The Eight Bells is a delightful honey coloured 13th century Cotswold stone inn with a cobbled courtyard. The pub sign is of interest. It has eight bells in descending order of size across the top of the bracket. A conventional inn sign hangs below the eight bells.
The reference to H. Gardner & Sons in 1891 probably should be Lardner & Sons of Little Compton, whose brewery was acquired in 1898 by Hitchman & Co. Ltd. of Chipping Norton.
It seems that the tied estate of Lardner’s Compton Stream Brewery was sold piecemeal, as Flowers & Sons of Stratford on Avon owned the Eight Bells in 1903.
The Eight Bells is now renowned for its food.
https://www.eightbellsinn.co.uk
This page will be updated with additional information.
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: ‘H.Gardner & Sons’ (probably meant to be Lardner & Sons, Little Compton)
Rateable value in 1891: £15.3s.4d.
Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Flowers & Sons, Stratford on Avon
Rateable value in 1903: £15.3s.4d.
Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse
Closing time in 1903: 11pm
Landlords at the Eight Bells include:
1856,1858 Richard Andrews
1885 George Freeman
1891 George Freeman
1902,1906 James John Gladwin
1910 Millicent Gladwin
1919 Thomas A. Harris
1921-1953 James Sadler, followed by his son Samuel.
2002 Neil Hargreaves
