ANCIENT text concealed beneath the cement rendering of a Victorian pub is being keenly probed. Tony and Anne Biggs of the Sutton Oak -originally known as Boundary Vaults - in Bold Road, Sutton, are currently redecorating the exterior. "It's covered by stuff resembling polytex," they report, " and we decided to take it down to the original brickwork."

While removing some of the rendering from the side wall, it became obvious that the old-time Greenall Whitley signwriters must have had a field day with such an expanse of brickwork at their disposal. Several areas of unexpected script were discovered, but removal of the rendering damaged the majority of letters beyond recognition. All that could be faintly decyphered was the pub name in 18-inch letters.

Now the couple wish to run the clock back. "I would like to reconstruct all the signage," says Tony. And he hopes to recruit customers of this ancient column in making this possible. He wonders if anyone has photographs or memories, from pre-rendering times.

Meantime, real ale traditions are being kept alive at the Sutton Oak (circa 1870) whose regular beer is Black Sheep bitter and which also serves up guest brews. Listed in the Good Beer Guide, and voted a Camra Pub of Merit last year, it is staging a Bank Holiday weekend beer festival on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, August 28 to 30.