Bell Savage Inn
Encyclopedia
The Bell Savage Inn was a former public house
in London
, England, from the 15th century to 1873, originally located on the north side of what is now Ludgate Hill
, in the City of London
. It was a playhouse
during the Elizabethan Era
, as well as a venue for various other entertainments. It was also an important coaching inn
. Other names by which it has been known throughout history include: Savage's Inn, The Bel Savage, Belle Savage, Belle Sauvage, Bell on the Hoop, Old Bell Savage, Belly Savage and others.
), a deed
gave the building's name (in translation) as "Savage's Inn" or "The Bell on the Hoop" and located within the parish of St. Bridget (Bride) in Fleet Street
. "Savage" is thought to be the name of a former, perhaps the original, proprietor; a William Savage, who was recorded as having resided in Fleet Street in 1380, has been suggested as a possibility, which, would date the inn back to at least some time in the 14th century.
The alternative name "Bell on the Hoop" may be explained by the fact that both symbols have commonly been used on English Inn signs of the period - the "hoop" refers to a garland of Ivy. The later name, "Bell Savage", could have arisen as a linguistic inversion of "Savage's Bell".
, leader of a popular revolt
against Queen Mary, and his men, "came to Bell Savage, an Inn nigh unto Lud gate
", but the gate was closed to prevent the rebels entering the City of London
. Hence Wyatt "rested him awhile upon a stall over against the Bell Savage gate". Shortly afterwards he surrendered at Temple Bar
.
In 1568, the Inn was bequeathed to the Cutlers' Company
, an old City trade guild
, for the purpose of exhibitions at Oxford
and Cambridge
and the benefit of the poor of the parish of St. Bride's. At this time the property consisted of 2 courts
: The entrance to the outer court was via an archway leading from the north side of Ludgate Hill; the entrance to the inner court was through another archway directly opposite the first. The Inn itself was the building surrounding the inner court, which was overlooked by 2 tiers of covered balconies, from which the guest rooms were accessed.
The Bell Savage was one of the four inns of London that were used as playhouse
in the late 16th century - in this case from 1575. The balconies surrounding the inner court served as the upper and lower circles
, the rooms of the Inn became private "boxes
" and the yard itself was the "pit". The stage would have been built against one side of the yard and curtained off. Richard Tarlton
, the well-known comedian, performed here. The inner courtyard of the Inn was also used for public displays of fencing
from the mid-1560s to 1589, and as these displays took place on a stage it is quite possible that dramas could also have been enacted at this earlier peiod. The showman William Bankes and his trick horse "Marocco
" performed here. Bear-baiting
also took place in the latter half of the 16th century.
and her retinue, who had come over from Virginia
, were boarded at the Bell Savage. The yard at this time was said to be the "haunt of thieves and conmen....noisy, dangerous and evil-smelling". In the Great Fire
of 1666 the Inn was burnt to the ground, but rebuilt afterwards some time prior to 1676. In the outer court were some private houses; Grinling Gibbons
lived here for a period before 1677, and the quack Richard Rock
also resided here. In 1684, the inn was advertising a "Rhynoceros, lately brought from the East Indies" which could be seen by the public for a small fee - the first rhinocerous to be exhibited in England. Among the people to view it was Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford
, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
.
The Bell Savage was an important coaching inn from at least the reign of Charles II
, and probably long before; a newspaper advertisement in 1674 states that the Inn had 40 rooms for guests and stabling for 100 horses.
of 1851, a John Thornbury, took out a lease on part or all of the property and refurbished the accommodation for paying guests. In 1852, John Cassell
's publishing house and printing works moved into part of the premises. This adversely affected the hotel business as the noise and vibration from the presses
disturbed guests. In 1853, Cassell took over the rest of the property from Thornbury - to the latter's relief.
During Cassell's tenure, the yard was progressively rebuilt; the Inn was finally demolished in 1873 to make way for a railway viaduct. No visible trace now remains.
. Amongst artists who drew or painted the inn were: Robert Laurie (1755–1836), Thomas Hosmer Shepherd, George Shepherd
, John Maggs
(1819–1896), and Charles Jameson Grant (fl. 1831-1846),
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, from the 15th century to 1873, originally located on the north side of what is now Ludgate Hill
Ludgate Hill
Ludgate Hill is a hill in the City of London, near the old Ludgate, a gate to the City that was taken down, with its attached gaol, in 1780. Ludgate Hill is the site of St Paul's Cathedral, traditionally said to have been the site of a Roman temple of the goddess Diana. It is one of the three...
