From the Dover Telegraph 3 March 1838

Mr John FAGG: “At Studdle, far advanced in age, who, with his predecessors, had kept the public house there for nearly 80 years”.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 September, 1888. Price 1d.

PEA PICKERS RIOT AT ASHLEY

Henry Williams, of West Street, Deal, was summoned for assaulting Police-constable Lockyer, in the parish of Little Mongeham, on the 15th August.

The defendant pleaded “Not Guilty.”

Thomas Lockyer, a County Police-constable, stationed at Tilmanstone, said on the August he was fetched to go to the “Three Horse Shoes” public house at East Studdal, near Ashley, shortly before four o'clock. Witness had been called there in the morning. He went, and as soon as he got to the front door, was rushed at by the defendant and two other men named Sladden and Castle. He was struck by a blow in the left eye, which closed it, and was also hit on the head by a spittoon by Castle, who had already been convicted. Witness was then knocked down in the road by the defendant and the other two men, and they struck him several times while he was on the ground. He endeavoured to get away, and was hit in the head by a stone thrown by Castle, which rendered him insensible, and he was taken to a house, where his wounds were dressed by a man named James Jones. He afterwards went to Dr. Dixon and was attended to by him, and he was still under his care, and unable to perform his duties.

William Taylor corroborated the evidence of the last witness, and said he saw defendant strike the constable while he was on the ground. The man named Castle wanted to fight witness, but the landlady locked him (witness) in the front room.

The Chairman, to the defendant: Have you anything to say to us?

Defendant: I have nothing to say to you, as you was not there and know nothing about it. (Laughter).

The Bench sentenced the defendant to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.

The defendant said the constable ought to have three months and the witness Taylor two months.

Another man named Sladden was to have been summoned for the same offence at the court, but the police informed the Bench that the summons had not yet been served. This will make the third case that has arisen through the disturbance.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 21 March, 1902. Price 1d.

PUBLIC HOUSE PROSECUTION

William Amos, landlord of the “Three Horse Shoes,” East Studdall, Little Mongeham, was summonsed for selling intoxicating liquor, been, on Sunday, March 2nd, at ten minutes past ten, a.m., when the house should have been closed.

Mr. Rutley Mowll appeared on behalf of defendant, and entered a plea of “guilty.” He pleaded in extenuation that defendant had had a very good character. He explained that one man had no beer, and the two other men came to the house purporting to be bona-fide travellers.

Superintendent Chaney said that the license was only granted at the last Sessions day, and that it was owing to anonymous letters received imputing this kind of thing that he sent an officer to visit the house in plain clothes.

The Bench imposed a penalty of £1 9s. 10d.

William Graves, William Smith, and William Henry Wellard were each summoned for being on the premises during unlawful hours.

Smith and Wellard explained that they walked from Martin Mill, and thought it was far enough to enable them to get a drink. Graves declared that he had only gone to the house to fetch some greens left there for him.

The bench inflicted a fine of 5/- on each man, or three days in default.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 2 July, 1915.

PUBLIC HOUSE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

On Wednesday afternoon during a thunder storm, in the district near Dover, the "Three Horse Shoes," at Ashley, was struck by lightning, there being a terrible heavy peal of thunder simultaneously. The chimney was struck, bricks flying all about. The lightning did damage right through the house smashing an over-mantle in one room. Fortunately no one was injured. the landlord is Mr. Amos.

Dover Express 4th August 1916.

Eastry Rural District Tribunal held 26th July 1916.

Conditional exemption granted to W. J. Amos aged 36, wattle maker and thatcher of the “Three Horseshoes”, Studdale.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 8 December, 1916.

SERGEANT RICHARD BELSEY.

Royal Engineers (formerly of the 9th Lancers and served in the South African War three years), gassed and wounded on the 24 Sept 1916, after being on active service for 2 years. He has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery. Brother of Mrs W. Amos, of the "Three Horseshoes" East Studdale; son of the late Mr Thomas BELSEY of Ashley; and son in law of Mr Henry WALKER of Goodnestone.

Dover Express 31st July 1942.

DOVER RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL.

Martin: Right of Way.

The Highways Committee reported that the Eastry Rural District Council had asked whether the right of way between the “Three Horseshoes” public house and Martin was a footpath or a bridleway. The Surveyor suggested that he should see the Surveyor to the Eastry Rural District Council on the matter and this was agreed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 August 1942.

