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| GEORGE & DRAGON - TARRING HIGH STREET - 1610 | |
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Probably the most well known pub in the area and certainly one of the oldest. Thought to have been established in 1610 and run by Moses Brian, it was originally called The White Horse, becoming the George & Dragon in 1855. The pub has a smuggling history, something that was once rife in the area. It might be surprising, but most of the smuggling was actually the export of wool, the import of alcohol was a bonus!
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Above left, the Norris family
outside the George and Dragon in around 1914. Left to right: Alfred
Norris Jnr, Alfred Norris Snr, Dorothy and Rose Norris. As you can
see, Alfred had more strings to his bow and included horse and
carriage hire. Picture above: Undated but restored. The sign reads: Tamplin's Ales, From the wood. Wines & Spirits. Although the picture makes the building look a little dull, it was probably painted a bright red. Left: The more familiar view of the pub looking north up the High Street. In 1967, during some building work, a 22ft well was discovered under the kitchen floor. |
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Richard Norris
Remembers
"Around 1860 Luke Norris takes
over the running of the 'Castle Inn' from Frederick Street, with
whom is a distant relation to Luke's wife Caroline. Luke dies about
1892. The Castle Inn is then ran by his son Alfred Charles Norris
and he widow Caroline. Caroline dies in 1902. Alfred runs the Castle
Inn until it's closure in 1911 - the license is transferred to
Thomas A Beckett which has just been completed. Alfred who was also
a Worthing Town Councillor was instrumental in getting the Thomas A
Beckett built, using his council influence. |
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Beer delivery to the George and Dragon from Tamplin's brewery - undated. Note the wall sign which states 'To the church and footpath only, this was before Terringes Avenue and adjoining roads were built. The footpath split into three crossing open fields. One led to Salvington, another to Durrington and the last to Goring. |
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Just in case you wondered! The sign belonged to the Sun Fire Office and dates back to the 1700s. It is now part of the Sun Alliance. |
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 Apparently a rare back lit Watneys sign c1960's |
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Sometimes the strangest things happen. Got chatting to the young assistant bar manager as he was going around straitening pictures. The landlord was off on his honeymoon apparently, and he brought my attention to this picture of a green dragon which I at first thought was a tapestry, but which in fact turned out to be a painting. He took it off
the wall and showed me the reverse . . . 'Painting hung at the Dragon Croyden until pub was demolished in the 1950's. By Richard Booker' (or Boorer) |
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The 'George' , or 'G&D' as it is known locally, is a bit of a time capsule, where original brick and flint walls can be seen inside. The different floor levels remind you that it has expanded over many many years and dark wooden beams abound about the place. Many of these are later replacements, but originals can still be spotted. On entering the pub, you are greeted by the singular long bar with a recessed 'sports' bar (no pool table, just a dart board) on the left and a back room come diner on the right. There is also a cosy little corner tucked away. The back door leads out to a garden in three sections. A real traditional pub, where you are made to feel welcome - and dog friendly too. |
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It's somewhat unusual to have a pub sign displayed hanging 'up' rather than down but there is a good reason for this. Despite the High Street being one of the narrowest, it wasn't that long ago that double-decker buses ran a regular service past the pub. |
| Known landlord/manager | |
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1610 - Brian Moses - Mansion House and stables |
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