, in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. It was a playhouse
Inn-yard theatre
In the historical era of English Renaissance drama, an Inn-yard theatre or Inn-theatre was a common inn that provided a venue for the presentation of stage plays.-Beginnings:...
during the Elizabethan Era
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
, as well as a venue for various other entertainments. It was also an important coaching inn
Coaching inn
In Europe, from approximately the mid-17th century for a period of about 200 years, the coaching inn, sometimes called a coaching house or staging inn, was a vital part of the inland transport infrastructure, as an inn serving coach travelers...
. Other names by which it has been known throughout history include: Savage's Inn, The Bel Savage, Belle Savage, Belle Sauvage, Bell on the Hoop, Old Bell Savage, Belly Savage and others.
15th century
Written records allow the Inn's history to be traced back to at least 1420. In 1453 (in the reign of Henry VIHenry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
), a deed
Deed
A deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, or affirms or confirms something which passes, an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions sealed...
gave the building's name (in translation) as "Savage's Inn" or "The Bell on the Hoop" and located within the parish of St. Bridget (Bride) in Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
. "Savage" is thought to be the name of a former, perhaps the original, proprietor; a William Savage, who was recorded as having resided in Fleet Street in 1380, has been suggested as a possibility, which, would date the inn back to at least some time in the 14th century.
The alternative name "Bell on the Hoop" may be explained by the fact that both symbols have commonly been used on English Inn signs of the period - the "hoop" refers to a garland of Ivy. The later name, "Bell Savage", could have arisen as a linguistic inversion of "Savage's Bell".
16th century
In 1554, it is recorded that Sir Thomas WyattThomas Wyatt the younger
Sir Thomas Wyatt the younger was a rebel leader during the reign of Queen Mary I of England; his rising is traditionally called "Wyatt's rebellion".-Birth and career:...
, leader of a popular revolt
Wyatt's rebellion
Wyatt's Rebellion was a popular uprising in England in 1554, named after Thomas Wyatt the younger, one of its leaders. The rebellion arose out of concern over Queen Mary I's determination to marry Philip II of Spain, which was an unpopular policy with the English...
against Queen Mary, and his men, "came to Bell Savage, an Inn nigh unto Lud gate
Ludgate
Ludgate was the westernmost gate in London Wall. The name survives in Ludgate Hill, an eastward continuation of Fleet Street, and Ludgate Circus.-Etymology:...
", but the gate was closed to prevent the rebels entering the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. Hence Wyatt "rested him awhile upon a stall over against the Bell Savage gate". Shortly afterwards he surrendered at Temple Bar
Temple Bar
Temple Bar may refer to:* The Temple Bar, a spot in London* Temple Bar, Dublin, a cultural quarter in Dublin city* Temple Bar, Ceredigion, a village in Wales* Temple Bar Magazine, British literary magazine published 1860 to 1906...
.
In 1568, the Inn was bequeathed to the Cutlers' Company
Worshipful Company of Cutlers
The Worshipful Company of Cutlers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The trade of knife making and repairing was organised in the thirteenth century; the organisation received a Royal Charter later in 1416...
, an old City trade guild
Livery Company
The Livery Companies are 108 trade associations in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling,...
, for the purpose of exhibitions at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and the benefit of the poor of the parish of St. Bride's. At this time the property consisted of 2 courts
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
: The entrance to the outer court was via an archway leading from the north side of Ludgate Hill; the entrance to the inner court was through another archway directly opposite the first. The Inn itself was the building surrounding the inner court, which was overlooked by 2 tiers of covered balconies, from which the guest rooms were accessed.
The Bell Savage was one of the four inns of London that were used as playhouse
Inn-yard theatre
In the historical era of English Renaissance drama, an Inn-yard theatre or Inn-theatre was a common inn that provided a venue for the presentation of stage plays.-Beginnings:...
in the late 16th century - in this case from 1575. The balconies surrounding the inner court served as the upper and lower circles
Theater (structure)
A theater or theatre is a structure where theatrical works or plays are performed or other performances such as musical concerts may be produced. While a theater is not required for performance , a theater serves to define the performance and audience spaces...
, the rooms of the Inn became private "boxes
Box (theatre)
In theater, a box is a small, separated seating area in the auditorium for a limited number of people.Boxes are typically placed immediately to the front, side and above the level of the stage. They are often separate rooms with an open viewing area which typically seat five people or fewer. ...
" and the yard itself was the "pit". The stage would have been built against one side of the yard and curtained off. Richard Tarlton
Richard Tarlton
Richard Tarlton , an English actor, was the most famous clown of his era.His birthplace is unknown, but reports of over a century later give it as Condover in Shropshire, with a later move to Ilford in Essex...
