Five Bells, Church Street, Gillingham, Kent, 1978-9
The name of this pub goes back to before 1700 when the Parish Church opposite it had only 5 bells. The earliest landlord records seem to have survived for is Charles Dibberman in 1766 who seems to have died that year as his widow took it over in 1767-8 before Thomas White became the licensee in 1769. In the eighteenth century is seems to have been called the Five Bells and Cricketers and that name is echoed in 1901 when it is referred to as Ye Olde Five Bells and Cricket Player's Inn. These names suggest it may have been popular with cricket players after a game on the nearby green. It is also sometime incorrectly referred to as the old manor house. It was not the manor house but it is thought to be built on the site of the oldest houses in Gillingham. The confusion probably arises because the Manorial Court Leet used to meet there once the old manor house and court lodge were pulled down.When it was offered for sale in 1864 the advert said it had good stabling, a skittle ground and a large garden.
The Five Bells was said to have more than just liquid spirits inside: in the 1970s the landlord claimed that the resident ghost was always taking 10p and 50p coins which were left between opening hours. His only explanation for it not removing notes is that it was used to sovereigns and half sovereigns!
Sadly it is now closed down sometime before 2007 and was converted into flats.
Five Bells, Church Street, Gillingham, Kent, 1978-9
The name of this pub goes back to before 1700 when the Parish Church opposite it had only 5 bells. The earliest landlord records seem to have survived for is Charles Dibberman in 1766 who seems to have died that year as his widow took it over in 1767-8 before Thomas White became the licensee in 1769. In the eighteenth century is seems to have been called the Five Bells and Cricketers and that name is echoed in 1901 when it is referred to as Ye Olde Five Bells and Cricket Player's Inn. These names suggest it may have been popular with cricket players after a game on the nearby green. It is also sometime incorrectly referred to as the old manor house. It was not the manor house but it is thought to be built on the site of the oldest houses in Gillingham. The confusion probably arises because the Manorial Court Leet used to meet there once the old manor house and court lodge were pulled down.When it was offered for sale in 1864 the advert said it had good stabling, a skittle ground and a large garden.
The Five Bells was said to have more than just liquid spirits inside: in the 1970s the landlord claimed that the resident ghost was always taking 10p and 50p coins which were left between opening hours. His only explanation for it not removing notes is that it was used to sovereigns and half sovereigns!
Sadly it is now closed down sometime before 2007 and was converted into flats.