The Bell's main fascination, however, centres on the characters associated with it. Innkeepers, statesmen, outlaws and literary figures have contributed to the Inn's fame. One popular tale, handed down over the centuries, has the highwayman Dick Turpin visiting the hostelry. He is supposed to have hidden there for nine weeks while hunted by the law. Surprised by a raid, he threw open the window and jumped onto Black Bess to gallop off up the Great North Road.

Equally fascinating are the tales of more recent guests. In the early days the Great Duke of Marlborough was a notable guest. Earlier still, Cromwell's troops were here. Cromwell himself was based at Huntingdon only 12 miles south of Stilton. In 1725 Lord Harley tasted and disliked the cheese sold at the Bell. On October 3rd 1813 Lord Byron slept there. These figures, however, did not popularise the Bell as much as the 18th Century Innkeeper, Cooper Thornhill.

Thornhill was landlord from 1730 to his death in 1759, aged 54. He is invariably referred to as the man who popularised Stilton Cheese, which was served, mites and all, at the Bell.

Theories about the origins of Stilton Cheese are legion. According to most accounts it was never made in Stilton. There was a locally made cheese in the early 1700's but it could not compete with the popularity of the rich Stilton Cheese. Tradition has it that the famous cheese was first made by Mrs. Paulet, housekeeper at Quenby Hall in Leicestershire, just south of Melton Mowbray. She supplied the cheese to her brother-in-law Cooper Thornhill at the Bell. He served the cheese and named it after the village. Soon the cheese's fame began to spread. By the time Daniel Defoe wrote his Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain (1724-27), he could say that he "passed through Stilton, a town famous for cheese". The cheese was made at least as early as 1720, if not earlier. More significantly, its association with the innkeeper of the Bell put both the cheese and the village on the map.