Alton pub history index
Eight Bells, Church Street, Alton - in May 2014
Kindly provided by David Fisher
The Eight Bells in Alton started as a beershop known as the Sawyers Arms. It
was owned and occupied by my 3rd great grandfather William Gilham in 1848
who was a Sawyer (hence the name of the beershop) and he was listed in the
Pigots directory in 1841 as retailer of beer in Church Street, Alton.
William Gilham was born in Alton and his profession was listed as a Sawyer,
so I guess when he started the beerhouse he would have been around 70 and
needed a less strenuous occupation. ***
William died in October 1849 aged 80 at the Sawyer Arms and his widow Ann
took over however this could not have been for very long as she died in
April 1851. In 1861 Hannah Clarke was listed as the landlady and it appears
that it stayed in the family until about 1890.
In the early 1860’s the beershop was taken over by brewers Complins and the
name was probably changed to the Eight Bells at this time with the Clarke
family continuing to run the now public house. ***
1871/Harriet Clarke/Licensed Victualler/61/Sherborne, Warwickshire/Census
1871/Mary Clarke/Daughter/33/Bradley, Hampshire/Census
1871/George White/Lodger, Ag Labourer/29/../Census
1891/Edwin Robinson/Groom (Domestic)/46/Witherley, Leicestershire/Census
1891/Sarah Robinson/Wife/48/Attenborough, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Alice Robinson/Daughter/21/Derbyshire/Census
1891/Elizabeth Robinson/Daughter, Dressmaker Apprentice/14/Bentley,
Warwickshire/Census
1891/Louisa Robinson/Daughter/11/Bentley, Warwickshire/Census
1898/James Ellison / Beer Retailer/../../Kelly’s Directory **
1901/James Ellison/House Decorator/55/America/Census
1901/Elizabeth Fanny Ellison/Wife/35/Basingstoke, Hampshire/Census
1901/James Albert Ellison/Son/11/Kennington, London/Census
1901/Fanny Ellison/Daughter/9/Kennington, London/Census
1901/Edward Ellison/Son/7/Alton, Hampshire/Census
1901/William George Ellison/Son/5/Alton, Hampshire/Census
1901/Elizabeth Hannah Ellison/Daughter/3/Alton, Hampshire/Census
1901/Francis Wickens/Boarder, Vorn Porter/54/Reading, Berkshire/Census
1911/Thomas Baggs / Beer Retailer/../../Kelly’s Directory of Hampshire and
the Isle of Wight **
1911/Thomas Baggs/Publican/49/Taunton, Somerset/Census
1911/Sarah Baggs/Wife/48/Ambergale, Derbyshire/Census
1911/Leo Kimber/Visitor/3.5/Farnham, Surrey/Census
1920/Thomas Baggs / Beer Retailer/../../Kelly’s Directory
** Provided By Stephen Harris
*** Provided By Graham Denyer