 Bell's period was the high water mark for the trade, which fell off rapidly from around the time of his death in the 1560s.From his business he became the wealthiest citizen of Gloucester.One of the earliest references to Bell in the Gloucester Archives is his appointment in 1528, together with his younger brother, as one of 10 original trustees of the Crypt Grammar School founded by John Cooke (d. 1528), mercer and four times Mayor of Gloucester.