, the well-known comedian, performed here. The inner courtyard of the Inn was also used for public displays of fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
from the mid-1560s to 1589, and as these displays took place on a stage it is quite possible that dramas could also have been enacted at this earlier peiod. The showman William Bankes and his trick horse "Marocco
Marocco
Marocco , widely known as Bankes's Horse , was the name of a late 16th- and early 17th-century English performing horse...
" performed here. Bear-baiting
Bear-baiting
Bear-baiting is a blood sport involving the worrying or tormenting of bears.-Bear-baiting in England:Bear-baiting was popular in England until the nineteenth century. From the sixteenth century, many herds of bears were maintained for baiting...
also took place in the latter half of the 16th century.
17th century
In 1616, PocahontasPocahontas
Pocahontas was a Virginia Indian notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan, the head of a network of tributary tribal nations in Tidewater Virginia...
and her retinue, who had come over from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, were boarded at the Bell Savage. The yard at this time was said to be the "haunt of thieves and conmen....noisy, dangerous and evil-smelling". In the Great Fire
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
of 1666 the Inn was burnt to the ground, but rebuilt afterwards some time prior to 1676. In the outer court were some private houses; Grinling Gibbons
Grinling Gibbons
Grinling Gibbons was an English sculptor and wood carver known for his work in England, including St Paul's Cathedral, Blenheim Palace and Hampton Court Palace. He was born and educated in Holland where his father was a merchant...
lived here for a period before 1677, and the quack Richard Rock
Richard Rock
Richard Rock was a well-known doctor in eighteenth century London. Originally from Hamburg, he was depicted by William Hogarth in the fifth scene of his 1731/2 satirical and moralistic series, A Harlot's Progress, where he stands in dispute with notable French doctor John Misaubin beside the dying...
also resided here. In 1684, the inn was advertising a "Rhynoceros, lately brought from the East Indies" which could be seen by the public for a small fee - the first rhinocerous to be exhibited in England. Among the people to view it was Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford
Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford
Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford PC KC was the third son of the 4th Baron North, and was created Baron Guilford in 1683, after becoming Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in succession to Lord Nottingham....
, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, and later of Great Britain, was formerly an officer of the English Crown charged with physical custody of the Great Seal of England. This evolved into one of the Great Officers of State....
.
The Bell Savage was an important coaching inn from at least the reign of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, and probably long before; a newspaper advertisement in 1674 states that the Inn had 40 rooms for guests and stabling for 100 horses.
18th-19th centuries
The Inn declined with the growth of the railways and by the mid 19th century, parts had become very dilapidated. During the Great ExhibitionThe Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations or The Great Exhibition, sometimes referred to as the Crystal Palace Exhibition in reference to the temporary structure in which it was held, was an international exhibition that took place in Hyde Park, London, from 1 May to 15 October...
of 1851, a John Thornbury, took out a lease on part or all of the property and refurbished the accommodation for paying guests. In 1852, John Cassell
John Cassell
John Cassell was an English publisher, printer, writer and editor, who founded the firm Cassell & Co, famous for its educational books and periodicals, and which pioneered the serial publication of novels. He was also a well-known tea and coffee merchant and a general business entrepreneur...
's publishing house and printing works moved into part of the premises. This adversely affected the hotel business as the noise and vibration from the presses
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
disturbed guests. In 1853, Cassell took over the rest of the property from Thornbury - to the latter's relief.
During Cassell's tenure, the yard was progressively rebuilt; the Inn was finally demolished in 1873 to make way for a railway viaduct. No visible trace now remains.
The Bell Savage in art and literature
The Bell Savage featured in Dickens's "Pickwick Papers" and in Sir Walter Scott's KenilworthKenilworth (novel)
Kenilworth. A Romance is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, first published on 8 January 1821.-Plot introduction:Kenilworth is apparently set in 1575, and centers on the secret marriage of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, and Amy Robsart, daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart...
. Amongst artists who drew or painted the inn were: Robert Laurie (1755–1836), Thomas Hosmer Shepherd, George Shepherd
George Shepherd (artist)
George "Sidney" Shepherd was a British draughtsman and watercolour painter. At one time, George Shepherd and George Sidney Shepherd were thought to be two different people; it is now believed that they are one and the same person.- Biography :...
, John Maggs
John Maggs
John Charles Maggs was a painter best known for his coaching scenes.He was born in Bath, England in 1819, his father being a furniture japanner there. He painted a series of famous coaching inns, and also a series of 80 metropolitan inns, in which he exploited the picturesque and historical aspect...
(1819–1896), and Charles Jameson Grant (fl. 1831-1846),
External links
- Images of The Belle Sauvage - including plans (City of London Libraries, Archives and Guildhall Art Gallery)