From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 2 February, 1872. Price 1d.

EYTHORNE

On Friday last a paper hunt steeple chase took place here. The start was from the "Crown Hotel." There was a large assembly of spectators to witness the sport, which was successfully carried out by the spirited landlord, who took the lead with the papers over hedges, ditches, and ploughed land, and took the large pond in the valley, making a splendid dive, which was followed very pluckily by the competitors amidst the hearty cheers of the spectators. He reached the gaol first, Marsh 2nd, Keeler 3rd, Hambrook 4th, and Groombridge 5th.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 5 January, 1877. Price 1d.

CHARGE OF STEALING A PONY AND CART AT EYTHORNE

John Maxted, labourer, was indicted for stealing a pony and cart, value £35, the property of Thomas Christie Royce, at Eythorne, on the 26th of October, 1876.

Mr. Kingsford (instructed by Mr. Worsford Mowll, of Dover) prosecuted; prisoner being undefended.

The prosecutor deposed: I am a butcher carrying on business at Dover. On the 26th October I and Mr. George drove with a pony and cart to Mr. Harvey's annual stock sale at Eythorne. We went to the "Crown Inn" about 5 to settle up our purchases, and while there the pony and cart were tied up to a post outside. Some time after we had been there we missed the pony, and we then went different roads to Dover - I by Waldershare and George by Coldred. I saw the pony later on that night, when I found it had been very much knocked about and the cart damaged.

Joseph George, a butcher, of Dover, deposed: I went with Mr. Royce to the sale, and after the sale was over we went to the "Crown Inn." While there I went outside now and then to see that the pony was safe. I last saw it about half-past 8. At 9 o'clock I missed the pony and cart, and I went on to Dover by the Coldred road. I saw the pony and cart in front of me, and when I came up to them I saw two men named Kennett and Belsey with it. The pony was lying against a bank, and the men said "Here's your pony and cart." I went on to Dover and overtook the prisoner, who appeared in a dusty state. Belsey said "Here's the man I found  by the side of the cart upset." Prisoner said it was not he, they said it was.  I asked the prisoner if he had been to Eythorne sale, he said he had not, the other men said he had. Prisoner said he had been to work at Mr. Stephen Dale's.

By the Chairman: It was a rather dark night. You could recognise a person three or four yards off. It was about two miles and a half from the "Crown" where I found the pony and cart. I left the "Crown" about half-past nine, and came upon the pony and cart about ten.

George Dunk, instructing-constable, stationed at Eythorne, deposed: I saw the prisoner at the Eythorne sale. In the evening I saw him standing at the head of Mr. Royce's pony, as if he was minding it. I turned the light on him.

By the Chairman: I have known the prisoner about four years.

Edward Belsey deposed: I am a fish hawker living at Dover. On the evening of the 26th of October I saw the prisoner in the "Crown" - at five or half-past. Between 9 and 10 I found four others were driving in two donkey carts to Dover. On going down Coldred Hill I saw a pony and cart at the bottom of the hill, and two or three rods from them a man was lying flat on his back. I did not know the man. I went to a farm house to get a light, and when i came back the man was gone. I went onto Dover and overtook the man, who someone said was "the man." I heard him say, "I have been thrashing at Stephen Dale's."

By the prisoner: I saw you by Water's End  Arch, and you pulled hold of me and wanted me to fight.

Henry Cannon, a small boy not quite ten years of age , deposed: I went to the sale by myself and saw the prisoner there. I have known him about two years. I drove home with Belsey, and at the top of  Coldred Hill, I saw George. At the bottom of the  hill I saw  a pony and cart lying in the road. I also saw the prisoner lying by the side of the cart. I am quite sure it was the prisoner. When the prisoner got up he stood for about a quarter of an hour and then walked away. We got the pony out  of the cart and they went on and overtook Maxted. We saw him close by the arch. I said "Hulloa Mr. Maxted," and he said "Hulloa my boy." I said wasn't that you that was lying in the road?" He made no answer, and then one of the men asked him the same question, but the prisoner said he had been thrashing at Mr. Dale's for two or three days. he also said he had ridden Mr. Bayley's horse from the "Crown" at the bottom of Coldred Hill, and then that a gentleman gave him a drive in a pony cart and  having a little drink he was pitched out.

Stephen Dale, farmer at Water's End, Ewell, about half or three quarters of a mile from Coldred Hill, said the prisoner was not at his farm or about his premises on the day of the 26th of October. he had not worked for him for about two years.

This was the case for the prosecution, and the prisoner addressed the jury, said he was at the sale with a horse, and on the road home, being the rather worse for drink, he laid down in a meadow near the  roadside, and after some time he heard a noise and on looking up saw some men and boys, who said he was the man that was lying  in the road with a pony and cart; he was not the man at all.

Prisoner called a man named Kennett, who was  one of the men with the donkey and carts, who said he saw a man lying near a pony cart. He got the man on his legs and put his hat on. It was too dark to see who the man was. Witness afterwards saw the prisoner by the arch at Water's End, Ewell.

Lydia Maxted, prisoner's sister, said she passed the "Crown" at 8 o'clock and saw the prosecutor's pony and cart standing outside. The reins were dragging on the ground underneath the horse, and the horse appeared to be restless. It was not tied up.

The Jury found the prisoner Not Guilty.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 17 October, 1952.

HARVEST FESTIVAL AT THE PUB

Service in the Club Room

From the spacious club-room at the Crown Inn, Eythorne, on Sunday evening - a room which the previous evening had echoed with the voices of darts-players and customers singing such pub favourites as "Nellie Dean" - came the voices of many of the same folk, only this time singing harvest hymns.

The occasion was the harvest thanksgiving service which the licensees, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Clayson organise each year in their pub.

Customers had helped to transform the club-room with masses of produce and flowers, and when the Rev. Michael Gedge opened the service there there was a congregation of nearly seventy people.

A collection amounted to £2 and together with the proceeds of an auction of the produce conducted by Mr. Clayson, a total of £7 will be forwarded to the T.B. after-care committee who have established a Convalescent cottage at Ashley.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 16 October, 1953.

Service in the Club Room

A section of the congregation at the Harvest Festival service held on Sunday evening in the club room at the Crown Inn, Eythorne. The Rev. John Strong, who conducted the service, is standing on the left.

From the Dover Express, 2 September, 1999.

CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IS GOING TO TAKE THINGS A BIT EASIER

IT was "cheers" to Roy Tarver when colleagues from P&O Stena Line said a fond farewell to him at his retirement celebration.

Roy, from Dover, has worked as a chief petty officer in the engine room of the 26,000-ton ferry Dover, since 1987.

He plans to "relax and take life a bit slower" when he officially retires on September 26.

He is pictured here, at the Crown Inn, Eythorne, with wife Mary and colleagues raising a glass to him.