Gathering at the Bell Inn in Dorchester, NB

The Welcome Mat is out at the front door of the Bell Inn, Dorchester, NB

The Bell Inn, Dorchester, NB

     One of the oldest buildings in New Brunswick is still a popular gathering place for locals and tourists alike, just as it was in the early 1820's. According to oral tradition, the Bell Inn in Dorchester was built in the late 1600's and when it was sold in 1821 it was noted as being a private dwelling and a small inn.

      Sold again in 1858 to a local ship builder and stage coach operator, the inn became the stop-over place for passengers as the coach travelled between Amherst, NS and Moncton, NB.
      After the Intercolonial Railway was completed in 1872 and the stagecoach was discontinued, the inn became the home and head office for the owner and his ship building business. 
      Years passed, ship building also declined and the Bell Inn eventually became the property of the Westmorland Historical Society.
     Restored as a wonderful restaurant, under the new management of co-chefs/co-owners Andrew Harrison and Sara Craig, the Bell Inn hosted our group of fibre artists - also known as hookers - for a whole day of hooking (and lunch!) this past week. 
     Here are some photos of the wonderful mats being made at the gathering.

     

Part of the natural rock wall behind the Bell Inn - maybe a design idea for an abstract mat?

 

(Many thanks to W. Eugene Goodrich for the historical information about the Bell Inn.)