Page 21 - Frittenden Parish Mag - June - 2021

Bell & Jorrocks Bell & Jorrocks

Our pub history: We have completed our 15years Lease, watching
our children grow up in Frittenden has been a
great start to their lives, celebrating 16th, 18th,
1700 to Croucher 21st, 40th and 50th Birthdays and of course our
Wedding. We have had the privilege of hosting
many of your happy occasions and celebrations
of life of those we have loved and lost.
The earliest documented listing of the building 1880 saw the divide
is in 1741, but the building itself seems to date between the Pub, the We are looking forward to welcoming you on
back to the early decades of the 18th Century stables and the shop next all back to the B&J after a socially tough year
to the pub. After the closure of the Frittenden due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, March 2020
The site today consists of the pub and the shop, - May 2021.
whereas originally it would only have been the Provident Society in 1939, the bell went on
to be consistently used as a meeting place for
Pub, it’s outbuildings of stables and orchards. many of the village’s clubs and social groups, In 1967, Fremlins was taken over by the brewers We will still have a few restrictions in place when
The first owners of the then named “Bleu Bell” Whitbread , and after 65 years as licensee of The you return which are legally binding.
was the Lepper family, Moses, Mary, John as it was conveniently placed right in the heart Bell, Dive Bearsby retired. It was at this point
of the village. Everything from dance lessons,
and Thomas, with John Paine as the tenant. bowls club meetings and political meetings were that plans were made to combine both The Bell 1. Check in on a QR Code or Manually with
Throughout the late 1700s and early 1800s, the and the John Jorrocks pubs. The John Jorrocks a member of Staff, this applies to every
tenancy changed hands repeatedly between held at the Bell. It is even recorded that Vestry was closed, and the Bell was renamed The Bell single customer who wishes to be served.
meetings, commenced in the Church would
local stable keepers, yeomen and brewers from adjourn to the Bell to complete business. & Jorrocks under the tenancy of Phil Oliver, the 2. When moving around inside, you must
the local area until in 1821 it was taken over former tenant of the Jorrocks. wear a mask, no exceptions!
by Samuel Shepherd, of the Shepherd Neame In 1963 both the village pubs; The Bell and the During the 1971 Postal Strike the Bell & Jorrocks 3. Table Service only
dynasty who held the lease until the mid 1800s John Jorrocks were photographed, showing to be became the site of the post box for a private 4. Tables of 6 or 2 Households
until his death. Fremlin brewer’s pubs.
postal service that was set up in the village. 5. Please show respect to our Staff &
In Shepherd’s will, the Bell was to be auctioned 1964 saw an interesting and important day as the The post service distributed local, national Customers
off, once again owned by several individuals Toucan Club, run by Bob Coram (better known and international mail during the strike. This
ranging from carpenters to farmers until another as the cartoonist Maroc) along with others is a position the pub now holds today after the We hope you like the NEW look of our village
large brewer came on the scene in 1863 and the lobbied for draught Guinness to be available at closure of the village post office in 2007, as the pub and that we can all enjoy it for many more
Bell was leased for 21 years to John Brenchley The Bell, a feat which was ultimately successful! pub became the first of its kind in the country to years to come, creating new memories, enjoying
and Edwin and John Stacey of Maidstone. also provide the service of village our NEW Beer selection from around Europe,
post office. soaked up with a few tasty bar snacks!!
Another notable historical fact connected to the Kitchen opening times
Bell & Jorrocks was when in 1983 it became the Wed - Sat 12 - 2.30pm
proud owner of a significant village artefact – a Wed - Sat 6.30 - 8.30pm
propeller blade from the German Heinkel plane Sun 12 - 3.30pm
that was shot down just outside the village, in We will continue to operate our takeaway menu
1940. The propeller still hangs in the pub today, during these times.
along with a dramatic painting of the event.
In 1986 the tenancy was taken over by Brian and Stable Stores
Nikki Holloway. The pub had been their tenancy
since then until 2006 when Sean and Rosie Providing Fresh Bread, Dairy, Fruit, Vegetables,
Croucher took over to continue the provision Butchery and a well stocked store cupboard.
of beer, food and a social centre to the village of Open Mon - Sat 8.30 - 3pm
Frittenden, into a fourth Century.

20 Frittenden Parish Magazine June 2021 Frittenden Parish Magazine June 2021 21