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1832 The last Will and Testament of Mary Pass, a spinster of Whittington, was dated 4^th August 1832. Miss Pass left her property described as a “Dwelling House”, to her great nephew, Abraham Pass. The executors of her will, were William Walter Shuker, Gentleman, and Abraham Robinson, a Blacksmith, both were of Whittington. Deeds in the possession of Ind Coope breweries, do not show how Mary Pass acquired the property, or show the date of her death.  However, Mary was buried on 1st October 1832 at St. Giles Church, Whittington, Staffordshire.

1833 The Will of Mary Pass was proved at Lichfield on 13^th May 1833, and probate was granted to William Walter Shuker, and Abraham Robinson, the executors.

1834 White's trade directory shows that John Pass was a “Shopkeeper and Beer-house”, keeper.

1844 John's son, Abraham Pass, on 1^st May purchased two houses adjoining the one he owned, from Nathaniel Pass, a Yeoman, of Rugeley, Staffs. Abraham Pass and Nathaniel Pass were second cousins.

1850 The Post Office Directory shows John Pass as landlord and shopkeeper.

1851 White’s trade directory shows John Pass as the landlord and shopkeeper.

1854 The properties had now been joined together, and were now first known as “The Bell Inn”. This was the first mention of the premises being licensed.

1860 The “Bell Inn” is still in the hands of John Pass.

1869 Abraham Pass, married Miss Jane Brookes of Tixall near Stafford on the 7^th April 1869.

1870 Trade directories now show John Bridgen as the Landlord, of “The Bell Inn”, and also grocer, bricklayer and Victualler.

1871  The census shows:

John Bridgen, age 42, Licensed Victualler, born Whittington

Mary E Bridgen, age 32, wife, born Whittington

Sarah A Syenswas(?), general servant, age 12 (?), born Longdon

1872 The “Bell Inn” is still in the hands of John Bridgen.

1874 Abraham Pass, now living in another pub, “The Prince of Wales”, in Rugeley, by his Will dated 14^th September 1874, appointed his son Henry John Pass, and his friend, William Alfred Thomas, a Bricklayer of Whittington, as his executors. Abraham left his wife Jane, an annuity of £10 per annum for the remainder of her life, and directed that his property in Whittington, be sold after her death, and the proceeds shared equally between his four sons. His eldest son, John, was to have the opportunity to purchase the property, at a fair price, (if he wished to do so), and the money shared between the four sons.

1880 Abraham Pass is shown as the landlord.

1881 In the census for this year, Abraham Pass, aged 64, lived with his wife Jane, aged 69, and son “Dennis” whom we believe to be a mistranscription of “Hennis Arms Pass” age 21, an “Inn Servant” at “The Bell Inn”.  There were also two servants, Charlotte Brown, and Arthur Hunt.

1885 Hennis Arms Pass and Isabella baptised their daughter Cicely Louisa on 23^rd Sep 1885, at St Giles, Whittington; he did not state his occupation at that time.

1888 Abraham Pass died on the 29^th March 1888, and his personal estate and rents and profits from the real estate would not cover the debts he had, a further sum of £625 being required, so the property was mortgaged to Lichfield Brewery for that amount.

1897 Hennis Armes Pass had married Isabella Wheelton, of Fisherwick; date of the marriage is not known but probably before 1885.  Her father, Thomas Wheelton, gave to Hennis Armes Pass, two cottages near to, “The Bell Inn”, Whittington. The deed of gift is dated 12^th  February 1897.

1897 Hennis Arms Pass and his wife Isabella baptised Elsie May Pass, 22^nd Mar 1897, and Hennis gave his occupation as Publican, and his abode, Whittington.

1898 The property was sold to Lichfield Brewery Co Ltd by Abraham’s four sons on 9^th February 1898.  His four sons are described in the conveyance as, Henry John, a butcher of  Fazeley, Herbert Charles, a Coal-merchant, of Bridgenorth, Horace Alfred, a Barber, of Rochester State, New York, U.S.A. and Hennis Armes Pass, an Innkeeper of Whittington.

The Bell in the early years of 20th century

1900 Trade directories show Hennis Armes Pass as the landlord of “The Bell Inn”, he also baptised another child Ronald Baden on 8^th April 1900.

1904 Trade directories show Hennis Armes Pass as the landlord of “The Bell Inn”.

1912 Trade directories show Hennis Armes Pass as the landlord of “The Bell Inn”.

1916 Hennis Armes Pass, died on 2^nd  July 1916, and left the two cottages to his wife Isabella Pass.

1920 Isabella Pass sold her cottages to Lichfield Brewery Co Ltd, on 18^th August 1920.

1921 Trade directories show William George Burgess as the landlord of “The Bell Inn”.

1924 Electoral rolls show the “Bell Inn” had William Fairfax Russell as a resident.  He and his wife, Georgina Sarah, baptised their daughter “Faxina Sarah Christabel”, her first name is a composite of the last letters of her father’s middle name and the last letters of her mothers’ first name.

