Watering holes that fell victim to change

Sometimes these landmarks change or are demolished to make way for new

construction. We can begin by looking at changes in the High Street. One major change was that of the York Inn, which was on the site of today's branch of The Body Shop.

Originally built in 1830 as a post house, in 1839 it was described as a wine cellar and owned by James Smith, owner of York House, situated next door.

Then it became a pub and was decorated in glazed green tiles in the house style of Portsmouth-based Brickwoods Brewery, many of which have survived the changes to its present use.

Further along the High Street to the west are premises currently occupied by DJ's and previously by Gough's.

Built as an old alehouse, known as the Fountain, it was re-constructed again in 1830, this time by the Turner family, who were brewers in Bognor. The original building had a skittle alley at the rear.

The licence was not renewed in 1911 and then it became a shop owned by Mr G Robins who was an artist colourman, and later it became the home of Gough Bros.

There were other public houses that have completely vanished from the town, and which are remembered by only a few.

There was The Anchor, which was situated at 48 High Street and was privately owned as a small beer house from 1877.

Here again, the licence was not renewed from 1907 and the building became occupied by an estate agent until it was demolished in 1974 to make way for the new shops, which are in the vicinity of Blockbusters.

Another historic building was that of the Gordon Arms, which was built about 1790 and was used as the town's first post office.

In 1840, it was purchased and opened as an ale house; however the licence ceased in about 1880 when it became a private residence known as Derby House.

It was situated on the corner of the High Street and Lyon Street and joined onto Valhalla.

Derby House was demolished in 1939 with the widening of Lyon Street.

Other premises have existed in some smaller side streets '“ for example The Coach and Horses in Bedford Street.

The land was formerly owned by Sir Richard Hotham but was bought in 1820 by James Tomsett from South Bersted who constructed the house. It continued as a pub until 1979 when it closed to make way for changes planned for the area.

However, it wasn't demolished until 1996 and today this site is occupied by two small warehouses which face the back of Littlewoods, while overlooking the car park of Morrison's.

Another hidden-away site is that of The Crown, in Manor Place behind the Royal Hotel.

Some reports claim that this was one of the oldest in the town, while others relate different facts.

It was built about 1830 and, again, owned by the Tomsett family of Bersted. It is believed that it was the haunt of sailors and smugglers.

Before the first world war, it was used by the Coach and Horses Club, which consisted of a group of gentlemen who met socially. While it closed for a couple of years at the end of the 1970s, it reopened and continued until two years ago when it finally closed and was renovated and transformed into flatlets.

The Tomsett family owned other premises, that of the Elephant and Castle in Steyne Street. This was opened in the 1850s and continued until 1970 when it was closed prior to demolition as part of the major clearance in that particular area.

This area was then built up with flats and the current health centre.

Another pub in Steyne Street that was lost with this land clearance of the 1970s was the King's Head.

This building dated from the 1830s and was described as a 'brewery and tap yard'.

It is recorded that during its heyday strolling entertainers would chain up their dancing bears in the yard of the King's Head. Like so many premises, the licence was not renewed in 1907 and the building was put into private use until its final demise in 1970.

This area of the town at one time boasted three public houses, and today only The Lamb remains.

If we travelled from Chichester Road along Victoria Drive to Aldwick we could at one time have stopped at the Victoria Hotel, which was at the junction with Aldwick Road.

The earliest records of this hotel date from 1870.Architect Arthur Smith constructed the hotel when many other developments were taking place in the vicinity.

It was finally closed and demolished to make way for the current block of flats.

Another site that we should look at was once called the Queen Victoria and was in South Bersted.

On one of the end walls there used to be a tablet dated 1792 with the initials BNS. By 1842 it was known as a beer and lodging house and owned by one of the brewers from Chichester, and for a time it was known as The White Horse.

The name was changed in around the 1860s but eventually, due to legislation and other changes, it ceased to be a pub and became a private homes in 1978.

Further afield, we should look at The Southdowns in Felpham. At one time on this corner site of the main road between Bognor and Littlehampton, the weary traveller could have visited the Brewers Arms, which was said to have dated from the 18th century. However, these premises were closed and demolished to make way for a new construction next door, that of the Southdowns in 1923.

It was considered that a more modern public house was needed at this 'end of the village'. There seemed to be quite a surge of new pubs in the 1830s.

But, for a number of reasons, the use of many declined prior to the first world war, when licences were not renewed.

This week we have just taken a snapshot of some of our past drinking houses. It is interesting to surmise how many of today's pubs will have a tale or two to be recounted by future local historians?

In another week, we may also look at the changing names of public houses.