Bell's Castle

Bells Castle, Worcestershire
Photo © Philip Halling, 12 August 2007

The wall beside the gardens of Bell's Castle has recently collapsed thus providing a better view of the house. The building is situated about 160m above sea level on the southern slopes of Bredon Hill.

Bell's Castle stands in a prominent position on Merecombe Hill. It was built by Edmund Bell, a retired sailor, between 1825 and 1838 and is a Gothic style castle with mock ramparts. Bell's supposed exploits as a pirate and smuggler form the subject of many village legends. The castle has three embattled towers. The tower on the west is possibly an 18th-century folly that was already in position and includes on the east side two earlier cottages. One cottage is reputed to have been a shepherd's house in the 17th century. The Priory is an 18th-century house that was enlarged by William Prior in the early part of 19th century and has a stone front with a pedimented doorway. In the garden are the ruins of a smaller 17th-century stone house which has been preserved as a garden feature and on the south-east side of the Priory are the foundations of a stocking-factory.