From the Dover Express, 10 May, 1833.

Deaths.—May 3, at Ringwould, Mr. John Taylor, landlord of the Five Bells, much respected, aged 27 years.

From the Dover Express, 15 April 1865

ROBBERY AT RINGWOULD

William Horn, 26, labourer, was charged with stealing a guernsey frock and a key, the property of Edward Erridge at Ringwould, on the 20th January.

Mr. Ormerod appeared for the prosecution, and it transpired, in the course of the case, that the prisoner was the brother-in-law of prosecutor.

Edward Erridge: I keep the "Five Bells" public house, at Ringwould. I had a guernesy frock in my possession previous to March. On the 18th of that month I saw it on the prisoner and told him he had got my guernsey on. He said it was not mine, and that he had bought it at Deal. That produced is the same. It it darned on the shoulder. I have missed several other things, including a key.

Louisa Burton, wile of William Burton, blacksmith, Ringwould: I do washing for Mrs. Erridge, and about two months ago I washed a guernsey resembling that produced.

Norwood Culworth, a Lad, said he saw a guernsey belonging to Mr. Erridge, and resembling that produced, hanging behind the kitchen door about two months ago. He subsequently saw prisoner wearing two guernseys. The prisoner slept in a loft over some stables belonging to Mr. Erridge.

Joseph Gitney: Prisoner was given in my charge by Mr. Erridge on the 18th March. He was wearing two guernseys at the time. I charged him with stealing one, and he said he bought it at Deal. I found a key upon him, which Mr. Erridge also identified as his. Sarah Erridge, wife of prosecutor, identified the guernsey produced as her husband's by a darn on the shoulder.

The prisoner repeated the statement he had previously made—that the guernsey belonged to him, and he had bought it at Deal.

The jury found him guilty, but recommended him to mercy.

The Recorder asked on what grounds.

The Forman: Because we think it a trampery case.

From the Dover Express, 23 September 1865.

A CHILD SCALDED TO DEATH AT RINGWOULD.

On Saturday last an inquest was held at the Five Bells Inn, Ringwould, by W. H. Payn, Esq., coroner for Dover and its liberties, on the body of Henry Kemp, aged two years and a half, the child of James Kemp, labourer. It appeared that on the previous Wednesday, about four o'clock, the mother was making elderberry wine, and having made about four gallons and a half, she put the same into a tub or shawl to cool in the back yard, placing it on a chair, the wine being scalding hot. While her back was turned the little boy (deceased) went into the yard and by some means climbed up the chair on which the shawl stood and pulled the tub and wine completely over itself. The hot liquor so frightfully scalded the child that after lingering until eleven o'clock next morning it expired. Dr. Davey was sent for, and though he was not at home at the time, a lotion was sent to bathe the scalds, and Dr. Stains Davey, son of the above gentleman, attended, but found the child just breathing its last. The injuries were such, over the head and chest, that no medical skill could have saved the child. Evidence of the above facts was taken, and the jury pronounced a verdict of "Accidental Death.”

From the Dover Express, 22 October 1875.

BABY FARMING AT RINGWOULD.

On Tuesday the Coronet for Dover and its Liberties, W. H. Payn, Esq., held in inquest at Ringwould on the body of an infant named William Durham, who died on the previous Sunday while under the care of Elizabeth Spicer, who had undertaken to nurse it for the remuneration of 6s. per week. It seems that the child went into a fit after eating a hearty dinner on Sunday and shortly afterwards died. Mr. Davey, surgeon, of Walmer, saw the body of the child on the following Tuesday and was asked to give a certificate of death, but seeing a bruise on its head that he thought might account for the child's death be declined to give any certificate and referred the parties to the coroner. It transpired afterwards that although the case was a very proper one enquiry that the bruise on the head was caused several days previously by a fall and that the child seemed none the worse for it. The inquest was held at the "Five Bells," Ringwould, and the following evidence was taken:—

