A Constant within Hampton's
160 years of transformation
For almost 150 years, through Victorian expansion, two world wars, corporate consolidations and rapid suburban growth, the Railway Bell has remained a steadfast presence at the heart of Hampton village life. While ownership has changed hands many times, this beloved local institution has continuously served as the community's natural gathering place, adapting to each era while preserving its essential character at the heart of Hampton life.
The pub’s history, like that of Hampton village itself, is fascinating and deserves to be preserved.
Origins and railway connection
Dating back over 160 years, the pub opened shortly after the Hampton branch line was built in 1864. Located on Station Road just beneath the railway bridge (hence its nickname "The Dip"), it was perfectly positioned to serve the hard-drinking railway workers who flocked to the area during construction.
The combination of its connectivity to the rail network together with the relocation of three major water companies - Southwark and Vauxhall, Grand Junction and West Middlesex - to the new Hampton Water Treatment Works between 1853-1855 brought hundreds of workers and their families to the area. These two factors shaped the local social fabric as Hampton evolved from a quiet riverside village to major London suburb, swelling Hampton's population from 3,134 in 1851 to over 9,000 by 1910. Post-war commuting further grew the population into today's thriving suburb of 27,300 people in 2021 - a remarkable sixteen-fold increase over two centuries.
A photo of the Dip from the early 1990s.
Yet through this dramatic growth, Hampton has retained its village atmosphere, with the Railway Bell maintaining its cherished position as the beating heart of the community.
Victorian landlords
Census records reveal the pub's early Victorian history, with Richard Burberry serving as Beer Retailer in 1881, followed by the Dickens family who ran the establishment from 1891 through the early 1900s.
Frank Dickens transferred the licence to Arthur Joseph Lancaster in 1907, and by 1911, Frank Clarke Gourlay had taken over as Licensed Victualler.
Through each transition, the pub continued to serve as Hampton's social anchor.
The Courage era and corporate manoeuvres
For much of the 20th century, it operated as part of the famous Courage brewery estate, founded in 1787. However, the 1989 Beer Orders legislation fundamentally changed ownership structures across the industry.
As a result, ownership of The Railway Bell and many other small pubs across the UK passed from Courage to the newly formed Intrepreneur Estates Company in 1991, an 8,500 pub company set up as a joint venture by Courage and Grand Metropolitan as a joint venture, maintaining control of their pub estates under the new legislation. Later, in 2004, ownership passed to Enterprise Inns when they acquired the joint venture business before it was acquired by the current owners, Stonegate in 2020.
Despite these corporate manoeuvres, the pub's role in village life remained unchanged - locals continued to gather, celebrate and find community within its walls and beer garden.
The Vision for the future
The goal is simple – to reopen The Railway Bell and put it back where it belongs, at the very heart of the community for generations to come.
The Dip is for sale at £1 million and the campaign is keen to hear from more interested investors. The plan is to raise capital through a Community Benefit Society. Investors could buy shares, probably in units of £100.
We cannot let the opportunity to ‘Save The Dip’ slip through our fingers. You can help turn our vision into a reality.
We have a lot of supporters, all focused on seeing a much-loved pub thriving once again. And the pub has been designated as an Asset of Community Value by Richmond Council, which really helps our cause.
The modern era and current challenges
The pub continued as a traditional cottage-style establishment with two cosy bars decorated with historic local photos, a secluded beer garden seating around 80 and a dog-friendly atmosphere.
Seamus O'Kane became the much-loved licensee, building strong community ties until his death in April 2024. Under his stewardship, the Railway Bell flourished as Hampton's living room - a place where generations met, friendships developed and memories were made.
Following his passing, the lease reverted to Stonegate Group, which decided to close the pub and offer it for sale under terms locals consider unrealistic. For the first time in over 150 years, this cornerstone of Hampton village life faces an uncertain future, prompting the community to rally for its preservation.