THE Shepherd and Crook public house at Burmarsh on Romney Marsh began its tradition of hospitality back in the 15th century.

Then the King's Hospitallers provided food, drink and shelter for weary travellers and knights and monks on pilgrimage.

The inn, now Grade II listed, also offered a setting for spiritual refreshment. It was used for religious services during numerous stages of reconstruction work on nearby All Saints' parish church.

This coming Saturday (August 17) licensee Teddy Greene will be turning back the clock to those ancient times. He is inviting worshippers inside his bar for a re-run of the custom of prayers and hymns in his hostelry.

From 3pm, bell ringers from the parish and from other churches will be sounding out from the Norman church which, like the inn, is thought to have been built from stone taken from the remains of the Roman fort at Lympne.

About 20 worshippers are expected in the Shepherd and Crook at 4.30pm for a service and later at 7pm the bellringers resume ringing the changes.

Mr Greene, an ex-RAF air gunner on Wellington bombers who completed two tours in the Second World War, loves the association with history that makes his pub so interesting. He said: "Everything in this pub is antique - including me."