Bell, 60 Greyfriars Lane
| Alternative Addresses: | Warwick Lane | ||
| These premises have been known by different names during their history: | FROM | TO | NAME |
| 1756 | Bluebell | ||
| 1756 | 1890 | Bell | |
| 1890 | 1939 | Cheylesmore inn | |
In 1756, six soldiers were billeted here. The name seemed to vary over the years between Bell and Bluebell. J. Jeps in 1868 seems to be the same as Jennifer Jeffs.
This became the CHEYLESMORE INN in 1890 although until at least 1911 many still referred to it as The Bell.
J. Roberts in 1905 and G. K. Driver in 1909 are licensees of the Bell according to Robertson & Gray's Directory, yet in Phillips & Marriott's Property Register they are licensees of the Cheylesmore!
The photo on the left shows The Bell (right) opposite Ford's Hospital in Greyfriars Lane some time in the late 1800s.
We have Jan Harris to thank for the following tales, which came to light from her newspaper researches about her great-great-great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Jephcott, who was the landlady of of The Bell and the Denbigh Arms, Gosford Street, in the 1840s and 50s. The Coventry Herald & Observer of Friday 23rd March 1849 reported this: "Elizabeth Jephcott, landlady of the Bell public-house, Grey Friars Lane, appeared to answer an information, charging her with harbouring prostitutes, and otherwise keeping a disorderly house. It was stated by Police Constable Payne, that his attention having been diverted to a violent disturbance going on there, almost half past ten o'clock on Wednesday night, he and Simons entered, and found eight or nine prostitutes there, - one woman with her head bleeding profusely, the neighbourhood in uproar, and people crying out that the premises wanted burning to the ground. There was scarcely a week passed without complaints of some sort or other being made against this house. -The Defendant pleaded guilty, but in extenuation said, that a rush of company made her unable to preserve order. - Fined £2, and 11s 6d costs, with a caution as to the retention of her licence." And then again in December that year: "Elizabeth Jephcott, landlady of the Bell public-house, Grey Friar's Lane, appeared to answer an information, charging her with having had her house open for the sale of beer on Sunday morning last, about a quarter before one o'clock. Police Constable Coltman stated, that he and Policeman Iliff were on duty in the lane above stated, when he saw a prostitute passing from defendant's house into a brothel close by, into which he entered, and saw five men and two females drinking. He then went into the Bell, and asked Mrs Jephcott what she could think of drawing beer at that time; and her reply was, that it was only a small-beer or half-and-half, which she had let them have for their supper. She now expressed regret at having done so, and begged for leniency - Fined 10s, and costs, 12s 6d." The bell is a distinctive yet simple shape which has greatly appealed to sign makers through the centuries. Church bells and hand bells are usually those that are referred to in pub signs. | |||
LICENSEES:1828 - 1841 Sarah Suckling (died 18th Jun 1841) 1841 William Pearson 1845 John Cooper 1847 William Cooper 1847 - 1848 William Henry Pearson 1848 - 1853 Elizabeth Jephcott 1853 John Richardson 1861 William Jeffs 1868 Jennifer Jeffs (J. Jeps) (wife of William Jeffs) 1871 - 1880 William King 1880 - 1889 Thomas John Oates (Oats) 1889 - 1890 George Barnett | |||
OWNERS:1874 George Hollick 1874 - 1891 Mrs. Sarah Hollick 1891 Sarah Harris (same as above, remarried) 1891 - 1896 Charles Webb Iliffe | |||
 Street plan of 1893 | |||