The claim
A jettied timber front on New Street with a carved bressumer and, jutting over the pavement, the steelyard that once weighed loaded waggons. Inside are two small rooms, low beams and Greene King beers. It opens from two in the afternoon most days and keeps the feel of a town inn rather than a dining room.
What the records show
CAMRA's record gives the date, saying the pub dates from about 1540. Historic England, which lists the building Grade I, reasons from the street: New Street was constructed in 1550, and that is the probable date of the Bell. Ten years is well within a generation, so the fabric supports the claim. The steelyard that swings over the pavement — a beam weighing machine for hay waggons, still in place and used within living memory in 1947 — is probably early C17 and not part of the original build.
| Year | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1540 | Claimed founding | CAMRA |
| c.1550 | Present building | Historic England listing |
What to look for inside
- Working steelyard beam over the pavement, one of very few left in place
- Grade I listed, rare for a pub of this size
- New Street was laid out in 1550
Visiting
Ye Olde Bell & Steelyard is in Woodbridge, England, at 103 New Street, Woodbridge IP12 1DZ. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1031046
- camra.org.uk/pubs/olde-bell-steelyard-woodbridge-183075
- ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1543138
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11364702
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
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