Within the pleasant rolling county of Northamptonshire (the county of squires and spires) lies the historic settlement of Finedon. Down an ancient lane is the Bell Inn, a hostelry steeped in history with a reputation for a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Nobody knows how old The Bell is. The present building is of various dates, with its impressive ornamental frontage being put up in 1872. An ancient stone bearing the date 1598 is set into one wall. Some say the inn dates from Saxon times.

In his book "The English Inn", Thomas Burke states "So old an institution is the inn that although half a dozen existing inns make individual claim to being the oldest in England, each of these began so far back that none of them can produce records that prove its claim." Burke goes on to list the ancient inns of England, and places The Bell as the third oldest with the date 1042.

The first record of Finedon is that in the Doomsday Book of 1086 where Finedon is recorded as Tingdene and is in the ownership of Queen Edith, widowed wife of Edward the Confessor who came to the throne in 1042 and died in 1066. There is little doubt however that the village has Saxon Origins.

Interestingly in his book "Recollections", Mr Joseph Harlock speaks of an old painting of Queen Edith which used to hang in The Bell. This was an old carved and coloured plaque, which according to the oldest memories hung inside The Bell from time immemorial. Beneath it was the couplet:-

"Queen Edith, Lady once of Finedon,

Where at the Bell good fare is dined on."

This old Plaque has long since disappeared, some say in a most dubious and mysterious fashion, round about the time of Miss Mackworth-Dolben's Death.

If the first Bell Inn was erected in Finedon in 1042, it would almost certainly have been the usual Saxon structure of timber walls and a reed thatched roof. The walls were usually filled with clay or plaster. In the middle of the roof there would be a hole or vent which served as a chimney and as ventilation. Any windows would be high up and filled with open lattice work on tough linen. Such a place would be draughty and badly lighted, and, in winter, it would be heated by a fire upon a rough hearth of stones in the middle of the room.

The Saxons were great eaters and drinkers. They had four meals a day and as many extra feasts as they could find excuses for. Thus one can imagine the rooms of the Bell ringing with laughter and jollity of these men of bygone days.

Since those ancient days the Bell Inn has undoubtedly undergone many transformations and re-buildings which are now difficult to trace. Joseph Harlock says in his book that in 1830 the Bell was a farmhouse but it was an inn, to.

Today the Bell appears much as it did when it was reconstructed under the authority of Mr Mackworth-Dolben, as the last squire of Finedon, in 1872. It is said, by the way, that he met his death through catching a chill in November of that year as he superintended the building operations.

The traditional ironstone building is ornamented with contrasting stonework of scrolls, figures and other carvings. The date 1872 with the Mackworth-Dolben arms, are cut in bold relief, thereby annulling certain accusations of an attempted deception. The name of Edith and the date 1042 appear in conjunction without comment. The highest window corbels are sculptured to the represent Edward the Confessor and Queen Edith. Those below are in the shape of two hounds. The carvings on the brackets of the oriel window over the porch are the words "Tingdene Hostelrie". Another reminder of the Bell's ancient origins.

The General effect, Particularly now that the ironstone has weathered and mellowed is at once dignified and distinguished, making the Bell one of Finedon's most significant buildings, and is now "listed" as being of architectural and historic interest in recognition of its importance.

By the way, there still remains a cellar which was walled up, nobody knows how many years ago, but due to the thickness of the walls, it cannot be found. What's behind the walls? nobody knows.

Today the Bell still rings with cheerful voices as people enjoy a drink in the well-appointed and comfortable  bars or relax over a fine lunchtime meal in the dining room. There is a notable collection of Antique bottles on display, Many from Finedon itself, giving the Bell further links with the history of this ancient settlement.