6 St John Street

▪ Grade II listed former (Blue) Bell Inn

▪ It was built in the (mid?) 18th century

▪ The inn closed by 1881

▪ It was then a bank for almost 140 years

▪ It was a Barclays branch for more than 100 years

▪ Since 2022 has been a series of hotel/bar/restaurants

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Number6, the former Bell Inn or Blue Bell Inn, is on the south side of the streettowards its western end next to the Green Man andBlack’s Head Royal Hotel. Note that the building has in the past had the address 8 St John St.

The Building

The Grade II listed building is 18^th century and it is red brick with moulded eaves cornice and an old tiled roof. It has three storeys with three windows on the first and second floors with plain lintels and sills, and sashes with glazing bars. The ground floor appearance is probably 19^th century after the building became a bank.

The History of its Occupation and Use

The earliest reference thus far found to the Bell is dated 1727 (Ashburne Signs,Ancient and Modern by Rev. Francis Jourdain, 1878-98). From 1801-76, it had various proprietors with the most long-standing being John Downs/Downes (c1800-27), John Cooper followed by his wife Ann (1831-46) and Jospeh Tomlinson (1847-56). The proprietorship of John Downs/Downes came to an end when he“accidentally fell into a copper of boiling beer” (Derby Mercury - Wednesday 14March 1827_p3).

In common with many inns/taverns/public houses, the (Blue) Bell was involved in auctions of property etc. (see advertisement below left when John Downs was the proprietor and the name of the inn was given as the Bell) and events such the town annual ball (see advertisement below right when the Coopers were the proprietors and the name of the inn was given as the Blue Bell Commercial Inn).

Joseph Tomlinson announced his arrival at the Bell Inn (1847) and departure (1856) to the Horse & Jockey Inn in the Derby Mercury (see advertisements below).

From 1857-76 there was a series of different landlords (6 in total), none of whom stayed very long, suggesting that business was not going well.

By 1881, the inn had closed and a bank opened in its place and initially it was a branch of The Birmingham, Dudley & District Banking Company Limited. This later became, the Birmingham District & Counties Banking Company Limited (1889), then the United Counties Bank Limited (1907) and finally Barclay & Company Limited/BarclaysBank Limited (1916/17).

These banks acted as bankers for the Ashbourne Building Society (see 1891 advertisement below when the Birmingham District & Counties Banking Company Limited wereacting for it).

After the Ashbourne branch of Barclays Bank closed in 2019, it was replaced by the Vault restaurant and boutique hotel which opened in 2022. This did not last long and was followed by The Machine Inn hotel and restaurant-bar which opened in 2023. The Machine Inn subsequently relocated to another old bank building, at 1 Church St, and the building is now occupied by Blarney’s bar and restaurant.

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