The Merry Bells
An excerpt from 'A Cornishman at Oxford' by A L Rowse, mentioning a trip for tea to The Merry Bells, Wheatley.
Since the building of the new turnpike road from Oxford to London in 1775, trade had slumped. The village had become a refuge for rough quarry workers, highwaymen and students. In fact, if you fancied a pint of beer and a punch-up, it seems that Wheatley had been the place to go. The change in Wheatley’s profile began by the banning guns and dogs in 1834, followed by a halt to bull-baiting and badger-baiting. Finally came the Merry Bells in 1888, provided by Mrs Miller of Shotover as a temperance place for the improvement of the social life of Wheatley. It was a coffee house with ‘two large meeting rooms, a refreshment bar, a bathroom, cubicles, commercial and travellers rooms and stable accommodation for four horses’. Bought as a village hall in 1970.
- The Women’s Wednesday Afternoon Class in Wheatley 1908
- Origins of the Archive Room 2002
- Centenary of The Merry Bells 1888 -1988
- The Merry Bells
- The Merry Bells
- The Merry Bells
- The Merry Bells
- Barclays Bank High Street
- Barclays Bank, 93 High Street
- Merry Bells forecourt
- The Hinton Collection of early postcards of Wheatley - 1913-1915
- The Merry Bells and surroundings from the air
- Merry Bells bought by the village of Wheatley
- Senior Citizens Coffee Room records
- Painting of Merry Bells by John B Nicholls
- Embroidered panel of Merry Bells
- Merry Bells and Post Office/shop
- Merry Bells
- Men's Mutual Improvement Class 1908
- Centenary of the Merry Bells 1988 booklet all photos
- Bruce Shepherd's memories of Wheatley
- 50th anniversary of Wheatley's ownership of the Merry Bells
- The sub sorting office in Wheatley
- Merry Bells
- Post Office changes hands after 35 years
- Merry Bells open day 13 May 2023