Celebratory Thornhill was also renowned for his riding exploits, of which many tales abound. On April 29th 1745 he rode 213 miles from the Bell to Shoreditch Church in London, and back, and back again to London. His aim was to complete the journey in less than 15 hours and so win a wager of 500 guineas. He set out at 4 o'clock in the morning, used 19 horses, and cheered
on by thousands of spectators along the way, completed the distance by 4.15pm the same afternoon. Such a feat was unequalled in his day and for many years after. Thornhill was also a man of notable business enterprise. In 1743 he purchased the
Angel Inn, directly opposite the Bell and probably its major rival, with considerable property and buildings extending
to Church Street for £850.00

A D Clark, who made large-scale additions to the building, succeeded Thornhill in 1759, but it was Clark's son-in-law Henry Thornton, who followed as the inn's next colourful character. A strolling player before his marriage, Thornton was a "tall, portly, theatrical, convivial fellow of great effrontery". His match with Clark's daughter established him in the Bell Inn, but he was publicly disgraced for striking Samuel M Lawrence, Lieutenant of the Cambridgeshire Militia, who proclaimed him "to be a Bully, Scoundrel, Poltroon and Coward".

In 1814, Mrs. Scarborough of the George Inn at Buckden, purchased the Bell. She repaired and refurbished the house and made her son landlord. The Bell continued to prosper until the middle of the 19th Century and the close of the coaching era, when it declined to the position of a minor inn. The railways had taken hold and many North-South travellers would now by-pass Stilton altogether. The Bell tolled the death knell of a prosperous era - it's premises being divided into several tenements.

Some villagers can recall happier days during the Second World War, when the likes of Clark Gable and Joe Louis came to the inn. They were with American Air Force units stationed nearby.

In the late 1980's major restoration works on the impressive old inn were commenced. Built around the old courtyard, twenty two luxury bedrooms and a conference centre were skilfully blended into the ageless stonework of this ancient inn, combining old world charm, relaxing comfort with the most modern of facilities. The restoration work faithful to the architectural heritage was completed in 1990. Once again the Bell was established as one of the finest examples of English traditional inns, welcoming many colourful characters of this era including politicians, actors (if you can tell the difference) and pop groups.

Today's owner bids you the warmest of welcomes (be it for a conference, wedding reception or just a drink in the bar)
and hope you enjoy your visit whilst absorbing some of the history of this historic inn.