Upper Bell Blue Bell Hill

[KeithG]

When the advert comes up just cross it out...

[DaveTheTrain]

The upper Bell is an unusual property in that it has land on both sides of the road.  The pub which the owner knocked down and a piece opposite, which is in Common Road.  That is shown as the corrugated huts in the pics earlier in this thread. 

[KeithG]

I remember in the 1950's/60's the old Chatham Road all the way up wasn't very wide with turns etc. So probably back then very true.... why have an Upper & Lower BELL?

[Pete]

I've heard that tale too Smiffy, no idea if it's true though

[Smiffy]

I seem to remember that at one time it's said that this part of the road was only wide enough to take one coach and horses. So to make sure it didn't become blocked, a bell was rung at either the top or bottom of the hill to indicate if there was a coach on its way up or one going down. The Upper Bell was once known as "The Old Bell Inn".

[MartinR]

Music does that.  I was only a nipper and can't remember anything about the Olympics (to be honest, that's true about pretty well all Olympics), but the tune certainly brings back vivid memories.  Playing with the next-door-but-one lad in his mother's kitchen and hearing this on the radio.  We were both a couple of months short of 8.

[KeithG]

That's right Alec a great tune and did suit the occasion.
I have the single also from 1964..... I use to put that on the box all the time and it drove my mates mad... One of the girls called Carol used to put on "Google Eye" and she nagged and nagged her boyfriend Mike all evening for another shilling one after the other.
Strange all the times that come flying back?

[MartinR]

Available online: http://www.televisiontunes.com/Olympics_-_1964_-_Tokyo_Melody.html

[Invicta Alec]

On the Jukebox they had Tokyo Melody the tune for the 1964 Olympics and i am waiting now to see if in Tokyo in 2021 they have a similar tune?

Great tune by Helmut Zacharius. I know this coz.....I went out and bought that single in 1964. Still have it somewhere I think. 


Alec.

[KeithG]

I don't know how the Lower Bell survived?
Perhaps the junctions of the minor roads nearby and large car park did help.
The Upper Bell was naturally at the end of the highway when the main route was moved and just a pokey car park at the rear?

[stuartwaters]

It didn't help I guess, though the Lower Bell was still open and apparently thriving the last time I was out that way.

[KeithG]

Yes that is correct stuart...

Coincidentally when my Stepmother died in 2014 Cremation at Robin Hood Lane and Buffet at the Robin Hood Pub afterwards and of course the route took us to turn right opposite this pub and by then it had just been flattened...i took a picture of it but can`t look at it anymore because of the such good times i had in there.
At one time i would of bought it but came to my senses as it was run down.....i suppose the re-route of the main road finished it off?

[stuartwaters]

I read on the old forum that the pub was demolished without planning permission. There were signs on the hoardings around the site saying 'No photography' during the demolition. I think I posted that although they can prevent photography on the site, they can't stop you taking photographs from outside the site boundary. I haven't read of any action taken against the developer for demolishing the building without planning permission.

[KeithG]

This Pub was our scooterists haunt every Saturday night for about 18 months from Summer 1964
There were approx. 10 of us when all together but of course some did their own thing...I suppose we chose this place as it was out the way on the main bus route to Maidstone and we could all have a good ride home, first one back at Frindsbury Fish Shop afterwards had free sausage and chips. Good times were had in the room where those three windows are on the side a Pool Table and Jukebox.

Sometimes we would go to the Lower Bell and then at 10.30pm closing time because of Maidstone Rules rush up the hill for another pint in the Upper Bell 11.00pm Medway Licensing Rules

One time a Pool player was over enthusiastic and the ball shot off the table and rolled down the four assembled table that were all put together to form a long surface and my mates Pint was standing on the far end. It was all like slow motion and the ball roll all the way down the table and smashed his pint and beer everywhere ...it was just like skittles...the place went ecstatic and mad because of this and the rest of the Pub bars were wondering what on earth had happened.

On the Jukebox they had Tokyo Melody the tune for the 1964 Olympics and i am waiting now to see if in Tokyo in 2021 they have a similar tune?

Anyway a super pub at the time made all the better with such good friendly staff and the licensee...