Originally the village school, The Belfry was built in the late 1860s under instruction of Sir Francis Elliot-Drake, Squire of the Parish.  

As one of the key buildings in the centre of the village the hotel has an imposing

location opposite the 13th Century church and possibly even older pub, The Yarcombe Inn.

The Belfry is built mainly of flint cob, with stone mullioned windows set with leaded, stained windows. 

When a school, the building comprised three large barn-like rooms, the junior school-room took up the largest area in the main wing that now is made up of the guest lounge and office and five of our six guest bedrooms.  The infants school-room was the longer side wing to the north that is now our restaurant and private accomodation.  The shorter wing, that is today the kitchen and the sixth guest room above, was originally the school kitchen complete with 50 gallon cow boiler!

The school closed in 1965 and was converted to its current internal layout in 1972 with the addition of an upper floor, dormer windows in the roof and the partition of the interior space into the various bedrooms.  Over the years The Belfry has known a variety of different decors and finishes from the traditional to the outright bizarre!

We are engaged in the ongoing and lengthy process of bringing this lovely building into the 21st Century and removing the many layers of wallpaper, and gradually renovating throughout.

All our guest rooms are bright and clean with en-suite bathrooms (not a cupboard with a sink in it!).  There are six guest rooms in all.  Five double rooms and one twin, one double and a twin on the ground floor, four doubles on the upper floor.

The Belfry has a small area of garden to the south, laid to patio and flower borders with tables and chairs for our guests to enjoy during the fine weather.  The views across the village and the valley beyond are stunning, particularly from the first floor.  For more detailed information about the guest rooms and the restaurant click on the links above.