This image, thought to have been taken in 1923 is 'Aunt Annie's' Off Licence according to Sompting author Bill Lindfield in his book 'The Last Sussex Cowboy'

The building on the right is the off licence in question, which was knocked down and become the Ball Tree Inn  around 1935.

A recently discovered photograph of the inside of the Ball Tree pub in 1935, just after it opened.

The typewritten text at the bottom says, 'Balltree Hotel, N Lancing, Sussex - 1935 - Public Bar'.

1957: ex-Metropolitan policeman, Arthur William Silberry, 37, faced a Brighton Bankruptcy Court, where they found he had become the licensee without the support of any capital.

Having borrowed money from his brother and mother to pay the pub rent, brewer's security, and tenancy payment.
During his time there, he incurred a loss of £785 and drew only £8 a week for personal expenditure and wages. He had been under pressure from his mother and brother to return their money so they could buy the house they were living in.

1965: Regulars at the Ball Tree Inn, Sompting, staged a 'it's a knockout' competition to raise funds for youngsters at Southlands Hospital.

The money raised, some £650 in total, was used to purchase small resuscitation bags for the children's ward.

Pictured: Paula Friend, women's and children's maternity services manager, along with Heather Moon from the pub.

Pamela, daughter of landlords Frank and Audrey Hill was offered a 1952 Ford Anglia for £1 by a customer.

Ted Butt was the one who made the offer, which was quickly accepted there and then. Much work needed to be done, and Pamela asked 15-year-old keen mechanic, John Hill, who spent 12 hours making the car MOT-worthy.

"I couldn't believe it, I had previously seen it in the car park and knew it was in good condition, and so I ran and got a £1 note and gave it to him."

Pictured, Pamela and John Hill

1996: 65 ladies rose to the challenge to raise money for the Dunblane School* by doing step aerobics at the Ball tree Inn.
Joint owner Chris Moon said, 'It was something that was very close to people's hearts, young children suffering like that'. Other events included a tug of war, Morris dancing and five a side football match. £800 had been made on the day, with more to follow.

* The Dunblane massacre was on March 13, 1996, when a gunman invaded the primary school and shot to death 16 children and a teacher before turning the gun on himself.

Time Line

A little bit more

1923 - Grover
1935 - Full licence requested for new pub build
1935 - 1944 William Henry Norris
1835 - Off Licence side building added
1955 - Arthur Silberry - Now bankrupt
1950 - Albert & Ethel Munson
1962 - Edwin Harvey to Thomas Ebsworth
1962 - Thomas Ebsworth from Mrs George Barton
1967 - Frank & Audrey Hill
1996 - Chris & heather Moon
1999 - Terry Hindle (Mrs)
2012 - Demolished