Ann Banks, having been sworn, said: I am the wife of John Banks a millers' labourer, living at Ringwould. I live next door to the deceased infant, William Durham. Ha was an infant aged about two years and ten months. He was a nurse child in the charge of Mrs. Spicer the wife of David Spicer, a labourer living at Ringwould, next door to me. I was in the habit of looking in and seeing the deceased. His health was good as far as I could see until the time of his death, which took place on Sunday last, about half past two in the afternoon. I do not know that the child was subject to fits. I never saw it in a fit until the time of his death. During the time I visited the child I think that he was well taken care of, properly led, and attended to. I saw no medicine in the house or any sleeping stuff. I was present at the death of the child. It died in my arms. I do not know what it died of. I thought it was in a fit, it was a very dull child. I should not think that the child was quite right in the head, it did not seem to take notice of anything like other children, it was a very pale child during the time that Mrs. Spicer had the care of it. I do not think it was seen by any medical man. I do not know its father. Mrs. Spicer had something for keeping it, I do not know how much. I have never seen any friends until this week, the money was regularly, at one time it was not. The child was well treated, and not ill-used. There is a mark on its temple proceeding from a fall. The child used to fall about a good deal. The child was ill when I was called in, it fell on the carpet. The child was put in a bath, and they gave it some brandy and water.

Elizabeth Spicer having been sworn, and cautioned by the Coroner, said: I am the wife of David Spicer, who is a waggoner in the employ of Mr. Banks, at Oxney. The deceased was placed under my care 12 months ago last May. I had the child from my cousin Elizabeth Knott. During the time I had charge of the child it was healthy, excepting an occasional cold. On Sunday afternoon he was taken ill with a rising in the throat, and I thought he looked as if he were in a fit. He had eaten very heartily of meat and potatoes. Rather more than half an hour after his dinner he was taken ill. I went for my neighbour Mrs. Banks. We put the child in a warm bath, and gave it some weak brandy and water. The child died in Mrs. Banks' arms about a quarter after coming out of the bath. I was not in the habit of giving the child anything to make it sleep. I had 6s. a week for attending to the child, and it was paid regularly. I did my duty by the child. The friends did not come very often to see the child.

Mr. S. J. Davey, surgeon, of Walmer, said on Sunday last I was sent for to see the deceased infant. I was from home when the messenger arrived, but my assistant went directly and found the child dead. I called on the following Tuesday and on examining the child I found a large bruise over the right temple, rather larger than a pigeon's egg, and I said I said I not give a certificate, and that they must apply to the coroner. The blow which caused the bruise might have caused the death of the child; but if the blow were given on the Thursday the child would not have been likely to have in that case lived till the Sunday, and to have died suddenly then. The blow was recent.

Elizabeth Spicer said: I live with my mother, the former witness. The deceased child was in good health. About the middle of last week he fell on his head on the floor. He got up himself, I saw the bruise on the forehead. He seemed well after that. That was the same bruise that the doctor saw. I am quite sure the child was not ill used.

A verdict of death from natural causes was returned.

From the Dover Express 19 August 1882

RINGWOULD

Shocking Case of Suicide:- On Monday an inquest was held at the "Five Bells," Ringwould, before W. H. Payn, Esq., coroner, touching the death of James Gardener, an agricultural labourer, who committed suicide by cutting his throat. The deceased was a man of very intemperate habits, and of late seemed to be at times quite insane. On several occasions he had threatened to destroy himself, and one day last week whilst in his home alone he cut his throat in a shocking manner, A medical man was called in, but in a short time after his having committed the rash deed he expired.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 11 October, 1882. Price 1d.

SUICIDE AT RINGWOULD

An inquest was held on Monday at the “Five Bells,” Ringwould, before W. H. Payn, Esq., touching the death of James Gardner, an agricultural labourer, who committed suicide by cutting his throat. The deceased was a man of very intemperate habits, and of late seemed to be at time quite insane. On several occasions he had threatened to destroy himself, and one day last week whilst in his home alone he cut his throat in a shocking manner. A medical man was called in, but in a short time after his having committed the rash deed he expired. The following evidence was taken:-

John Gardner said: I am a cab driver living at 11, Loudown mews, St. John's Wood, London, N.W. The deceased James Gardner, was my father. He was an agricultural labourer living at Ringwould. His age was fifty three years, and his health was generally good. I saw my father about four hours before his death. He was then in bed. He was not conscious, and he seemed to be wandering. I saw that he had a wound in his throat. He told me on the following day after the wound that he cut his throat, and that when he found that he had cut his throat he drank some cold water and found it running out of his throat. He was very intemperate in his habits. He could not give any reason for it only that it might be delirium tremens.

