 Mar 2025
Alnwick
This is a
Pub
55.412490, -1.708661
Founded in
Current status is
Extant
Designer (if known):
Still operating as a pub
Alnwick's Blue Bell Inn on Clayport Street is a historic pub amongst many in the market town. There's countless Blue Bell pubs in the region, and I've always been under the understand they're relating to "clocking off" bells at quarries and pits, but this one bolsters the theory it's coined from the nearby 18th century church.
The inn was established by the 1830s, and by 1839 was owned by Skelly & Smith of Alnwick Brewery on Dispensary Street. It was offered to local publicans on let, "featuring excellent Cellars, Two good Stables and Hay Lofts, Byre, spacious Yard and other Conveniences, as now occupied by Mrs Young". Though not necessarily a coaching inn, there was an archway on the left side of the building (where the black door is) that led to a small yard for folk to stable their horses for a quick drink.
It went on to be leased to Robert Straffen, who used the inn for all sorts of functions. An advertisement is listed in 1846 noting regular attendance of a bone-setter and veterinary surgeon - Isaac Milburn. People must have stopped here with their horses to slip in some loose bones or heal some wounds! Inquests were also held here alongside the odd auction and vegetable show.
By the 1890s, the inn was also known as a hotel. The living quarters upstairs must have been converted to offer a couple of rooms to those passing through the town. When the next door sweet shop was demolished (you can still see its shadow on the west elevation), it appears they expanded to form a greater ground floor setting.
Listing Description (if available)
Both Ordnance Survey plans here illustrate Alnwick town centre and Clayport Street from the middle of the 19th century until the latter. It's one of the earliest streets in Alnwick forming the east-west link through the town. Given its status as an important market town & staging post, it was almost inevitable the street would feature valuable infrastructure and social institutions here. One of Alnwick's most important defensive buildings, Clayport Tower, was constructed here as a result in medieval times and formed the main western fortification in and out of the town. It was however demolished in 1804, presumably owing to expansion of the road for development.
The Blue Bell is clearly identifiable on the earlier town plan, fronting Clayport Street with a small rear yard for stabling (you'll even notice the water trough labelled along the coal house, stables and refuge area).
The Blue Bell is depicted as "PH" adjacent to the entrance of the church where 210 is labelled. You'll notice the yard is extant through I'm sure by this stage stabling facilities would have been much more limited. The yard however still stretched all the way down to Green Nat whereas now much of the land is occupied as gardens and a car park.
The Blue Bell in February 2025. The shadow of the sweet shop formerly next door (see below) can still be seen above the modern extension.
The Blue Bell in the 1950s. Unknown original source.
