Black Horse - Findon - c1871
   
Not Worthing as such, more 'borders of' which is our excuse for having it here.

The Black Horse is a very different building from the original, which was demolished in 1938, a large chunk of which is now buried under the rear car park.

The rebuild took the form of a Tudor revival style structure catering for the travelling public, sited close to the A27 Findon by-pass.

It's also one of the rare pubs still in existence that has its own old-style bowling alley.
   
The origin of this picture is a curious one. One day, an old chap came into the bar at the Selden Arms in Worthing and handed Michele (the landlady with a keen interest in pub history) a photographic negative which she had developed, giving us the picture we see today.

That old chap was the babe in arms in the centre of the picture. He has never been seen since!

The older gentleman in the picture has been identified as Arthur Charman, an ex police officer and thought to be the landlord, dating the image to the early 1900s.

   
A picture sent in by Terry Norris showing his great-grandfather, Arthur George Charman, with his brother.

The company name is clearly visible on the cart behind them. This was used for local deliveries of beer in the area. Terry recalls his mother visiting the Black Horse Inn around 1926 at the age of 10, where she helped fill the hip baths for the visiting gentlemen.

The Inn was always full on race days and was a popular haunt for jockeys. Terry isn't 100% sure if Arthur owned the Inn and may have only been the manager.
   
2025
   
   
We haven't been back to the Black Horse since it belonged to the Mountain Range Group. We are given to understand that it is no longer the case.

Like many large pubs, there is an emphasis on food, catering for the family as well as passing travellers.
   

 Time Line

 

1871 - Henry Sayer - Brewer & Beerhouse Keeper
1881 - 1891 John Peters
1911 - Arthur Charman (Ex police officer)
1901 - John Peters
1980s - Harry Butterfield (Whitbread)