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Date of photo: 2015	Picture source: Colin Price
This was in a building attached to St Edwards Church in the north west corner of Market Place. According to a leaflet from the church the building dates from the 15th century. It was bought by the church in 1480 but sold after the reformation in 1548. After changing hands several times it became the Cock and Bell in about 1590 and it is believed it was also called the Chequers for some of its existence. During the nineteenth century it was bought by the local brewers Ind Coope and in 1908 they surrendered the licence and sold it to New College, Oxford, the patrons of the Church, and it was renamed Church House. The surrendered licence was used to licence the Parkside in North Street, Romford. The building is currently used by the church for meetings and a volunteer coffee shop on market days, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
My ancestor John Fillingham (d London 1817), mentions the Cock & Bell in his will. Although he was a lawyer living in London, he owned several inns and properties, which had been passed to him by previous generations. "certain freehold heredits said previous situate and being in the town of Romford in the county of Essex ? called the Cock and Bell Inn but now on lease to ?(Messrs Summer)? and Joyner..."
Deborah Rendall (July 2016)
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