Ship - South Street - 1933 to 1984

 

  

1933 Opened as 'The Ship Grill' by John Gardner. Surprisingly little is known about its history or, more importantly, its inspiration.

Many stories have been told, such as water-filled portholes along its walls, no need to stand when the national anthem was played because it was tradition not to do so on a galleon due to the limited height of the internal decks. Pictures show what look like portholes, but perhaps just decorative. The internals were certainly ship-like.

 

  
   

The most noticeable aspect was the unusual frontage, a faithful scaled-down stern end of a galleon of the fleet, complete with three lanterns above the doorway.  We know it was custom-made by The Tower Joinery Works, then based in Warwick Road.

The upper floors used surface rendering to give the impression of ships sails billowing, and to top it all, a lookout atop a mast complete with telescope which has become a bit of a land mark and does get cared for.

 
   

Right: This is perhaps one of the most well-known photographic memories of the Ship grill when it was in full sail.

The three stern lamps were removed back in 2010 when they became a safety hazard due to deterioration. When it became the Cornish Pastie shop, we enquired if they still existed. We were assured that they did, but there were no funds available for their restoration. Not sure of the situation now.
   
   
   
2010 ish!
   
I happened to be passing by when I took the opportunity to pop inside for a look. It had been a
building society for many years but was now the West Cornwall Pasty Company.
There's always the chance it might become a pub/bar one day, so not totally dismissed.
   

Time Line

A little extra

1933 - John Gardner
1940 - George & Betty Evans
1954 - 1964 - William Henry Hallam
1984 - Closed

Nicholas Hallam writes: My father, William Henry Hallam, was the licensee. It was privately owned by the Webster family who also owned The Ram Jam Inn on the A1 (Great North Road).

During those years, it was one of the busiest pubs in Worthing. I can remember times when it was so packed on a Saturday morning if you wanted to get from the front door to the back door, it was quicker to walk around the block and into Bentalls back alley.