Vol 14; No 8 Tales of the Bell Inn

[Les1949]

HAMPTON, AROUND AND ABOUT

Things you may not know, or didn’t know you knew!

No 8 TALES OF THE BELL INN

The Bell Inn has stood beside the River Thames since the mid-16th century and there are no end of stories published about it. These are just two of them.



On 15th June 1864, Michael Merigan, Landlord, found Henry Smith of Hampton, on his premises late in the evening. Merigan’s daughter observed Smith trying to conceal himself in the building. Smith pretended to be drunk and had a large riding whip in his possession which Merigan took from him. The local constable was sent for (the Police Station was round the corner!). Smith was arrested and taken into custody.

Smith was brought before the local Petty Sessions, with Sir John Gibbons, Bart in the Chair also on the Bench were, General Wood, W A Mitchinson, George Patterson Esq. and Lord Charles Fitzroy – quite an array of local worthies. Police Constable 67 gave evidence regarding the arrest of the prisoner. The Merigans gave their version of the events that night.

In his defence, Smith, claimed not to have been on the premises for any unlawful purpose. Smith further stated that he been there for the best part of the evening, having been chairman at a sing-song meeting held there, and the whip had been given to him to keep order – this comment provoked laughter from the public watching!

The Bench failed to see the funny side and sentenced Smith to one month in the House of Correction.


Some years later on 29th June 1878, Charles Goodman was arrested for carrying out an attempted fraud at the Bell Inn. Goodman was charged with fraudulently obtaining goods to the value of 6s 2d (31p) from Thomas Holmden of the Bell Inn, and being drunk in the Police Station. The previous day, Goodman, went into the Inn asking for half-a-gallon of beer, stating that it was for Mr Toner, the local Blacksmith. Believing Goodman to be in the Blacksmith’s employ, the Barman, George Duke, handed over two-quart cans. In all Goodman made three visits that day all with the same request.

The next day Goodman came in for another half-gallon of beer, later a gallon of beer and some tobacco. By now, the suspicions had been aroused and Mrs Holmden sent word to the blacksmith to check that Goodman was in his employ. Back came word that Toner had not asked Goodman to visit the pub on his behalf. On Goodman’s next visit to The Bell he was detained and taken into custody.

When the case came before the Petty Session it became apparent that on the 27th June, Goodman had visited the blacksmith asking for work, Toner had nothing for him and sent him on his way. PC Nightingale stated that at about 12noon on the 29th June he was sent for by The Bell and from information received went in search of Goodman. The accused was found next to the pub, in the Vicarage Garden, extremely drunk and the worse for wear.

Goodman was committed for trial at the next Sessions – definitely a case of being onto a good thing, but not knowing when to stop!



The Old Historian