The Bell House Podcast focuses on the untold stories within its walls – both past and present. You’ll be introduced to its former residents and learn about their role in history and the significance of the house itself. You’ll also hear about the modern-day Bell House and its many volunteers (beekeepers, quilters, gardeners and potters to name just a few). They’ll tell us about their personal passions, life-changing decisions and the role that Bell House plays in their lives and wider community today.

Simon Trewin with a printing press at Bell House

Episode 1: The Garage Press at Bell House

Do you know the derivation of the phrase “coming a cropper”? Or what on earth a “wayzgoose” is? If not, don’t worry. Simon Trewin does. He has re-created a printing works from a century or more ago and located it in the Bell House garage. In this episode he explains why he is drawn to old presses and metal type and details the history of what was once one of the country’s biggest industries. Before automation and consolidation there would have been a printing works in every town or village, employing hundreds of thousands of workers nationwide. What motivated Simon to turn back the clock and find delight in printing the old-fashioned way?

Sketch of Bell House made by one of Anthony Harding's family

Episode 2: The Residents of Bell House

Bell House has been home to many wealthy individuals and their families over the centuries – immigrants, self-made- entrepreneurs, reformers and philanthropists among them. The lives of its residents chart the country’s social and economic changes through time.

Local historian, Sharon O’Connor, tells their often surprising stories. Discover which future Lord Mayor of London, and son of a pastry cook, built the house in 1767 and which resident was responsible for the first ever department store (and no, it wasn’t Mr Selfridge). You’ll also hear about wanton drunkenness, teenage high jinx, blended families, patriotic grief and theosophy – oh, and the strange tale of the man who kept his coffin behind his chair in order to be forever reminded of the inevitability of death.

Bell House Co-founders, Fabienne and Angus Hanton

Episode 3: The Bell House Charity

Angus and Fabienne Hanton are the current owners of Bell House and founders of the charity which works within its walls. It supports educational and creative endeavours – quilting, gardening, book-binding, printing, arts, crafts and pottery – but at its heart is a range of activities aimed at helping dyslexic learners: something which has great personal resonance for Angus and Fabienne.

There was always a plan to set up a charity in retirement, but why is Bell House its home? That story centres on a quick fire shift of direction while visiting an estate agents – oh, and a small boy’s love of conkers too.

Episode 4: The Artist in Residence at Bell House

Atalanta Xanthe was hailed as “the next Lucien Freud” when she was just seventeen. She has created a lot of art in the ten years since then. Inspiration has come from, among other things, the New Mexico desert landscape of her childhood, medieval books of hours and a very unexpected phone call from a brother she didn’t know she had. She’s found a second one since then.

Light is also shed on the thorny dilemma that many artists face – can they make a living doing what they love? Atalanta explains what it takes to ensure she can do just that and unpicks the commercial considerations that underpin her creative career.

On the evening of May 23rd Atalanta will be giving a talk and exhibiting her pictures at Bell House.