Trouble at Studdale

Nelly Gregory, of 7, Oak Cottages, Studdale, was summoned by her sister in-law, Edith Rose Spence, of "The Three Horseshoes," Ashley, for assaulting her and her 9½ years old daughter, Elizabeth; and there was a counter summons for assault by Mrs. Spence.

Mr. P. A. G. Aldington appeared for Mrs. Spence and: and Mr. F. Tucker (Sandwich) for Mrs. Gregory.

Mr. Aldington said that the cases arose out of two assaults on Sunday July 19th. It seemed that the girl was going along the road with two small sisters in a pram, when the defendant went across to her, made some remarks, swore at her, and hit her on the back of the neck, apparently for no reason. When the child told her mother, Mrs Spence went to find out what it was all about, and Mrs. Gregory knocked her down and blackened her eye. His client issued the summons on July 22nd, and they were served on July 27th, and for some reason or other Mrs. Gregory issued a summons against Mrs. Spence the following day.

Elizabeth Amelia Rose Spence said that she was walking along the road when her aunt came along and said, "I have got you in the right place," got hold of her arm and shook her, said her mother had not brought her up right, and then hit her on the back of the neck. She went home and told her mother, who went to see her aunt, and returned with a black eye and grazed elbow.

By Mr. Tucker. She did not laugh at her aunt, and did not say "You haven't got the manners of a pig and don't know how to bring your children up." She did not cry, her aunt did not ask her if her mother knew she called after her.

Mrs. Spence said that the girl went home crying, and, as a result of what she had said, she (witness) went to find Mrs. Gregory. As she knew sh was a decent way away, she took her husband's bicycle. Her sister in-law asked if she had come about Betty, and when she said "Yes," Mrs. Gregory said, "I am not going to have her laugh at me." Witness told her she did not like he hitting the child, and defendant took off her jacket and hit her (witness) in the stomach. She did not know how she got on the road, and when she asked to be allowed to get up, Mrs. Gregory punched her twice in the eye.

By Mr. Tucker. There was a quarrel about six weeks ago. Mrs. Gregory and her husband had made no complaints about Elizabeth. She was cross when she reached Mrs. Gregory, but she did not remember rushing to her and getting hold of her by her blouse. She did not strike her in the mouth.

Mr. Tucker said that he pleaded not guilty, because what happened was justified and provoked. Evidence would show that the little girl had been in the habit of calling out after Mrs. Gregory in the road for about six weeks. Mrs. Gregory was attacked by Mrs. Spence first, and what she did was in self defence.

Mrs. Gregory, aged 23, and mother of two children, said Mrs. Spence was her husband's sister. Ever since the quarrel the girl had shouted rude remarks to her in the road, such as "You haven't got the manners of a pig!" and "You don't know how to bring your children up." She had complained to Mrs. Spence about it and so had her husband. On the day in question she was with her sister going to catch a bus at Sutton. The girl came towards them and burst out laughing in her face. After she had passed, she shouted, "You want to learn to bring your children up properly. You haven't the manners of a pig." She (witness) went after her and shook her, and said "Does your mother know you are still mouthing me, Betty?" and she replied, "Yes." She denied she struck the child, but when she shook her arm she burst out crying. When Mrs. Spence arrived she said, "This is just what I have been waiting for!" caught hold of the front of her blouse and tore it and hit her in the mouth and made it swell. Witness then hit back, and supposed she pushed her down on the road.

By Mr. Aldington: Mrs. Spence attacked first. She did not take out a summons earlier because it was a family quarrel.

Mrs. Dorothy Steer, sister of Mrs. Gregory, corroborated.

Dennis John Gregory gave evidence of hearing the child call after his wife and speaking to his sister (Mrs. Spence) about it, but she did not answer.

After retirement, the Chairman said the magistrates felt the case should never have been brought to Court. They thought the real trouble was the little girl, who had, apparently, been very cheeky, and enough to make the aunt angry. The summonses would all be dismissed and each would pay their own costs. If they came before the court again they would get into proper trouble, either one, the other, or both. They should go away now and make up.

Speaking to the child, the Chairman pointed out she was the cause of a great deal of the trouble, and she should go away and behave herself.

Dover Express 8th June 1945.

East Kent News. Sutton. Communist Party.

