A history of the Five Bells, Riseley.

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Owing to the poor communications across northern Bedfordshire it had become necessary to upgrade the main thoroughfare through the village of Riseley. In May 1802 an Act of Parliament created the turnpike road a fact commemorated 200 years to the day later by the blue plaque mounted on one of the High Street’s ancient cottages.

A major reason for improving or “amending” the highway at the time was to improve the flow of passing commercial traffic to supply a steady source of trade for the village’s coaching-houses. The ‘Five Bells’ was on such ‘station’ and still today horse rings can be found on the premises that prove it was an important and busy transit stop.

The Classic Strassendorf

Riseley is a classic ‘Strassendorf’ or street-village – as opposed to a ‘rundling’ or round village build around a central common or green. As such it was important that the properties and businesses on the High Street present a cordial and welcoming image to passing trade. Today the grandiose façade is proof that over the centuries, the Five Bells continued to be a prominent village feature.

From a Farmhouse to an Inn

Although not operating as full time inns, many houses and farms would offer services of food and rest to travellers and prior to 1810, the Five Bells was simply listed as a farmhouse. Soon after that date however, it became known as the ‘Five Bells Inn’ implying that it was becoming more widely used as a coaching inn.

A document in County Hall archives identifies the Five Bells in a sale of Properties by auction in Ampthill on 15 th June 1858. Lot number 20 notes The Five Bells as a freehold inn and gives details of the accommodation available, the grounds and importantly, the land tax.

Becoming the building we know today

At the time of the sale the property was occupied by a Thomas Peasnell, however an earlier census of 1851 shows a Joseph Peasnell as the tenant. While the building was being used as an inn at the time, Joseph is noted as a farmer with 90 acres. In 1861, however, the occupier is shown as Thomas A Peasnell, with the profession of innkeeper and tailor. It can therefore be assumed that it was Joseph Peasnell who developed and extended the Five Bells into the building we see today.

The extension to the front of the original Five Bells was carried out in 1866 and is typical of the time. The symmetry and balance of lintels and windows, the grey coping-brick corners and the detail on the chimneystack are perfect examples of mid Victorian architecture. The ‘1866 CD’ mason’s mark can still be seen and shows that the grand and elegant facade is probably the work of builder Charles Dickins.

Home of the Odd Fellows

For a while the Five Bells was a Wells and Winch house before being taken over by Greene King. At one time the Bells was the meeting place for one of the friendly societies connected with the village, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. This organisation was an important part of village life in the late 19 th century and the early 20 th century. Providing insurance for workingmen, their function was to offer income in the event of sickness or accident and to help with the cost of medical and dental care.

For many years an annual fair was held in Riseley on the village green and in the grass area in front of the Five Bells. In its heyday it was a huge annual event and included steam powered merry-go-rounds, sideshows and stalls. The fair remained popular leading up to the First World War when it ceased.

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The Six Bells?

Named after the number of bells in the village church tower, when in the 1980’s a sixth bell was added, there was much discussion as to whether or not to change the name. History prevailed and so it remained the Five Bells until closing in December 2008.