Cobden Arms - 2 Cobden Road - 1886
Now The Richard Cobden
   
   

The earliest known photograph of the Cobden Arms - Now the only pub remaining in a street of the original three. It was built in 1868 by the Rock Brewery of Brighton. The legend on the wall states, Chapman's beers & Ales, London Stout.


Special thanks to Carol Sullivan and her mother for permission to use a family picture, and also a copy of the family history.
   

This image, undated but thought to be around the late 50s, shows a much cleaner image. Note also, the old stables can be seen directly behind the pub, now long gone, but the tall gateposts still remain. You may also spot in passing, the small square blocks up to the gate, a classic sign of a horse entrance.

The pub was named after the political activist Richard Cobden, who was born near Midhurst in 1804.

Patrick Dalton, the landlord in 1986, had a ban on duke box's in the pub.
   
1984
   

This mention in the local Worthing Gazette states in 1984: Headline - 'Cobden's A Real Pub'.

In 1978: The Cobden pub found itself in the Good Beer Guide published by the Campaign for Real Ale, and repeatedly since.

"The 1984 guide describes the pub as 'A splendid town local, friendly and well run.' The pub has been run by Pat Dalton and his wife, Margaret, for 10 years and has a strong local following of real ale drinkers who range from binmen to barristers."
   
1911 to 2011
   
Steve Walker, ex landlord, sent in these two pictures above. The first was taken in 1911 to celebrate the
coronation of George V, and the latter, 100 years later, the wedding of William, Prince of Wales, and
Catherine, Princess of Wales, 2011.
   

Bit of a mystery this one. Bolted high up on a far wall is this curious ship porthole, complete with storm cover.
The legend on the clock face reads, HMS Loyalty - Harland & Wolff - Sank on the 22nd of August 1944.

The ship HMS Loyalty (J217), a mine sweeper, was sunk in the English Channel by a German U-boat with the loss of 20 lives. 30 survived. Does anyone know why it now graces a pub wall?

We were pleased to discover, tucked away in a quiet corner, a selection of board games, cards, and amazingly, a Shove ha'penny board.
   
2017 refit, re-opened July
   
   
   

Time Line

A little bit extra

1868
1878 - 1890 Alfred Thompson
1891 - H Prince
1905 - S W Fairweather
1913 - 1931 Frederick Tupper
1953 - Harold Carter
1977 - Davida & Michael
1986 - Pat & Margaret Dalton

undated: Davida & Michael

1913: Fred Tupper, landlord of the Cobden arms, Cobden Road, organised a Boxing Day walking race from the pub to the Norfolk Bridge, Shoreham, and back, a distance of around ten miles. A Stevens won in one hour and 47 minutes. Worthing Journal issue 84, 2017.