Half Brick, Worthing




Half Brick - Brighton Road - 1835 to 2009

The Half Brick has led a chequered life. The original building, dated around 1835, stood some 200 yards forward of the present one, so it's no surprise that it suffered some sea damage, firstly in 1850 when it was almost washed away, and again in 1869. Only then, in 1874, did they think of building it further back, where it rests today. There are a many of theory's as to how it got its name. The most logical would be that after the first washing away, it was rebuilt using bricks on the bottom half of the structure, and wood for the upper, this being a 'Half Brick' building, not uncommon. Interestingly, in 1841 it was known as The Brewers Arms.

1841


Census: Here we can clearly see Mr William Shepard (Publican) and his wife Ann, along with Sampson Ashbourne, who was the gatekeeper at the nearby Toll House.

1868

	Pictured - Mary Ann Barnett (nee Whittington), wife of Alfred Barnett, taken around 1868 and very likely on her 21st birthday. Alfred died on the 2nd of December 1907, leaving the princely sum of £1,926, 8 shillings and 10d. Mary Ann's niece Emily Kate Griffin worked at the Half Brick as a barman's assistant in 1901. Discovered by Peter Huntly: Alfred Barnett of the 'Half Brick Inn', Brighton Road. Worthing. Innkeeper, died 2nd December 1907. Probate Chichester 30th December to Mary Ann Barnett widow Effects £1926 8s 10d

1932. Congdon Robert Sibun, landlord of the Half Brick Hotel, Brighton Road, for around five years, died aboard the paddle steamer Waverley en route from the Isle of Wight to Worthing Pier. A doctor from the destroyer HMS Concord went aboard but was unable to save the 58-year-old publican.

Demolition

	The demise of a pub is always a sad thing, but fortunately, the oldest section of the pub is a listed building and has to be kept. To this end, the apartments that have taken its place have to incorporate the original frontage. We couldn't help but notice looking recently that the original frontage had fallen into disrepair. Hopefully their not going to use this as an excuse to knock it down?





Time Line	A little bit extra
1835 1841 - William Shepherd 1850 - Sea damage 1859 - J Venn 1866 - W Goddard 1869 - Partly washed away 1874 - Rebuilt 1878 - 1882 Walter Beck 1890 - Robert Sinclair 1891 - 1905 Alfred Barnett 1915 - Thomas Green 1927 - 1932 Congdon * Blanche Sibun 1972 - John & Jean Howes 1978 - Leonard Coller 1986 - 1988 John & Anna Mitchel 1992 - 1994 June & James Hawthorne 2000 - James & June 2009 Last Landlord: Bob Brookes	1874: Worthing local board considered plans to knock down the Half Brick, which had been condemned as unfit for human habitation.