The Bluebell Pub, Hempstead, Essex. - Pictorial Pub Signs on Waymarking.com

The Bluebell Inn is a C17th timber framed and plastered building of L-shaped plan, the L formed by a gabled wing at the south end, the left when looking from the road. It is now a Grade II listed structure and has been called used to be variously called the Bell and Crown, Rose and Crown, Crown, and Bell. The painted sign is placed at the edge of the property boundary at the southern end of the car park.

The inn was considerably altered in the C18th and later, of two storeys it has a three window range, the upper storey having double-hung sashes with glazing bars. The ground floor has 3-light windows with narrow side lights. The roof of the main block is slate, with a central square chimney stack and a north end gable stack. The roof of the north-west wing is tiled. There are exposed ceiling beams in the interior.

The inn is associated with the notorious C18th highwayman, Dick Turpin, who was born in the village, probably here at the inn, when his father was proprietor. There is a plaque on the end of the cross wing giving this information and the year 1705 whilst the inn contains copies of the parish register recording his baptism. It was a letter addressed to the Rose and Crown when he was arrested in York under an assumed name which led to his conviction and execution there in 1739.

Date of first pub on site: circa 1650 Name of Artist: Not listed Date of current sign: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
To log a visit, a photograph of yourself or your GPSr by the pub sign is required. Some description of your visit would be welcome.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.