History

The Blue Bell is probably one of the youngest pubs in Desford although the building itself is probably one of the oldest starting life as three cottages, one a bakery and one a grocers. The earliest recorded entry for the ‘Olde Blue Bell’ was in 1846.
The pub and its out buildings was bought from the Duchy of Lancaster in 1901. The pub was a small place then, about half the size it is now. It consisted of a tap room, smoke room and a small snug. The outbuildings were a tailors shed, the wash house, coalplace and stables. Two cottages fronting the street belonged to the coffin maker. The Gutteridges were the tenants until 1909 when the Starbuck family moved in.

The spittoons were black leaded every Sunday, hot water for the glasses was carried from the living quarters into the pub and the ‘old ale’ had to be fetched in jugs from the cellar. The inglenook fireplace in the tap room was the gathering place for the regulars, the cupboards at each side which held Mr Starbucks racing papers and assorted cups and trophys.

‘Devil amongst the tailors’ was a popular game and spills were made from the pile of old newspapers always kept on a stool at the side of the fireplace for that purpose. The Frothblowers society (the Buffs) were having such a good time in 1923 that nobody realised the end bedroom was on fire and the children were trapped having to be rescued by the fire brigade.

During the war the pub was a popular venue for the pilots at the aerodrome. The most notorious of them was ‘Heath the double murderer’. He was a loner who only drank milk! One afternoon he called Mr Starbuck from his rest to change his cheque. He spent the night at the Grand Hotel in Leicester changing another cheque. Both cheques bounced and were instrumental in his capture and conviction for murder.

The pub has had many alterations and improvements over the years with the most recent being the renovation of the 5 bedrooms.

This story will continue for many years to come.....

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