Open air public meeting, near “Three Horse Shoes” Inn, East Studdal, Sunday June 10th at 7.30 p.m. Messrs. Fred Pepper, Peter Sheppard and Gilbert Williams will be speaking on “Why we support the Labour Party candidate” Comrades! Come Rally.

Dover Express 6th June 1947.

R.D.C. BYE ELECTION.

Two candidates were nominated on Monday for the bye-election at Sutton to fill the vacancy on the Eastry Rural District Council caused by the death of Mr. J. E. Parfitt.

Polling Day will be June 16th and the candidates are Mr. Robert Spence, licensed victualler, of the “Three Horseshoes”, East Studdal (Lab) and Mrs. Margaret Letitia Tritton, Farmer, Brighton Bungalow, East Studdal (Ind). The late Mr. Parfitt was a Labour Party representative on the Council.

Dover Express, Friday 3 February 1950.

Ashley and Studdale.

Death of Mr. H. Oliver.

The funeral took place on Saturday, at Waldershare churchyard of Mr. Hezekiah Oliver, who died January 23rd, age 76. Deceased was licensee of the "Butchers Arms," at Ashley, for 15-years, and licensee of the "Three Horseshoes" at Studdale, for 11 years, retiring in 1942. The Rev C. D. Mayhew officiated and the mourners present were. Mrs. H. Oliver (widow,) Mr. H. Oliver (son), Mr. and Mrs. J. Oliver (son and daughter-in-law), Mr. F. Oliver (son), Mr. and Mrs. W. Barnes (son-in-law and daughter), David Oliver (grandson), and Mrs. C Pots (friend).

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 17 September, 1954.

OUTING FROM STUDDAL.

Many dart players in the district will recognise past opponents in this photograph of the players at the "Three Horse Shoes," Studdal, before they left for an outing at Windsor.

An email 21 November 2012, states the following:-

Have just sorted my notes and am disappointed with the small number of people I have identified. however, here goes:-

Back row from the left - Harold Parfitt, Teddy Gisby, then in the doorway holding the beer, Harold Miller, then on the right of the door in the flat cap Mr. Whittaker. The rest I do not know.

Front row again from the left - Mrs Miller, Mrs. Whittaker, not known, Mrs. Marshall with carrier bag, not known, Mrs. Pascall, Mrs Jones.

I will leave you to edit or ignore this as you wish.

Regards,

David Harvey.

An email 21 November 2012, states the following:-

My Nan and Grandad ran the pub for a while....I presume they were the licensees. They are in the picture of the darts trip to Windsor.

My nan, Beatrice Mitchison in the middle with the sign and my grandad, Archibald Mitchison standing behind her.

I have attached a photo of them behind the bar.

Brian Mitchison.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 30 September, 1966.

The future of the 150-year-old Three Horseshoes Inn at Studdal was last (Thursday) night shrouded in mystery, is it going to close down or not? No one was prepared to say.

The pub (above) - on the road linking Waldershare with Deal - is a popular rendezvous for townsfolk and villagers.

For several years it has been run by landlord 62-year-old Mr. Stanley Marcell and his wife. Now they are leaving for the Isle of Wight.

As far as they are concerned the pub closes down on Wednesday night, when Mr. Marcell will call "Time!" for the last time.

Mr. Marcell has no idea who will be taking over - or if anyone will.

"There have been no prospective tenants to look over the place since I gave in my notice," he says.

The Inn is owned by Charrington's, but no one from the brewery was saying anything about the future of the two-bar establishment.

The brewers local office at Walmer said : No comment.

At Charrington's office at Hadlow, a spokesman would only comment, "I can't say anything official."

And at the Mile End head office, the public relations officer was on holiday. No one else thee would make any comment.

Customers will be waiting eagerly next Thursday to see what happens. The house has been n Inn ever since it was built over 150 years ago (circa 1800) in former days it was run in conjunction with a blacksmith's shop.

"It's a funny idea when we can't find out what's going to happen to our future drinking habits," said one established customer this week."

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 October, 1966.

Not closing.

There were signs of relief at Studdal when it was learned that the Three Horseshoes Inn would not be closing after all. Messrs. Charrington's refused to make any statement as to its future.

But before she left, on Wednesday, Mrs. Eunice Marcell, wife of the former landlord said a manager would be moving in today.