Godmanstone huddles under the shelter of Cowdon Hill and its parish church  is more than 800 years old.

It is said that Charles II stopped here at a blacksmith's forge and asked of the smithy a glass of porter. The blacksmith replied.' I cannot oblige you Sire, as I have no license.' Then said the King, 'From now on you have a license to sell beer and porter.'

Today you can get a fine glass of ale here for there is a large inviting and comfortable bar in what is claimed to be England's smallest pub that is thatched and with a colourful sign saying that this is the Old Smiths Arms.

This led to a bit of rivalry and in 1982 the licensee of The Nutshell at Bury St Edmunds refuted the claim of it being the smallest pub in the land and a football match was held to settle the matter, unfortunately The Nutshell won and they also won the replay. The Nutshell is now in the Guiness Book of Records as the smallest pub, but the Smiths Arms is the more beautiful on the banks of the River Cerne.