George William Wilson
1865-1943

The landlord of the Five Bells inn at Edenham in the late 19th century was George William Wilson. He was born at Ranby in Lincolnshire on 14th October 1865 and as a young man, moved to Edenham where he kept the old public house which was pulled down and also the new one which was subsequently erected on the same site in 1880.

He was originally a farmer, renting Gunborough Wood Farm from the Earl of Ancaster, but later became mine host at the village pub. George married Alice Archer at Haconby village church on 3rd April 1905 and they had two sons, Victor and Gilbert, who were both born at the Five Bells, baptised at St Michael's and All Angels Church at Edenham and subsequently attended the village school.

George was sexton at the church and witnessed the discovery of several previously lost burials of the early Earls of Ancaster which he recorded in a notebook, giving precise details of their position and condition. He also had a reputation for playing the violin and often entertained at local events such as weddings and concerts.

During his time as landlord, railway travel had become popular and he operated a horse drawn taxi service between Edenham and the railway station at Bourne. Passengers arrived at the Five Bells to await their transport and George would take them to the booking office at the Red Hall, three miles away, in order to catch their train. A photograph exists of him preparing to leave the pub in his four-wheeled carriage. There is an inscription on the back saying:

Outside the Five Bells Inn, Dad driving the horse and trap, Mam looking on. Anybody wanting to go to Bourne and the railway, he drove them 3 miles.

The writing is that of his son, Gilbert Wilson, who can be seen as a small boy wearing a large hat in the front seat of the carriage next to his father and as he was born in September 1906, the photograph probably dates from 1908. George William Wilson died at Portsmouth on 6th October 1943.

Photo: Courtesy Christine Bonny, granddaughter of George Wilson and daughter of Gilbert Wilson.