Name: The Top Bell Inn
Address: Barton Gate, Barton-under-Needwood
The Bell Inn, or Top Bell (to avoid confusion with its namesake on Main Street) has been open since the early 1800's and sits at Barton Gate at the Junction of Forest Road and the B5016 to Yoxall. Its slightly remote location probably led to reduced trade as a pub, particularly in more recent times but in the 1800's there were several Blacksmiths plying their trade at that location, which would undoubtedly have led to a significant passing trade.
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| 1900 Map of Barton Gate |
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| 1841 Census |
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1842 Pigot's Directory of Staffordshire |
By 1851 William Turner was keeping the Bell Inn and whilst on the census of that year he is only listed as a farm labourer the corresponding White's trade directory confirms he was also a beer house keeper. This part of Barton was actually known as "Forest Gate" in the mid-1860's.
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| 1851 White's Trade Directory |
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| 1851 Census |
George Moore was the landlord at the time of the 1861 census but a namesake also appeared on the 1842 Pigot's Directory of Staffordshire as a beer retailer in Barton (shown above). Research confirms this George Moore was running the Robin Hood further down Main Street at the time...his relation to this George is not known but "George Moore" appears to be the most popular beer house keeper's name in Barton as another George Moore also ran the Middle Bell in the centre of the village for a number of years in the mid-1800's!
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| 1861 Census |
George Moore died on 20th July 1869 as the probate record below confirms. By this time Thomas Ottey had taken over running the Top Bell with wife Mary.
George and Mary Ottey lived in nearby Dunstall prior to taking over the Bell Inn. George was originally a "Cordwainer" (shoe maker) by trade and Mary a dressmaker. By the time of the 1871 census George had only recently passed away on 13th Jan 1871; Mary then continued to run the Inn until 1876.
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| 1871 Census |
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| 1881 Census |
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| 1886 Probate for Elizabeth Shilton |
After Elizabeth's death in 1886 her daughter Charlotte continued to run the business alone until she married John Bradbury Locker in early 1888. After they married Charlotte transferred the license to John as shown by the press cutting below: -
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| Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal 07 September 1888 |
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| 1891 Census |
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| 1898 Probate John Bradbury Locker |
John Locker died in 1898 and Charlotte was left once more to run the Inn on her own, something she did until her death in 1922.
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| 1900 Kelly's Directory |
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| 1901 Census |
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| 1911 Census |
From Charlotte's probate below she had clearly run a successful business at the Bell, as her effects would be worth about £75,000 in today's money. She had lived at the Inn for over 40 years.
Tragically, her daughter Cecelia also died the same year, just 28 years of age and given the year it's entirely likely that they caught the deadly influenza pandemic that came back with soldier's from the Western Front following WW1, nicknamed the "Spanish Flu".
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| 1922 Probate Charlotte Locker |
Landlord rings time at the Bell
By Burton Mail | Posted: February 16, 2002
A Landlord who transformed his village pub into one of the area's best blues venues is stepping down after 16 years behind the bar. Kevin Braithwaite is preparing to say goodbye to life at the Top Bell in Barton Under Needwood after taking on the pub in 1986. He gave up life as an engineer to run the pub and is now going on to be an events organiser for a community association in Derby.
He said: "When I was working for Rolls-Royce I just had a dream of running a country pub with flowers on the outside and I have always liked a pint so I it is just something I thought about doing. Once you are on the other side of the bar it is totally different, it is a lot of hard work but still very enjoyable."
Mr Braithwaite, 58, runs the pub with his wife, Margaret, with the help of their son, Guy. The venue has regularly been included in the CAMRA Good Pub guide and has attracted musicians and singers from across the world over the past 16 years.
"Sunday night was always a quiet night so I got a piano and stuck it in the corner and we had pianists in. Sunday has just snowballed from there to two, three and now four nights a week. We have had all sorts of styles of music here but when I heard the blues bands I thought it was the right for the pub, it is a very atmospheric sound. After we had a band called The Producers here to perform lots of bands and agents were phoning me up to ask if they could play."
Mr Braithwaite (pictured) said his music nights attracted revellers from as far afield as Scotland, Dagenham and Liverpool.
"The best musician I have had to play here was probably Jimmy Mullens, who has been voted best guitarist by a couple of magazines but overall I have just been impressed with the standard of musicianship.
"I have been amazed how many really talented groups there are out that don’t get any recognition."
The last week of live music in the pub will feature regular favourites Blues Move On Thursday February 21 and Andy Gunn and Glass Hammer on Friday night.
On Saturday, February 23, a farewell concert takes place with Trevor Burton of the Move, Mick Strode from Duke La Rue, Lewis Docksey from the Rhythm and Blues Band and Mr Braithwaite’s son, Guy, playing bass guitar.
Read more at www.burtonmail.co.uk
Whilst no longer a tavern the Top Bell is still open as a restaurant, the Little India on the westerly edge of the village.
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| Little India @ The Top Bell |
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