Custom metalwork elevates country inn

The refurbishment of a historic pub in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, saw the restoration of traditional materials and metalwork take centre stage. Specify & Build reports. 

The Bell sits on Church Street in the historic Cotswold market town of Charlbury. First built as an inn in the 1600s, it is located in the centre of the original marketplace and was a hub for farmers and market goers – until the 1970s the local livestock market still took place in the rear car park!  

Today, the 17th century pub is owned by Daylesford Stays, part of the Bamford Collection. It boasts 12 pub rooms, a barn for private hire and an extensive garden. While much of the building had previously been modernised, key elements such as the original roof, fireplaces and flagstone floors have been preserved and celebrated. Honouring this history and preserving the character of the inn were important considerations during a recent restoration project, which prioritised the use of natural materials and traditional techniques.   

As a preferred supplier, Winthill Engineering was tasked with creating bespoke interior and architectural metalwork for the uniquely designed traditional country inn, most notably the hanging pub sign, façade signage and bar top. 

Images Credit: Martin Morrell 

Restored hanging pub sign 

Pub signs are a tradition that originated in Rome where vines were hung outside a building that sold wine. The tradition began in Britain in the 12th century when most people were illiterate and images were easier to understand. Daylesford Stays took inspiration from these early signs and asked Winthill to design, make and install the hanging pub sign with a functioning bell. 

For authenticity, Winthill sourced a reclaimed bell for the centrepiece of the hanging pub sign, which was restored at the company’s workshop in Worcestershire. A frame was then designed to house the bell. It is fabricated from laser cut mild steel and powder coated for a durable and striking finish. The top bar bears ‘The Bell’ moniker, which Winthill hand-painted in the brand’s serif font. The hanging sign sits atop a chamfered timber post which stands tall and stark against the honeyed Cotswold stone buildings.  

Winthill engineered and installed the façade signage in powder-coated mild steel to complement the hanging pub sign. Each letter was laser cut to produce an accurate representation of The Bell’s logo and is in proportion with the architectural details of the front elevation.  

Interior details 

The bar is the heart of any pub – it’s a place to laugh, love, and commiserate. Visitors to The Bell can do all this in style, leaning against the custom-made bar while resting a foot on the elegant foot rail.  

The polished bar top was fabricated by hand, with the maker’s marks and unfinished brass patina complementing the pub’s historic interior. Laser cut brass was also punched and folded to form drip trays that slot effortlessly into the brass bar top. The foot rail is formed from solid brass tubing, custom-built to follow the curves of the bar.  

For added privacy, Winthill also made a replica of a traditional stable partition using Iroko timber and powder-coated mild steel. This creates a visual break between the kitchen and restaurant.  

Set in an apple orchard, the garden is the perfect place to meet and relax during the warmer weather. The garden bar, a sympathetic wooden structure, stretches out over two terraces and looks out across the orchard. Winthill also fabricated and fitted the support system for the serving hatches. 

www.winthill.co.uk