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In 1890, Leonard A. Morrison, co-author of the Kimball Family History, wrote of his research trip to Rattlesden, "There is no hotel in the village, and I was a guest at what I called a "Public," known as the "Five Bells," kept by Mrs. Moore. It was the only place of entertainment. In the evening the village school-master, a soldier who has served in the Crimea and in India, and other dignitaries of the village congregated in the small sitting room, seated themselves on the wooden benches around the table, where they smoked, told stories, discussed politics, and drank their whiskey or ale, after the manner of Tam O'Shanter and his cronies, in the manner that has probably feen followed for hundreds of years. It was a new phase of life to me, and a very entertaining one, giving as it did a glimpse at old English customs. Promptly at ten o'clock the house was closed and the guests of the evening repaired to their several homes." During our 1985 visit we stopped in the Five Bells. Though it is not a restaurant, the owner obliged us by making us each an egg sandwich. There is still no other public place in the village, and it is still much as Mr. Morrison described.
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