The Downview Hotel has changed
little since it was first built in 1891. As was common at the time,
the arrival of West Worthing Station started a building spree which
more often than not, starts with a pub and Hotel combination for
potential travellers.
The building is feature-rich with a traditional Dutch gable frontage
popular at the time. Other pubs in the area, such as the Grand
Victoria across the road from the main Worthing Station, as well as
the Southdown pub, echo these designs.
Closer examination reveals various signs of branding by the Kemp
Town Brewery (KTB) who apparently refaced the lower floor with
brickwork in 1928.
Standing at the junction of
Downview Road and Tarring Road, with the railway crossings on our
right hand side, we look west and there is a noticeable absence of
buildings beyond the pub. Open land streches into the distance.
It is noticeable that the
elegant protruding frontage would later diminish into something more
bland. |