The images above show the Albion Hotel as viewed from
Montague Street and secondly from Portland Road, looking south with Marks & Spencer's before it was extended across Portland Road making it shorter.

Right: looking west down Montague Street with the Albion on the right. Opposite there is a chapel as Portland Road was original Chapel street. The name was later changed so as not to confuse it with Chapel Road. Boots the Chemist stands in the Chapels place today.

Thomas Russell, the Albion's first landlord was also the son of Worthing's first postman.

1894: The Worthing Gazette begins an article with: "In recent years the Albion Hotel seems to have lost some of the prestige it formerly possessed, but a well-directed effort is now being made to restore it to its original condition of prosperity."

It goes on to describe how the Montague frontage was a wasted indulgence of garden and greenhouse, which was now demolished, and the building was extended to its full length, creating a structure of 'imposing proportions'.

An eye had been cast on the commercial aspect of the building, with a 17-foot sitting room and a 19-foot dining room. The old bar had been entirely removed, and a new corridor cut through the building on the ground floor.

A new hall had been created, being some 35 feet long by 16 feet wide, with a grand staircase of polished Oregon pine and mahogany. A separate staircase was installed to allow access to the billiard room without entering the hotel.

A private saloon bar was off the main hall. A public bar remained. The total frontage, including the new wing, is 162 feet, being made up of 130 feet in Chapel Street (now Portland Road) and 32 feet in Montague Street. There are 21 bedrooms. There is an extensive cellar and stabling.

The article ends: "The present manager, Mr E W Searle, may be expected to do well with the admirably equipped hotel of which he now finds himself in possession."

The name 'Albion' is considered to be the ancient Greek name for the Island of Great Britain. The Romans preferred 'Britannia', and so it is easy to see how these once common pub names came into being. I believe the original pub sign from the fifties and sixties depicted a knight with the red cross of St. George on his shield. A clue perhaps is shown in the picture to the right.

The Albion Commercial & Family Hotel was a Georgian period building dating from around 1800 and situated in what was then Chapel Street on the site of White & Browns livery stables which accounts for it occupying a large site with parking on the west side.

Just beyond Marks & Spencer's you can just make out the lost section of Portland Road

The Albion was rebuilt around 1935 and closed in 1961. The subsequent development contained Gamley's toy store. A later redevelopment replaced this with the Superdrug store that stands in its place today.

As you can see from the advert opposite, it catered for families and those on a seaside holiday or day trip.
Many of the larger hotels catered for the drinking classes with a public bar. Guests on the other hand, had a saloon, lounge and smoking room. Other establishments had a separate building or known as 'shades' with a more spit and sawdust feeling.

Thanks to Steve Bray to use this picture. Labelled as 'Smoke room of the Albion Jan 1951 with Ken'. On the right is Les Bray - father of Steve. Ken remains unknown.

Thanks to The Hatchard's for this 1953 picture above.

On Friday, 15th June 1962, the Worthing Herald announced that the Albion Hotel had been sold.

Properties manager F Ellick, of Brickwoods Ltd informed the Herald that contracts had been exchanged. The site had been bought by B and W Linens Ltd of Chiswick, who own many shops throughout the country. They specialise in household linens and furnishings.

Pub manager Jim Clark and his wife Nora had been at the Albion Hotel for 10 years. "We are very sorry to leave, we have been happy here." There had been rumours for many years that the Albion was to be sold for shop purposes.

 Time Line

 A little bit extra

1855 - 1867 Thomas Russell
1879 - Ernest Baker
1883 - Thomas Towner
1883 - Lease for sale
1894 - EW Searle
1897 - 1905 Edward (Ted) Roffey
1915 - Samuel Kramer Suckley
1931 - J Howell
1934 - Rebuilt
1957 - Mr & Mrs Clark
1961 - Closed - demolished

From Christopher Noble, Western Front Association, West Yorkshire.

Just came across your site as regards the above during the course of some military history research. One thing I can add is that circa May/June 1915, the Landlord (own business) was one Samuel Kramer Suckley, a Professor of Music and a native of Harrogate. Suckley was demobilised in the months above from the Yorkshire Hussars to "work on own business Albion Hotel, Worthing." It would appear that this was of a short duration however and if I read this correctly, between the 24th of June - 19th of August 1915 whereupon he once again rejoined the Yorkshire Hussars.

1893: The entire contents of the hotel were sold off due to the typhoid epidemic.