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The Lost Pubs of North Yorkshire / Boroughbridge / Kirby Hill

No. 34 of 36 in the 2010 compilation

Blue Bell Inn

Also known as Bluebell

An old coaching inn on the road between London and Scotland.

Tradingchecked 28 October 2026

Known history

The Langthorpe Loop guide calls the Blue Bell an old coaching inn that still has a cell in its grounds, where prisoners bound for York could be chained up overnight.

Source: Langthorpe Loop heritage walking guide

The guide also points out the nearby milestone, which it says marks the spot exactly halfway between the Scottish and English capitals. The milestone is listed by Historic England.

Sources: Langthorpe Loop heritage walking guide; Milestone approximately 10 metres south of Blue Bell public house, list entry 1315306

Baines's 1823 directory lists Grace Pickering, common brewer, maltster and victualler, at the Blue Bell. Bulmer's 1890 directory lists Francis Kirk, victualler and farmer.

Sources: Baines's Directory, 1823: Kirby Hill parish trades and professions; Bulmer's Directory, 1890: Kirby Hill parish trades and professions

Dates

WhatWhenConfidence
Grace Pickering, brewer and victualler1823DocumentedBaines's Directory, 1823: Kirby Hill parish trades and professions
Francis Kirk, victualler1890DocumentedBulmer's Directory, 1890: Kirby Hill parish trades and professions

Photographs

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Open questions

  • How old is the prisoners' cell?

Particulars

Address
Leeming Lane, Kirby Hill
Area
Kirby Hill
Historic parish
Kirby Hill (Kirkby-on-the-Moor)
Riding
North Riding
Kind of house
Coaching inn
Status
Trading pub with rooms.

Where

Leeming LaneWetherby RoadMinskip RoadBorough BridgeBridge StreetHall SquareHigh StreetAldborough GateSkelton RoadFishergateHorsefairChapel HillRiver UreRoecliffe LaneBoroughbridge RoadAldborough RoadNew RowSt. HelenaYork RoadChurch LaneMill LaneMoor LaneBar LaneMarket HillBrickyard RoadHarrogate RoadGrafton LaneHelperby LaneMain StreetFront StreetSt James SquareEllenthorpe LaneThorndikes LaneArkendale LaneScaldhill LaneBoroughbridgeLangthorpeMilbyKirby HillRoecliffeMinskipAldboroughThree Horse ShoesCrown HotelBlinking OwlThree GreyhoundsBlack Bull InnAnchor InnFox and HoundsGrantham ArmsShip InnWhite SwanBlue Bell Inn

Location: Verified from OpenStreetMap and Milestone approximately 10 metres south of Blue Bell public house. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Sources

Show 6 sources
  1. Langthorpe Loop heritage walking guide
    Boroughbridge Town Council
  2. Milestone approximately 10 metres south of Blue Bell public house, list entry 1315306
    Historic England
  3. Baines's Directory, 1823: Kirby Hill parish trades and professions
    GENUKI transcription
  4. Bulmer's Directory, 1890: Kirby Hill parish trades and professions
    GENUKI transcription
  5. Blue Bell Inn, Kirby Hill
    CAMRA WhatPub
  6. OpenStreetMap
    © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL

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