We continue with our series of Then and Now in Warminster and remain with what has proven to be an excellent source of material - public houses in the town.

This week we look at the Bell and Crown at Deverill Road.

This is a very old inn, situated at Warminster Common, halfway up the western side of Bell Hill.

It was originally called the Bell, and the last recording of that name was in 1844. After then it was known as the Bell and Crown.

It features in Ogilby's map of the coach road from London to Barnstaple in 1675, which lists the Bell as one of the inns on route.

Record books tell us that in 1770, before the lands were enclosed, the Lord of the Manor attempted to introduce a levy of one penny of the inhabitants of the common for a dinner at the Bell Inn to acknowlege their dues to him.Fearing their rights would be affected, no one turned up.

Their houses and gardens then became freehold and remained so when the enclosures were made during the early 1780s.

The Bell and Crown used to have its own brew house, and at one time the landlord had the right to put drunks in stocks on the other side of the road opposite the inn.

Tthe public bar had sawdust scattered on the floor each day up until and including the Second World War, making it one of the last public houses in Warminster to follow this ancient custom.

Our archive picture was taken in 1986 when it was a Courage public house.

Our today picture features the large umbrella outside, a common feature seen outside pubs since the smoking ban came into force last summer.