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The Bluebell,
then and now.
This is one of the oldest pubs in Peterborough. The building is Grade 1 listed with parts dating back to an ancient 1598.
A stone built building constructed as a farmhouse in 1665, it remained so until 1806 when the owner John Bull died and left the property to John Cave. About 1810 he took out a six day License and it remains a public house to this day The Bluebell Pub.
From the Northampton Mercury 18 June 1808: Died: A few days ago, Mr John Bull, of Peterborough, formerly of Dogsthorpe.
1841 Census: A reference which may be the Blue Bell in the hamlet of Dogsthorpe, is Joseph Ewin 50, a brewer's man. A Joseph Ewin died in Peterborough in the first quarter of 1848.
I later found: John Cave, 65, independent means is also in Dogsthorpe, living with Mary Cave, 70, both born in Northants. If this is the same person he would have been 34 when he took out the licence.
I went back to the 1841 Census whilst looking into the cottage at 1 Welland Rd I found that by identifying the Baker and Blacksmith, I could identify the cottage, and so the Bluebell. Whose occupants were:
- William Appleby, 35, Farmer, born Northants.
- Elizabeth Appleby, 30, born Northants.
- John Hanger, 20, Butcher's Apprentice, not born in county.
- William Godfrey, 20, Ag lab, born Northants
- John Eldered, 15, Ag lab, born Northants.
- Elizabeth Sykes, 15, F S, born Northants. (F S seems to stand for servant).
The fact that there is a butcher's apprentice living there ties in with Richard Perkins being a butcher and publican 10 years later.
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From the 1847 Post Office Directory: Trades Diecrtory, Publicans, Bell, R Perkins, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough.
From the cutting below we learn Richard Perkins was a tennant at the pub in 1850 when it was sold.
1851 Census: Richard Perkins 34, butcher and publican in Dogsthorpe, with wife Ann and daughters Jane and Sarah. Also on the census is Elizabeth Harlock 21 (Ann's unmarried sister), a house servant; and Emmanuel Harris 25, a journeyman butcher.
In 1851 Luke Clarke is living in Dogsthorpe:
- Luke Clarke 50, is a Cattle Dealer born in Northborough Northants.
- Mary Ann 49, wife, born in Deeping Gate Northants.
1854 Post Office Directory: Luke Clarke is listed at the "Bell inn". Richard Perkins is listed as a butcher. I wonder how long the directory (full title "Post Office Directory of Berkshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire; with Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Huntingdonshire". [1854]) took to compile and whether perhaps Luke Clarke had the Bell Inn before Richard Perkins?
From Stamford Mercury Newspaper: DOGSTHORPE, near PETERBOROUGH. To SOLD by AUCTION, By Wm On Tuesday the day of July, 1859, the Bell Inn, Dogsthorpe.
1861 Census: Richard Perkins 44 Butcher and Innkeeper at the Blubell. Living with wife Ann and children Jane 17, Sarah Ann14, Richard Russel 10, Emily 7, and nephew Frederick 5.
In 1861 Luke Clarke is living in Dogsthorpe, but not at the Bell Inn:
- Luke Clarke 60, is a Cattle Dealer born in Northborough Northants.
- Mary Ann 60, wife, born in Deeping Gate Northants.
- Emily Norton 16, servant, born in Fulton Hunts.
In 1869 Richard Perkins is listed in the Post Office Directory as having the "Bell" but also as a butcher and farmer.
1871 census: Richard Perkins 54, Butcher and Publican, born in Yaxley.
Ann wife 56, born in Werrington.
4 adult children, Jane 27, born in Yaxley. Sarah A 24, Richard 20 a butcher, and Emily 17, all born in Dogsthorpe. Ann remains in Dogsthorpe and in the 1891 census she is a widow of 78, living in a "Village House" (most were "Village Cottage"). With her were son Richard 40, widower, and daughter Jane Canwell 47 widow, and 3 grand children Richard R Perkins 8, and John R Perkins 7, and Emily A Beards 15.
1877 Richard Perkins died. See also The Laurels.
1881 Census: the Inn Keeper was Harry Perkins (33) born in Whittlesea. His family consisted of wife Mary Ann and 2 young daughters Gertrude 3 years and Annie 2 years, they also had a servant Sarah Weathersgill who lived with them. I couldn't establish any family connection between Richard and Harry, perhaps it is a coincidence?
In 1886 the property was on lease to Elgoods Brewery who a few years later purchased the deeds.
1890 Kelly's Directory, Public Houses, Blue Bell, Robt. Asher Huddlestone, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough.
1891 Census: Robert A Huddlestone 41, is Publican, living with wife Fanny 41, and 2 sons William B 19, a farm labourer, and Fred 17, a railway labourer.
1899 7 Day Licence applied for by John Flint, who had been landlord for 3 1/2 years - application was refused.
1901 Census: the landlord was George Cooper (54), who lived there with his wife Emma (also 54), 2 daughters Ellen and Annie (15 yrs) and one son Ben. Ellen was 25 and a dressmaker, and Ben 17 was a railway clerk. However 2 years later Kellys Directory has Emma Cooper as the landlady.
Some more views of The Bluebell but I have doubts that the bottom right was taken in 1960. More views of the Bluebell.
1911 Census: the landlord was Thomas Brown who warrants a page of his own.
Steve Williams posted this in the Guest Book:
It has been suggested that the stone the pub was built of looks to be too good a quality for a mere farm house. Is it a coincidence that the Lady Chapel attached to the cathedral was demolished in 1660 and the stone sold off and the pub largely rebuilt at about the same time! Also the pannelling inside the 'snug' predates the 1660's building. Did it come from the cottages next door that were demolished in the 1920's to extend the pub? Steve Williams steve@pubhistorysociety.co.uk
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from John Crunkhorns Memories of Dogsthorpe:
"The Blue Bell Inn was and still is the centre of the village. It bears a date stone of 1669 and is said to be the oldest hostelry in the vicinity. It was renovated and extended on the western end about 1922/23 and during this restoration some fine wooden panelling was found bearing an inscription ER36 AN DO 1594. This suggests the panels were salvaged from an earlier house or that parts of the inn are considerably older than the date stone suggests.
A room at the rear of the premises was used as the local mortuary and my Grandmother and her friend Mrs Jinks used to do the local "layout" of bodies for the village, using pennies on the eyelids to ensure the eyes were closed."
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From the information in the cutting above I found George Tucker in the 1911 census, a police constable in Nottingham, both he and Minnie were born in Peterborough in 1879 and 1880 respectively.
I then found him in Kelly's Directories, from 1912 to 1916 at 94 Rothesay Avenue, the same address as the 1911 Census, and from 1920 to 1925 at 101 Port Arthur Road, still working as a Policeman.
A search of the 1930 Telephone Directory for Peterborough showed nothing under Blue Bell or George Tucker.
Minnie Malvina proved a much easier search than George, and I found she died less than a year after their silver wedding.
Probate Notice: Tucker Minnie Malvina of Blue Bell Inn Dogsthorpe Peterborough (wife of George Tucker) died 17 May 1935 Administration Peterborough 12 June to said George Tucker innkeeper. Effects £217 0s 8d.
Bringing the list of Landlords more up to date a Mr Eric H Bailey is listed in the 1975 Phone Book, and Steve and Penny Williams were in charge in the 1980s.
If anyone can add to the list do let me know.
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