Rhoda Rogers said: I am a widow living at Ringwould. I have known the deceased for some years. His health was good. He was very intemperate in his habits. On Wednesday morning I looked in his window. He stood in the room with his shirt all bloody. There was a paper put under his sitting room door all over blood. It was a notice to quit his house on that day. I had to give him the notice to quit from my mother. I think he took the notice coolly. I had seen him in the evening before, but saw nothing particular in his manner. I heard him walking about the room talking to himself. On the next day I saw him sitting in his chair. He was then all over blood. Dr. Davey was sent for; deceased lingered about three days.

Richard Stains Davey, said: I am a surgeon practising at Walmer. I was sent for on Wednesday last to attend the deceased. I saw Gardner about eleven o'clock. I found him lying on his bed with a deep cut in his throat, dividing completely the windpipe and oesophagus and several large vessels. He was insensible but scarcely able to speak. He lost a great quantity of blood. He lingered about three days and six hours. He was unable to swallow naturally anything. He said he had cut his own throat. He assigned no reason. He was very intemperate in his habits. He died from the injuries received.

The Jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide in a state of temporary insanity.

From the Dover Express 22 September 1883

RINGWOULD. BEER AFTER HOURS.

J. Goozee, the landlord of the "Five Bells" at Ringwould, was summoned before the County Justices at Deal on Monday, at the instance of the policeman stationed at that place, for serving beer after hours on the 5th September last, and W. Terry, a labourer of the same village, was also summoned for being on the premises and receiving the beer. The magistrates fined the landlord £1 and 8s. 6d. costs and the other defendant 1s. 6d. and 8s. 6d cost.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 14 September, 1883. 1d.

AN APPLICATION

The landlord of the “Five Bells,” Ringwould, applied for permission to open his premises at 5 o'clock in the morning.

In reply to the Bench the applicant said that there were a number of men now employed on the farms near, hoppers and harvesters.

The Bench, after a short consultation, decided to refuse the application.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 15 March, 1901. 1d.

MYSTERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT

DOVER YOUTH KILLED.

An inquest was held yesterday at the “Five Bells,” Ringwould, by the Coroner of the Borough and Liberties of Dover (Mr. Sydenham Payn) and a Jury of which Mr. C. Lawrence was foreman, to enquire into the death of a Dover lad, Ernest Henry Ovended, aged 15, who was run over by a train near a level crossing at Ringwould early on the morning of Wednesday, after having been missing since the previous afternoon, when he left the office where he was employed and did not go home.

The evidence was as follows:-

John Simmons Ovenden, builder, living at 30, Alfred Road, Dover, identified the body as that of his son, Ernest Henry Ovenden, aged 15 years and 4 months. He was a builder's junior clerk in the employ of Mr. W£. J. Adcock. Witness last saw his son on Tuesday at dinner, just before one o'clock. He was then all right, and as happy and well as could be. His time for coming home was indefinite, as he sometimes went out to Kearsney. He had, however, got a ticket for the Co-operative entertainment at the Town Hall, which he had arranged to go to with his sisters, who went there expecting to see him. Witness waited for about twenty minutes after his daughters returned, and made enquiries of Mr. Lovegrove, who, however, had not seen deceased since 3.30 p.m. Witness also made enquiries of the Police, and on their suggestion he enquired at Canterbury to see if had joined the yeomanry. Witness heard deceased had been found killed on the line at Ringwould about 11 o'clock on Wednesday, and he went over to identify the body. Deceased was a bright lad and sensitive, though not likely to take anything to heart. The boy was fond on the country. Witness did not know of anything having happened which he would take to heart.

William Edward Lovegrove, chief clerk to Mr. Adcock, contractor, Dover, said deceased had been there as a junior clerk about six weeks. Witness saw him last about 3.30 p.m., when he was about his usual work. Then deceased left the office.

The Coroner: Did you have any occasion to say anything to him before that?

Witness: Not more than I should have said.

The Coroner: Did he leave in a tiff?

Witness: No. I had accession to speak to him about a little thing, but not at all in a harsh manner.

The Coroner: Did he turn on his heel and walk out?

Witness: No, he went into the outer office. I happened to look out and I saw he had gone.

The Coroner: Did he answer you?

Witness: No. He was always a civil lad and very good about his work. I was very shocked to hear the news.

The Coroner: He did not return that afternoon?

Witness: No.

The Coroner: Were there any threats used? I knew what had happened.

