The Old Bell was a beerhouse that occupied the seventeenth-century stables adjacent to the later pub.

In 1930 the New Bell was built to resemble a country cottage with black ship’s timbers, and the postcard below shows it when it was new.

Its address was originally 40 [Old] High Street, but this was changed to No. 72 in c.1939.

By the time of the 1871 census Alfred Marlow (23), described as a gardener and licensed victualler, was living at The Bell with his wife Emma Ann Marlow (36) and their three-year old daughter Annie. Mrs Marlow died here on 8 March 1874, and Alfred Marlow died at the pub less than six weeks later on 19 April 1874. An inquest into each of their deaths was held at the pub, and the verdict in each case was “natural causes”. The household furniture and effects of Alfred and Emma Marlow were sold by auction on the pub premises on 12 May 1874.

By 1876 the landlord was Alfred's younger brother Walter Marlow, who was also a gardener. The 1881 census shows Walter (36), living at the pub with his wife Ann and their five children. He remained at the pub until 1893.

In 1894 the landlord was George Odey Stow. He died in 1898 at the age of 41, and in 1899 his widow Mrs Mary Jane Stow (née Cook) is listed as landlord.

In 1900 John Williams, who had married Mary Jane Stow in 1899, was listed as the landlord here, and at the time of the 1901 census when he was aged 36 he was described as a gardener & publican and lived at the Bell with his wife Mary. In 1911 he was a widower of 45, living at the pub with his stepson John Dobson Stow (22). He was still there in 1936.

The 1939 register shows Wilfred Stopps (born 21 November 1900), described as a licensed victualler and small milk roundsman, living here with his wife Dorothy.

In May 1994 planning permission was granted for a private house to be built beside the pub on the site of the old stables/beerhouse at 72A Old High Street (93/01214/NFH).

The Bell pub closed in 2000. In May 2001 planning permission was granted for a four-bedroomed house on the site of the pub itself a7 72 Old High Street (00/02170/NFH), and the pub was duly demolished in May 2002.