Well this is a pub I didn't think I would ever see. The Kings Arms in Montague street. It stood where Argos stands today.

Looking at the picture and the adjoining buildings each side its hard to believe we're looking in the right place. You have to keep in mind that this is the first instance of the Kings Arms. The second, and one that's still in living memory, was built further back from the road.

The building on the left ( above ) in this more modern picture with the two X's on is original and shows where the front of the street used to be. It was part of a failed scheme to try and widen Montague street.

This image (right) is perhaps the one best remembered by those of a certain age. The picture came from a Worthing Gazette article I think dated 21st of June 1939. It states:

"Several well-known firms have co-operated very successfully in making the new King's Arms a striking example of what a modern hotel should be."

It goes on to list Frank Sandell and Sons, (construction) and Jordan and Cook (furnishings, carpets and curtains.

"During the whole period of rebuilding business was not interrupted, even for a day. This was made possible largely by the peculiarities of the site, for it was found advisable to build the hotel in two parts.

property was acquired with a frontage to Augusta Place, and on this site was built a lounge with a bar entirely separate from the other bars. This was used while the Montague street front was being built."

Note: In the military line -up picture below you can see the lounge bar which is unusually placed at the back of the building.

"Mr "Jeff" Brackley, the present licensee, is thet hird member of the Brackley family to govern the fortunes of the King's Arms. His uncle, the present mayor, Alderman AE. Brackley, was the first of his family actually to hold the licence which he took over in 1899. Aderman Brackley remained at the King's arms until 910, and was succeeded by his brother, Mr Henry Geoffery Brackley, the father of Councillor Jeff Brackley, who has been the licensee for the last three years."

As far as we are aware this view is of the back of the building. The alleyway on the right still exists.
This picture shows the Number 3 Platoon 'A' Company Sussex (Worthing) Home Guard. 17th December 1944. The Landlord, Henry Jeffery Thomas Brackley is on the back row on the extreme left.
Jeff (as he was known) was also the Mayor of Worthing from 1954 - 55

Identified so far:
Henry Brackley, the landlord of the Kings Arm's.

Edward Charles Payne, Grandfather of Colin Reid. "Number 3 Platoon was his original platoon. He left number 3 platoon, as Sergeant, on June 6th 1941 before taking the post of Company Sergeant Major till August 10th, that year when he took over the command of Number 4 platoon as Lieutenant EC Payne. It must have been an honour for him to be invited back to his old platoon to be photographed as the Home Guard was stood down." Colin Reid

1830 - James Wicks
1839 - James Wicks
1953 - John & Mary Thomas
1855 - Charles Jenkins
1856 - Sarah Jenkins
1859 - Mrs Sarah Jenkins
1866 - G Graves
1878 - John Stickland
1890 - John Stickland
1892 - Harry Reed
1905 - Edward Brackley
1915 - Henry Brackley
1931 - Henry J Brackley
1938 - 1952 - Henry (Jeff) Brackley
1939 rebuilt in red brick
1950/60s Mr & Mrs Roberts.
1965 demolished - Now Millets.

Special thanks to Alf Regis for the use of the King's Arms picture taken by his father Jack Regis, and also to members of the Facebook group 'Worthing Past & Present' for additional information and pictures.