Witness: No.

The Foreman: had you any idea that he was going off and not going home?

Witness: It never entered my mind. If I had had half a thought of such a thing I should have taken him home. He usually told me when he left the office.

Thomas Moat, plate layer of the Dover and Deal line, between Walmer and Martin Mill, said that on Wednesday, at 6 a.m., near the crossing on the road from Ringwould to Ripple, he found the body of deceased on the line. It was on the up-line from Walmer to Dover. He was close to the outer rail, his breast on the ballast, and his feet on the path. There was a public crossing there (it was formerly a road). One had to get over the fence, there being no style there. Just beyond the crossing there is a cutting on the Deal side, and it is possibly that deceased could not have seen the train in the cutting until it was on the line. The up trains, however, made a great deal of noise usually. Deceased was lying nearly parallel with the line, his head towards Dover, his face knocked right into the ballast, and his arms under his breast. Witness left his mate to guard the body and went to Police-corporal Love. The last train to Dover on Tuesday left Walmer punctually at 10.50. There were no marks on this train. It was quite possible, from the position of the body, for an earlier train to have knocked him down, and the others passed by. Witness added that he thought from the position of the body that deceased was walking up the path at the side of the line. The current of air caused by the train would draw anybody towards the train, and the fact that his cap was found a yard off shows that that was blown off. The body was stiff and cold when found.

Police Corporal Isaac Love, stationed at Ringwould, said he was called by the last witness at 6.15 a.m., and on going to the crossing found the body lying in the position stated by Moat. Witness searched the body, and found among other things a pocket book containing deceased's name and address. None of the drivers to whom the Superintendent had telephoned had seen deceased. There were no marks found on any of the trains. Witness telephoned to the Dover Police. From the way the body lay it was witness's opinion that the deceased was walking up the line towards Dover. Witness could not ascertain that deceased had been noticed at Walmer or in the neighbourhood.

By the Jury: There were no signs of a struggle having taken place.

Dr. Llewelyn Davey, of Walmer, described the injuries to the body. The whole of the back of the head seemed to be driven in, and there was bruising on the head and forehead, which looked as if he had been knocked down on his face violently on to the ballast, a stone being driven into the skull over the nose. Death would have been instantaneous. None of the limbs were broken, and there was no other mark of violence. He noticed that the right coat sleeve was cut, though the arm was not damaged. This looked as if the train which knocked deceased down must have been followed by a later one, which had cut the sleeve. Witness considered the injury was caused by a train, and not that he was injured and then put on the line.

The Coroner, in summing up, said that there was no doubt that there was some little matter in relation to the deceased's studies which he had unduly taken to heart, and he seemed to have gone out of the office, from which moment he was not seen till found on the line. It was a matter of conjecture whether the boy wandered out into the country as far as Ringwould not liking to go home, and then as evening came changed his mind, and started to walk to Dover along the path of the railway. He (the Coroner) had lived near there, and had used that path, and thought that when the wind was blowing from all directions, as it seemed to do there, that it would be possible not to have heard the train till it was too late.

The Jury agreed to return a verdict of “Death by Misadventure.”

From the Dover Express, 27 January 1928.

RINGWOULD LICENSING PROSECUTSON.

At a sitting of the Cinque Ports Police Court, held at Walmer on Monday, William Maycock, landlord of the “Five Bells" Ringwould, was summoned for supplying intoxicating liquor to Robert Gibson, of Box Iron Corner, Barham, during prohibited hours.

P.C. Usher said that at 9.45 a.m. on the 12th January he saw Gibson standing in front of the bar with a glass of beer in front of him. Gibson said he had been out on the road all the morning and wanted some refreshment. The landlord said he gave the man the beer, and that he was no stranger to him.

Mr. Hardman said that Gibson had spent the night at the house, and under the Licensing Act a man who was a lodger could be served at any hour.

Evidence was given by Mrs. Maycock that Gibson did spend the night at the house, and paid 5s.

The case was dismissed.

Dover Express, Friday 30 October 1936.

FALLEN TREE CAUSES DEATH.

ENGINE DRIVER’S FATAL ACCIDENT.

An inquest was held at the "Five Bells," Ringwould, on Wednesday, on the body of Lewis Henry Fowler (57) an engine driver on the Southern Railway, living at 132, Mill Rd. Deal, who was killed instantly early on Tuesday, when his motor cycle in which he was riding to work came into collision with a tree trunk that had fallen across the road at Oxney Bottom.