1932 Mrs Sarah Ann Burgess is shown in 1932 Kelly’s Directory as being the landlady of the “Bell Inn”.

1936 Trade directories show Captain Samuel Bradbury as the landlord of “The Bell Inn”.  Also living there were his wife Edith, and their children, Edgar Rockley Bradbury, and Esme Elvira Bradbury.

1940 Trade directories show Samuel Bradbury was still the landlord of “The Bell Inn”.

1944 Parish magazine of this year shows that “The Bell Inn” was the headquarters of the “Loyal Peel’s Pride Lodge of the Oddfellows M.U.” the secretary was Mr T O’Brien, of Church Street. This was a medical insurance scheme before the National Health scheme came into being.

Late 1940s Eddie Boards remembers his rather Bert (Herbert Stanley) Boards took over the pub in the late forties.  Eddie was the second son of Bert and Margaret (known as Peggy); he had two brothers Harold and Arthur.  Eddie remembers:

My father ...  worked as a sales engineer for a manufacturer of spray equipment used mainly in the motor industry (Bullows). About the time of taking over the pub he changed employment and worked in the same industry for Aerospray at Aston. He eventually became part owner of the company.

It was not unusual to see as many as 7 or 8 Midland Red buses in the car park on a Saturday night. My father would organise the trips for the workers at the factory, they would bring their friends along for a night out. As you would appreciate, Birmingham like many larger cities had been devastated by the bombing so this was a welcome relief for many. I recall many a sleepless night due to the loud music (Piano) from downstairs but they were fun times.

The dining room was once part of the living quarters and in the kitchen was a large Rayburn stove which only went out when cleaning was required. Upstairs there was a large room with a full sized snooker table, this was the focus of activity on Sundays. Darts were played in the room that fronted the pub on the car park side. The "snug" was the small room full of brass fittings and secret window blinds. Two stories about those blinds, 1) They were closed when poachers brought their catches in for sale, 2) they were shut after closing time so the local constabulary could not see after hours drinkers.

The army barracks played a big part in the life of the Bell. When we were there my father would put on special beer prices and occasionally a pig would be roasted in the back courtyard. When I last visited the Bell (about 1992?) the rear of the pub had been transformed into a beer garden. In our time it was very domestic with pigs and hens etc.

The piano was very much a focal point in the life of the Bell at that time. I think it was an army person that come down from the barracks and played endlessly for beer. I also remember an army sergeant who would kill the chickens at Christmas time. Somewhere out the back of the pub was a large boiler which was used for preparing food for the pigs and chickens, I remember the smell more than anything else; funny it was a fond memory, perhaps empty stomach.

1959 Lichfield Brewery Co Ltd changed its name to Ind Coope (North East) Ltd, on 6^th August 1959; the property was conveyed to Ind Coope (East Midlands) Ltd on 28^th August 1959.

1960 Or thereabouts, George Cork was the landlord of “The Bell Inn”.

1969 Arthur Brough and wife, Doris, were the landlords for a number of years.

1976 Ronald and Jill Rosenberg took over for about 3 years; Jill was the daughter Arthur and Doris.

1980 Paul Knox was landlord for about 2 years.

1982 Edward Butler took over for about 6 years, and installed some central-heating; he left to run a fishing tackle shop in the Tamworth area.

1988 William Stuart Soden became The Licensee on 14^th December his wife is named Elizabeth J.

1990 Coventry born Clive Owen, starred as “Chancer” Stephen Crane, in the TV series of the same name. Many scenes were shot in “The Bell Inn”, and also Whittington Post Office.  Signed photos of the cast are in the passageway of the pub.

1994 William Stuart Soden was still the landlord in mid November, according to electoral rolls. 

1996 Nigel Melvyn Thomas became the Landlord, on 14^th February along with his wife Ann.

1999 Simon Edward Doveston took over the licence on 1st April, along with his partner Charlotte Clewes.

1999 Richard Lindsay Mc Bane and wife, Elizabeth, took over for a short time on 2^nd June.

2000 Trevor Bullement was briefly the licensee from 12^th October with his wife Rita

2000 Sue Elizabeth Wheeler had the Bell for a very short time from 1^st November.

2000 Anthony Birch became the licensee on 23^rd November.          

2000  From the 7^th Dec 2000, the landlady is Alayne Alexandra Wilson, and Stellios.

2001 Alayne runs the Bell Inn single-handed, until Dec 2002.

2002 On 13th  Dec Alayne married Steve Hunt, after a short courtship.

2003 From 20th March “The Bell Inn” has been run by David Arthur Turner, and his wife, Joanne, who since opening has redecorated.  They are serving meals once more and providing live music and Quiz nights.  On 31st August 2003 the new patio and children's play area was opened.

May 2004 Filming of a new series of the TV drama “Dalziel and Pascoe” began; The Bell Inn was used for a pub setting under the guise of “The Spotted Pig”. The pub was closed for 2 days whilst filming took place, huge screens were erected around the front of the pub to obscure all windows, perhaps to simulate a night-time scene, or to prevent people peering in and spoiling shots. The next day, these large screens were removed and transparent amber screens were fitted to the windows, and huge lights were positioned outside the pub.  Well-known actors were seen arriving and leaving by mini-bus.