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1 Seabrook Road
Hythe
01303 396893
http://www.bellinnhythe.co.uk/
https://whatpub.com/bell
Above photo, circa 1923, kindly sent by Michael Mirams. Said on the
back "Noted Port House - Dock Glasses" Whatever that means. |
Above postcard, date unknown. |
Above photo, date unknown. |
Above sign 1990.
With thanks from Brian Curtis
www.innsignsociety.com. |
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Picture of Whitbread sign.
 
Above card issued March 1955. Sign series 4 number 4. |
The above sign, wasn't actually designed and released by Whitbread, but has
been designed by Robert Greenham in the same style as the card sets they
distributed as a representation of what the sign looked like. Robert
says:- This was based on the image which appeared on Whitbread's metal
map for East Kent which was painted by D. W. Burley in 1950, on
commission from Whitbread. |
The above metal map, kindly sent by Robert Greenham was released, in
1950 and painted by D. W. Burley, and was titled Inn-Signia of Whitbread
Houses in East Kent, Whitbread & Co Ltd. The Inn Signs designed by:- M.
C. Balston, Vena Chalker, Kathleen M Claxton, K. M. Doyle, Ralph Ellis,
Marjorie Hutton, Harvey James, Prudence Rae-Martin, Violet Rutter, L.
Toynbee and Kit Watson.
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Above matchbox, date unknown, kindly sent by Debi Birkin. |
The "Bell Inn" is believed to be the oldest in the town, and was probably
the ancient harbour pub when Hythe was a flourishing port. The inn has
smuggling connections; beneath the floor is a tunnel close to a millstream,
a convenient hiding-place for contraband. A hook in the attic once held a
hoist for swift removal of smuggled goods after the departure of curious
Revenue Officers. Parts of the building go back to the 15th century.
I have also seen reference to a "Bell" in Newington, almost 3 miles apart,
which I at first thought was a completely different pub. However, Peter
Chamberlain kindly pointed out a map in "The Last Days of Hythe Harbour" by
Maurice Young, showing that the b |