The Selden Arms in Lyndhurst Road was built around 1869.

The picture on the left was taken in 1899 during a delivery. The brewery dray horses are seen in the background. Some of the barrels are marked XX (Ale) and some others S, presumably Stout.

We will assume the landlord, possibly George Turner, and his lady are posing just in front of the doorway. Having a photograph taken in those days would have been an event. The three wheeled bicycle was a passing bakery delivery boy

Right, Herbert Brunton at the wheel of his car outside The Selden Arms with possibly his son Edwin in the doorway. We know Herbert was the landlord from at least 1915 to around the 1930s.

Below, Edwin Jesse Brunton holding a motorcycle with perhaps his father in the background. Edwin would later become the landlord of the pub, a reversal of the picture above!

I had heard it mentioned that a landlord of the Selden decided to move to another pub during the war. He reasoned that the pub was far too close to the gasometers for his comfort, a prime target for the German bombers.

The pictures right seem to bear out his fears. On October 8th 1940, two houses were destroyed by bombing, just four doors west of the pub and slightly north to the original position of the gasometers.

The gap remained empty for 77 years, It became an open forecourt for second hand cars sales before finally being developed into what is now Sawmill Mews.

John Fuller sent me this email . . .


My parents, Jim & Peggy Fuller, were landlord & landlady of the Selden Arms from 1952 to 1968. They took it over, I understand (I was only 16 months old), on 6 Feb 1952, the day King George VI died, and we moved out around Oct/Nov 1968 when I had just turned 18 and was finally old enough to drink!

I came across the attached photo of Mum and Dad and thought you might like to have it for your site. We think it must have been taken shortly after we moved in. Jim & Peggy have both since passed on, but I'm sure there will be many who will remember them. They were friends of Sam & Nel, who ran the Hare & Hounds during the 50s & 60s.

When we moved out in '68, Ron & Min Baker, who had been customers, took over, but I'm not sure how long they stayed.

August 1979 saw an item in the local press relating the story of Colin and Lynne Brown, landlords, feeding a pair of puppies with Guinness in the pub.

The ale, as the report says, was being used to revive the smallest pups in the litter of 10 born to their 16-month-old Alsatian Tina last Sunday evening.

The vet said he thought the two runts should be destroyed, but Lynne refused to have them put down. Now they are getting just a little extra special care from a proud foster mum and dad. Colin had delivered the pups over four hours. Its a heart warming story, and of course, great publicity.

Paul and Angela Melhuish, landlords of the Selden Arms, featured in a half-page spread under a 'good food guide' to Worthing.

Dubbed 'The country pub in town' by joint owner Paul, a former food and beverage manager, took over the pub in 1981. Two new beers were added along with Usher's best Bitter.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect was the food menu, offering almost 40 exotic savoury and sweet crepes. We know the pub is a U shape in essence, giving it two sides which they divided into the main bar lounge and a 'more intimate' restaurant.

This is how the Selden looked just after Michele and Bob took over. The 'look' didn't last long, as a refit was long overdue. However, it reflected the style of the time, the classic tiled roof over the bar giving a cottage feel. With the copper bar top and pew-type bar seats in wood panelled recesses, it was all the rage!


The Selden remains a single bar (it did previously have an off-licence or 'Bottle & Jug' as they were known). Today, this 'just out of town' pub is a cosy, non-jukebox, real ale treasure trove and perhaps, just a bit stuck in time, which the locals prefer. Images courtesy of Michele Preston.

Colin and I had cause to visit the Selden Arms in late April and dropped in because it's where the idea of the Worthingpubs website began. There had been some changes, having been taken over in February by The Hole In The Wall in Brighton.

We have to say we were pleasantly surprised, it was much lighter, simply furnished, and with a wide selection of Ales on hand.

The indomitable Michele is no longer there after a good 24 and a half years behind the bar; she will be missed, I'm sure. However, time moves on as it always does.

Time Line

1876 - 1878 G Poore
1878 - 1881 Samuel Helmsley
1881 - John Ward
1890 - 1895 Thomas Brackley
1899 - George Turner
1890 - Henry Edward Stedman
1905 - 1910 George Turner (son of George Tuner)
1910 - Edward Denyer Rurner
1915 - Herbert Brunton
1938 - 1940 Edward Jesse Brunton (Son of above)
 

1945 - 1951 Sidney & Mary Ann Gissing
1951 - 1952 John & Elsie Clifford
1952 - 1969 William & Elsie Fuller
1970 - 1973 Ronald & Mary Baker
1977 - 1978 William Davis & Lesley Walker
1978 - 1979 Gregory Weeks
1979 - 1981 Colin & Lynne Brown
1981 - 1983 Ian & Jackie Melhuish
1983 - 1998 Paul Melhuish (Son of above)
1998 - Michelle Preston & Bob ?