Six Bells pub
The Six Bells at 3 Beaumont Road in Headington Quarry was originally a private house and dates in part from 1782. It was a pub by the early nineteenth century, and was named after the six bells of St Andrew’s Church (its parish until 1849).
In December 1850 the Six Bells is named thus in the Headington Rate-Book and shown as being both owned and occupied by George Coppock, with a gross estimated rental of £10 10s. and a rateable value of £8.
The following appeared in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 8 September 1860:
A new license was granted to Mr. George Coppock, of the Six Bells beer-house, at Headington Quarry, in consequence of the great increase in the population of that neighbourhood, a recommendation having been signed by the principal inhabitants of Headington in favour of the applicant, and no opposition offered.
On 22 October 1870 Jackson's Oxford Journal reported that an excellent dinner was served at the Six Bells by George & Martha Coppock to mark the end of the cricket season, and that afterwards the young people danced to the strains of Headington string band on the village green
Auctions were held in the Six Bells during the nineteenth century. Here are some examples advertised in Jackson's Oxford Journal on the dates shown:
- 17 January 1857: A cottage and premises with front garden in the occupation of John Show
- 31 July 1869: 14 acres of barley, 10 of oats, 4 of wheat, 7 of beans, 1½ of rye, and one of vetches plus about 20 tons of meadow hay, the property of William Coppock, who was giving up a portion of his land
- 15 September 1883 (all under the Will of the late George Coppock): A row of four cottages known as Beaumont Terrace with large piece of garden ground, outbuildings, and a well, in the occupation of James Polley, John Coppock, and F. Coppock: a pair of cottages with outhouses and gardens in the occupation of John Kimber and Richard Coppock; a row of four cottages with large yard and outbuildings in the occupation of Alfred Elmes, John Coppock, and Jesse Grant; and four plots of eligible building land in Shotover parish fronting Old Road
- 25 June 1892: 11½ acres of mowing grass, with the after-feed, and about 3 acres of growing wheat, by direction of Joseph Haynes
- 25 June 1892: three brick-built and blue-slated houses occupied by W. Coppock, E. Hill, and J. Polly; a piece of valuable building land measuring 2 roods and 15 perches; a 4-acre grass field called “Spring Ground”; and a cottage in the occupation of Mrs Collins, including a piece of allotment ground on the Open Magdalen
- 11 March 1893: “A freehold plot of building land and stone quarry with extensive frontage to two new streets”, measuring just over one acre and the property of Richard Pether, the farmer at Wood Farm.
On 2 December 1899 Jackson's Oxford Journal advertised a sheep roasting in the grounds adjoining the Six Bells to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry, and G. H. Morrell, M.P. of Headington Hill Hall took part in the proceedings, which were followed by a supper for c.75 people.
The Six Bells was a free house in 1882 when Morrells Brewery (who had previously supplied the beer) bought it.
When Morrell’s Brewery closed in 1998 the Six Bells became a Greene King pub. In October 2018 it was taken over by new management but remained under Greene King.
At the beginning of 2024 the freehold of the Six Bells with vacant possession was put up for sale with Savills, with offers in the region of £795,000 + VAT. The Fusion Kitchen by Aziz Indian restaurant opened here on 16 April 2024, but had to move out again on 2 March 2025 when the pub was sold by Greene King.
In April 2025 the new Sikh owners of the Black Boy embarked on building work. The bar and kitchen are partially open.
Morris dancing at the Six Bells, Boxing Day 2007
Some landlords of the Six Bells pub (1850–1969) |
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By 1850–1891 |
George Coppock The 1851 census shows George Coppock (38) listed as the publican at the Six Bells. He is living with his wife Martha Ann (36) and his two children: Frederick (11) and George (6). They have a 13-year-old servant girl. The household is much the same in 1861, except that George is listed as a “Quarryman and Publican”. By 1871 George is described as a brick merchant, and the children have left home; in 1881 the pub is referred to simply as “The Bells”. In 1891 the beerhouse is referred to grandly as the “Six Bells Inn”, and George calls himself a “ Brick Merchant & Innkeeper”. George died at the pub on 19 August 1891 at the age of 78, and was buried at Holy Trinity churchyard on 22 August. |
1891–1904 |
Thomas Boulger The 1901 census shows Thomas N. Boulger, aged 52 and born in Ireland, described as “Inn Keeper” here. He was living with his Iffley-born wife Sarah (43) and their children Arthur (16), Reginald (14), Rose (14), and Marcelle (8). |
1906–1909 |
William Henry Jones |
1911–1921 |
William Kimber |
1921–1923 |
Albert Horwood The 1921 census shows Albert Horwood (48), described as working for the builders Benfield & Loxley, living at the Six Bells with his wife Alice, his son Raymond (20), who had been in the army and was now out of work, and his niece Ruby Horwood (12), plus a friend Charles Sampson (65), a widower who worked for a Quarry wheelwright and blacksmith Horwood died at the Six Bells at the age of 50 and was buried at Holy Trinity churchyard on 17 April 1923 |
1925 only |
William Henry Coppock |
1926–1929 |
Ernest Kislingbury |
1930–1955 |
William H. Phipps (by 1935–1938) Mrs M. J. Phipps (by 1943–1955) |
1956–1969 |
Maurice Prestidge |
