Bell Hotel, Thetford
| Bell Hotel | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Norfolk | |
| General information | |
| Location | Thetford, Breckland, Norfolk, England |
| Address | King Street Thetford Norfolk IP24 2AZ United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 52°24′51.14″N 0°44′47.91″E / 52.4142056°N 0.7466417°E |
| Opening | 1493 (First documented)[1] |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 46 en-suite bedrooms |
| Number of restaurants | 1 |
| Parking | Yes but limited |
| Website | |
| Hotel Website | |
Invalid designation | |
| Designated | 3 April 1951 |
| Reference no. | 1195935[2] |
The Bell Hotel is an AA[3] 3-star hotel in the English town of Thetford within the county of Norfolk.[4] The hotel has been a Grade II* listed building since 3 April 1951.[2]
Location
[edit]The hotel is located on the corner of King Street and Bridge Street in the centre of Thetford. The hotel is 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of Thetford railway station.[5] The hotel is 29.8 miles (48.0 km) south-west of the city of Norwich. The nearest airport is also at Norwich and that is 32.4 miles (52.1 km) north-east of the hotel.
History
[edit]Documentation shows that there has been an Inn on this site since 1493.[1] The premises served as a principal coaching inn on the London to Norwich mail coach route.[1] The two storey timber framed building which faces on to King street is the oldest part of the present building.[1] With the arrival of the railway connections to Thetford, Norwich and wider Norfolk the inn then was turned into a hotel. In the 17th century and 19th century further wings and extensions have been added with the west wing constructed in the late 20th century.[1] The hotel is reputedly haunted by the ghost of its 18th-century landlady Betty Radcliffe.[6] Actors associated with the BBC comedy show Dad's Army, stayed at the hotel when filming on location.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Norfolk Heritage Explorer Retrieved 19 January 2013
- ^ a b Building schedule Retrieved 19 January 2013
- ^ The hotels AA listing
- ^ OS Explorer Map 229 - Thetford Forest in The Brecks. ISBN 0319238032
- ^ County A to Z Atlas, Street & Road maps Norfolk, ISBN 978 1 84348 614 5
- ^ "THETFORD - BELL HOTEL". Norfolk Public Houses. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ "Famous for Dad's Army and Captain Mainwaring - Review of Bell Hotel, Thetford - Tripadvisor". www.tripadvisor.co.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2021.