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Picture source: Roger Thawley

The Blue Bell was situated on Manchester Road. This pub is now used as a branch of Majestic Wine.

A public house is recorded at this location by the 1871 OS map. The 1840 tithe map records ‘House garden and croft’ in the location, but the tithe records aren’t always that precise; it’s possible the building was in use as a pub prior to 1871, it’s impossible to say. A newspaper article from the 1960s states that the Blue Bell probably dates back the 18th century; the location is between two villages, along the main route between Manchester and London ….it’s entirely possible. The local newspaper archives have mention of the Blue Bell Inn as early as 5th September 1874. In July 1880 adverts for the Blue Bell Hotel ‘NOW OPEN’ appear in the newspapers. The 1896 map show different shape buildings on the site. It appears that new building were constructed and the Inn became a hotel. These are the buildings in the pictures I provided previously. At some time in the early 60’s H.B Clark & Co sells the Blue Bell Hotel to Boddingtons Brewery. Boddingtons constructs a new (1960s housing estate style) pub on the carpark at the rear of the Blue Bell Hotel and then demolishes the Victorian building, moving the carpark to where the previous building had been - the hotel became a pub again. This pub opened 17th May 1968. The 1960s Blue Bell pub closed early 2002 ….there are newspaper reports, from December 2021, mentioning the local residents being upset about excessive noise caused by events being organised by new management. In December 2002 there’s a planning application by Majestic Wine Warehouse who describe themselves as a prospective purchaser. It seems the blue Bell closed during 2002.

Roger Thawley (July 2024)

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Picture source: Roger Thawley