Mr. E. T. Lambert (Coronef for Ringwould, one of the Liberties of Dover,) conducted the inquest and sat with a jury as follows:— Messrs. E. Castle (foreman). A. J. Arnold, F. Kennett. P. Sayers. A Lawrence. A. S. Popple and F. Lawrerce.

Frederick Lewis Fowler, 28, Cemetery Rd., Deal, an East Kent bus driver, said that deceased was his father, who would have been 58 years of age next month. Witness last saw him at about 10 p.m. on Monday night at his home in Mill Rd. Deceased was laughing and joking and was just going to bed. Deceased was physically fit and his eyesight was good. Deceased, on the morning of the accident, was to have been on duty at the Dover Marine at 5.15 a.m. He knew the road well as he had been going to and fro for about 11 years. Witness added that he saw the tree a few hours after the accident and found the root to be rotten.

Owners of property should not be allowed to leave trees in a dangerous state.

Alfred Ernest Lane, 3, Tunstall Cottages, Sandown Rd., Deal, a fireman on the Southern Railway, said that he knew deceased well and last saw him alive on the day previous to the accident. Witness was also in the habit of cycling between Dover and Deal and was going to Dover about 4.45 a.m. on Tuesday. Fireman Green was with him. Approaching Oxney Bottom he saw another light approaching and then it disappeared.

Someone called "Stop’" and they applied their brakes. They saw another cyclist who told them there was a tree across the road and witness told him to tell deceased who would be coming along shortly. They lifted their cycles, over the tree and then saw deceased about 15 to 20 yards beyond the tree. They called the other cyclist and instructed him to 'phone the police. Witness and Green thought the best thing to do was to go on to Dover and stop a car. They stopped the mail van and the driver said that he would telephone the
police from St. Margarets. They then came down to Dover and informed the police there. He understood the deceased should have been on duty at 4.15 a.m., so he must have been lying there about 50 minutes.

P.C. Witherden, Ringwould, said that at 5.5 a.m. on Tuesday he received a telephone message from Deal Police Station and at once went to Oxney, and arrived at about 5.15 a.m. He there saw a large decayed ash tree lying diagonally across the road. The root was on the offside of the road going towards Dover. About 20 yards on the Dover side was deceased's motor cycle in the middle of the road with its front wheel towards Ringwould. Deceased was lying on his stomach three feet from the motor cycle. Blood was coming from the
mouth and nose. Witness moved the body to the side of the road. Sgt. Cowland, East Langdon, came on the scene. The road is 22 feet wide and the length of the tree 16 yards. The circumference at the foot, was 36 inches and the distance from the foot of the tree to the side of the road was 5 feet. The damage to the motor cycle was that the headlamp had been bent down, front and rear number plates damaged, both wheels buckled and nearside foot rest broken off. In witness's opinion deceased struck the tree, turned a somersault and skidded 21 yards from the obstruction. Witness found £8 14s. 7d. and documents in deceased’s clothing. There was a gale that night. The road was dry. Witness tested the lamp of deceased's machine and it was in order.

In reply to the deceased's son, witness said that the root had broken off.

Dr. P. J. Simpkin Hall, Walmer, said that he received a message of the accident at 6 a.m. and went to Oxney Bottom, immediately and found deceased's body lying by the roadside. There was a depressed fracture of the right temple and the bones immediately above it. He could find no other injuries. In witness’s opinion, death was instantaneous from the blow.

The Coroner said that that was all the evidence available. The jury had to find the cause of death and then decide if anyone was responsible for it, criminally responsible or otherwise. He did not think they could find that in this case, and thought it was essentially a case of death by accident. If the jury liked to review the duties of a landowner as to trees that belonged to him adjoining the highway, they were at liberty to do so, but, if anyone had a claim for damages, it was a case for a civil court. Deceased apparently was riding along not suspecting anything unusual had occurred and evidently came suddenly on the tree across the road.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and expressed sympathy with the relatives of deceased.

The Coroner said that he would also like to express his sympathy.

Deceased's son thanked them and said he thought the owners of trees along the highway should see that they were not in such a state that they might, easily fall down. It was very dangerous.

The Coroner said he quite agreed.

From the Dover Express, 13 October 1939.

