Ale and hearty tales of village pub punch-ups

The pamphlet describes pubs in Herstmonceux, Rushlake Green, Wartling, Cowbeech, Punnetts Town, Warbleton and Bodle Street Green.

The Merry Harriers at Cowbeech was, and probably still is, noted for its pub games which included 'cork rings tip it', 'ringing the bull', quoits and 'a fight or two thrown in'.

One gentleman moved away from the village for 14 years and when he got back found there was a new landlord.

He reminisced that he was not impressed by the then quality of the beer and asked for a paper bag to put it in!

The White Horse Inn at Bodle Street Green could get lively.

A customer remembered: 'There was always fighting there. It was Jim the well digger what was the worst.

'We were standing at the bar one night, was me and Will (his brother], and the well digger came up to us and framed up to Will.'

Will hit him once and Jim's head went though the panel of the door.

Will threw another punch but missed and smashed the other panel.

The landlord calmly boarded up the holes to keep the draught out and those boards remained on the door for years.

Landlords could be equally as outlandish.

Police were always trying to catch one landlord at the White Horse for not closing the pub on time.

Once he had a tip-off that there was to be a raid. He therefore arranged a private party on the night, removing all the money from the tills and supplying the drinks himself.

A chief inspector attempted to enter by the back door and the landlord flattened him with his one good arm (the other was blown off in World War One).

In court he declared successfully that he was only trying to guard his private property against intruders.

EXPRESS Polegate parish pump correspondent Maureen Copping is looking for a special book on behalf of a friend and she wondered if any Rouser reader could help.

The name of the book is not known but it featured a certain 'Knocker' Knowles from Arundel.

Peter Temperton, who is searching for the tome, said: 'I have been looking for the book for a long time. My sister and I saw it in a bookshop and didn't realise the significance of it at the time.

'Inside is a photo of a character called Knocker Knowles. He collected second-hand goods which he sold from his house.

'I found out that he is a distant relative and, as he and his daughter were colourful characters, I would love to know what book it is in.'