Fire-ravaged rural pub's survival marked in film

A Dartmoor pub which was gutted by fire a decade ago is marking the anniversary with a film celebrating the venue's survival.

The Ring of Bells in North Bovey, near Moretonhampstead, was left in ruins when flames tore through its thatched roof on 13 January 2016, forcing a two-year closure.

Actor and filmmaker Emma Stansfield, who lives in Moretonhampstead, has captured the story in a documentary called The Ringers, which is set to premiere at the pub at 18:30 GMT on Friday.

Stansfield, who recently starred in Beyond Paradise's Christmas special, said the film was not just about the fire as it reflected on the place of a traditional village pub in "lovely, small communities".

Stansfield told John Acres at Breakfast on BBC Radio Devon the film highlighted the building's role as a social hub at a time when rural pubs were disappearing.

"One of the guys we interviewed said it's a common meeting ground," she said.

"You can walk in and meet people of all ages and walks of life.

"Conversation is so important, particularly now when we're all looking at our phones."

Landlord Richard Edlmann, who commissioned the production, said the film left him "sobbing into a napkin" after he watched it.

Edlmann added he still had vivid memories of the blaze.

"We never really worked out what started it, but once 400 years' worth of thatch was alight, there was no going back," he said.

"It was utter devastation."

The blaze destroyed medieval features and artefacts, but Edlmann said he refused to give up.

"There wasn't a point where I thought it wasn't going to happen," he said.

"I feel a deep responsibility for that pub.

"I definitely don't want to be the last landlord of Ring of Bells."

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