The Bell shortly after Mr. Moore added Castle House on the right. To the left of the main entrance is the western range which he built in the 1890's. The centre section was the original Bell Inn. This photograph could have been taken in 1911 when Edward VII died, The flag flies at half Mast.
The Bell in 1919. The western range is not shown and the former Castle House on the right is now covered with greenery. When he aquired Castle House Mr. Moore made a number of alterations to the building including putting in new windows, refurbishing the old front door and putting up a new chimney stack inscribed "JM 1908".
Joseph commonly known as Joe, Moore, who leased and later owned the Bell for many years, was a leading figure in the town. He was born here in 1858, his father being the innkeeper before him, and only retired in 1930. It was he who made the Bell a leading hotel in the town, adding a western range in the 1890's and incorporating Castle House on the east in 1907-8. The inn became the head quarters of the Badminton Hunt, and here also was a temple of the Masonic Order. Mr. Moore, who was twice mayor of the town, was a member of the town council almost from the beginning of its incorporation, and he was the last mayor to be given a mayoral banquet. Whilst mayor he restored the Market Cross. Like his grandfather before him, he was Quarter Master of the Royal Wilts Infantry.
The will of James Ody made a few days before his death in April 1801, in which he described himself as 'mealman and innkeeper'.
In 1798 he took out a lease of the house 'formerly called The Castle and now The Bell Inn', together with the adjoining tenement occupied by his mother, the widow of the previous lesse. James died comparatively youn, leaving everything to his wife Sarah, and she subsequently married George Amos who in turn became lessee. His mothers house was later described as being part of the inn.
The name of the inn has changed from time to time. It was The Castle until the end of the eighteenth century when it became The Bell. At the beginning of this century it was Ye Olde Belle, well known for its wines and spirits and home brewed beer, but later became once again The Bell or The Old Bell. The earlier name of the inn was given because the 12th century castle probably stood on the site.
'The will of George Amos who leased the Bell Inn from 1811 to 1851, leaving his stepson, William Ody, his dwelling house with garden and appurtenances thereto belonging wherein I now reside called or known by the name and sign of The Old Bell together with household goods and furniture'. He was obviously a man of substance because he left other property to William, including two house in the Horsefair in Malmesbury and a mill house in Garsdon a nearby village.
William is described as a son in law, an old term meaning stepson. George married Sarah Ody, widow of James a former lessee.
A lease of 20 August 1703. Lord Wharton to Robert Boulton the elder, maltster, a house 'commonly known by the name The Castle'. This is the centre part of the present inn, known as The Castle and later as The Bell. With it is a garden and a piece of land, and all are part of the late dissolved monastery'.
The Boulton family leased the property from at least 1689 until 1743. In their later years they assigned the lease to others and failed to repair the premises.
