A building of some description has existed at this location since the 17th century
though quite what its purpose was is still unknown. The name Five Bells appeared for the first time in writing in 1769 where it was
recognized as an alehouse. Today, it is still known as the Five Bells and a part of the Harvester restaurant/pub
chain. A garden with tables and seats is a popular feature during the summer months.
An adjacent building was used for many years as a blacksmith's forge and with its location on what later became the main A13
London to Southend road, business had always been good. During the creation of Basildon new town a new road
called Nether Mayne (A176) was created directly linking the outskirts of Basildon town centre with the A13. As a result of this a
a large roundabout called 'Five Bells' was created which greatly altered the approach to the public house. This changed
again following years of traffic congestion when the A13 was realigned in 1993 to avoid the roundabout which was then transformed
from its original size to a series of smaller ones along with a new access road to the pub and Bell's Hill Road.
It is the oldest surviving public house in Basildon and the only remaining public house in Vange following the closure
of The Barge in 2015. Notes:
1) The A13 Morley Hill, Stanford-le-Hope to Five Bells, Vange bypass. This became fully
operational from 3rd May 1993. It was the final section of a continuous length of carriageway of either duel or triple classification
stretching from the M25 to the A130 Sadlers Farm roundabout. As a result the Five Bells roundabout in its original form was
eliminated and three smaller ones created to facilitate the new entry/exit slip roads to and off the A13, which was realigned
to run under the former roundabout. | 
)
