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″N0°44′47.91″E / 52.4142056°N 0.7466417°E / 52.4142056; 0.7466417
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

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

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

1. Norfolk Heritage Explorer Retrieved 19 January 2013
2. Building schedule Retrieved 19 January 2013
3. The hotels AA listing
4. OS Explorer Map 229 - Thetford Forest in The Brecks. ISBN   0319238032
5. County A to Z Atlas, Street & Road maps Norfolk, ISBN   978 1 84348 614 5
6. "THETFORD - BELL HOTEL". Norfolk Public Houses. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
7. "Famous for Dad's Army and Captain Mainwaring - Review of Bell Hotel, Thetford - Tripadvisor". www.tripadvisor.co.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2021.