Pub's "Chequered" past on show

Steyning Museum has just opened its newest exhibition of photographs, letters, accounts and ledgers, dating back more than 100 years.

The items were collected by the late Colin Garlick, landlord at the Chequer Inn, in Steyning High Street, for more than 40 years, before retiring in 1990.

In its time, the pub has been a courthouse and a coaching inn, and the Garlick Collection illustrates many aspects of its changing history.

A detailed inventory of every room, taken in the 1880s, lists all the furniture and equipment found in a busy working inn during Victorian times.

Photographs in the collection include pictures of the Shoreham and Steyning of old, and an extensive catalogue explains the history to the museum's visitors.

Museum publicist David Haseldine said: "Interesting items include a set of Victorian pewter measures for drinks '“ getting too much head on your ale is not a modern invention.

"Countless generations of workers from market, field and town have come to the bar with a thirst to be quenched with a long, deep draught of Steyning ale.

"Perhaps they played dominoes or even chequers, but that is not how the inn got its name.

"Hanging halfway out over the High Street, supported by an intricately forged, Sussex iron bracket, the pub sign shows a piece of chequered board or cloth, kept in the bar as a service to commercial customers who would use it to cast up their account '“ think of the Exchequer.

"No visit to the Chequer exhibition would be complete without calling in at the inn itself, a short walk away.

"You are bound to recognise the snugs, bars and lounges as the Chequer keeps its old style and atmosphere."

Mr Haseldine added the museum was grateful to current Chequer tenants Peter and Ruth Comber for their help in preparing the exhibition, which is open until Friday, December 8.