ROAD FATALITY AT RINGWOULD

A 15 year old girl, Kathleen Hassett daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Hassett of Down's Cottage. Oxney, died at Deal Hospital at 11 o'clock on Saturday morning as a result of having been run over two and a half hours earlier at Ringwould by the wheel of a timber lorry. She was going in to her employment at Messrs. Baldwin's, drapers, when she was knocked down.

At the inquest, held at Deal by the Borough Coroner, Mr. J. H. Robinson, evidence was given by the driver of the lorry. A. C. Gordon, of Cricklewood, that he was employed by a London firm. R. Davis (Haulage). Ltd., and was driving a 4.5 ton lorry at an estimated speed of from 18 to 20 miles per hour when the accident occurred at 8.30 a.m. It appeared that there was a pantechnicon belonging to Messrs. Redsull and Sons, of Deal, outside the “ Five Bells ” Inn, Ringwould, removing the furniture, and that as the lorry was coming from Walmer towards Dover the van moved forward, and the lorry passed so close that the cords holding the timber were cut by the front wing of the pantechnicon. The lorry driver stopped, and then found that he had knocked down the girl, whom he had seen come round a bend just as he approached the pantechnicon. It gave him a great shock, as he had felt positive that he had avoided the girl, and had stopped to reprimand the other driver for blocking the road.

he van driver. A. P. D. Newby, in his evidence, said that he was just going to back into the inn yard when the lorry passed.

The Coroner expressed the view that there was no criminal negligence; and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, with an expression of sympathy to the parents.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News. 29 January, 1971.

MR. AND Mrs. EDDIE EMPTAGE

After ten years working among the holidaymakers at the now called St. Margaret's Chalet hotel 31-year-old Mr. Eddie Emptage and his wife Margaret have gone into business themselves.

They have taken over the "Five Bells" public house on the Dover-Deal Road at Ringwould.

When they moved in on Thursday last week one of their customers was retiring licensee Mr. Peter Bardell, 67, who had held the license for 13 years.

It's nice to be on this side of the counter for a change he joked as Mrs. Emptage pulled him a pint.

Mr. Emptage lived in Dover and worked for a Folkestone Road butcher until he married. Then he moved to Kingsdown Road, St. Margaret's. As Maddison's were about to open their holiday camp he decided to switch to that business. For six years he worked as a bar steward and for the past four years has been bar manager.

Although the move to Ringwould was not far, it was quite an occasion for Mrs. Emptage. It was the first time she had lived outside St. Margaret's.

Mr. Emptage said; "We hope to make some changes here but we are going to wait until we have settled first."

Former licensee Mr. Bardell is retiring to Queen's rise at Ringwould but says he hopes to find employment as a relief manager for the brewery after he and his wife have had a long holiday.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 11 October, 2012. 65p. Report by Phil Hayes

REOPENED PUB AIMS TO BE HUB OF COMMUNITY

OPENING TIME: Tony Merrett and John Guy, along with pub dog Holly, at the Five Bells

Two men and their dog offer warm welcome to all

TWO men and their dog have made it their mission to turn around the fortunes of a Ring-would pub.

Former air steward, Tony Merrett, 39, and his friend John Guy, 41, have vowed to bring the local community back into The "Five Bells," and vice-versa.

Experienced Mr Merrett, who used to run a cabaret bar at a London nightclub, said: “We want to keep a community spirit in the pub. Everyone's welcome regardless of who they are or where they are from.”

Mr Merret and Mr Guy, who are both gay but not in a relationship, hope families will start coming back into the pub to meet them and cocker spaniel Holly, who has already been allocated her own sofa.

The two friends hope to alter the perception that non-regulars were not made to feel particularly welcome at the Front Street pub, under its previous management.

“It was a bit of a strange place,” Mr Merrett said.

But he and John, a qualified teacher who works in mental health, were impressed by the togetherness of the village when they were renovating The "Five Bells."

“People were really nice to us,” said Tony. “They are really community based and offered help whenever we needed it.”

Hosting

The former Eastbourne residents have now fully moved in to the Ringwould pub and are already hosting parties - an 18th and a 50th were held on the same night last week.

“We'll be hosting parties of any description,” said Mr Merrett.

The "Five Bells" is open from 12pm to 11pm every day, offers en-suite bed and breakfast, and now has a brand new menu.