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Littlehampton pub history index
The original ‘Dolphin’ pub was located where the White Hart
now stands. It was owned by two brothers who subsequently had a serious falling
out and one brother left and bought the premises that stood where the current
‘Dolphin’ now stands, calling his pub the ‘Dolphin’ also. After discussions the
brother still owning the original ‘Dolphin’ pub renamed the ‘White Hart’ in
1784.
The ‘Dolphin’ started on the corner of Surrey Street at its junction with the
High Street in the 1780s. The building has had three major fires since its
original construction in the early 1700s, the last being in 1928. The current
building dates from the 1930s.
In August 1806, Lord George Gordon Byron stayed at the pub.
The pub was known to be a safe haven for smugglers and the cellar held a tunnel
that ran between the ‘Dolphin’ and the ‘Crown’ pub, the tunnel rumoured to have
stored contraband brandy and tobacco.
In the 19th century the pub, presumably the cellar, was used as an overspill for
the town morgue on many occasions because of its cold temperature.
It is well documented that parts of the pub are haunted. **
Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Littlehampton, Sussex . The Littlehampton, Sussex listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.
Dolphin Hotel, High Street, Littlehampton
Kindly provided by Brian Haines
Image courtesy of Littlehampton Museum
The following entries are in this format:
Year/Publican or other Resident/Relationship to Head and or Occupation/Age/Where Born/Source.
1828-9 / Thomas Jutter /… / Pigot’s Directory *
1832-4 / Henry Binsted Locke /… / Pigot’s Directory – later at the Norfolk
Hotel *
1838 / Henry Richard Richards /... / Pigot’s Directory *
1841 / Owned by Robert Watkins *
1841 / Henry Richards / Head, Tailor / 35 / Sussex / Census *
1841 / Jane Richards / … / 30 / Sussex / Census
1841 / Mary Richards / … / 10 / Sussex / Census
1841 / Fanny Richards / … / 9 / Sussex / Census
1841 / George Richards / … / 5 / Sussex / Census
1841 / Sally Richards / … / 4 / Sussex / Census
1841 / John Richards / … / 2 / / Sussex / Census
1841 / Jane Richards / … / 4 months / Sussex / Census
1845 / Mrs Permitter /… / ? Directory *
1851 / Thomas Staples /… / Post Office Directory *
1851 / Thomas Staples / Head, Licensed victualler / 40 / Ford, Sussex /
Census *
1851 / Charlotte Staples / Wife / 40 / Shoreham, Sussex / Census
1851 / Thomas Staples / Son, Ostler / 21 / Preston, Sussex / Census
1851 / Sarah Staples / Daughter / 19 / Arundel Sussex / Census
1851 / Geo E Staples / Son, slop boy / 15 / Arundel, Sussex / Census
1851 / Emily Staples / Daughter, scholar / 10 / Littlehampton Sussex /
Census
1851 / Henry Farrer / Hawker / 30 / Lewes, Sussex / Census
1851 / Robert Daniel / Tailor / 18 / Bloomsbury, London / Census
1855 / Thomas Staples /… / Post Office Directory *
1859 / Abraham Betchley /… / Post Office Directory *
1861 / Richard Hammond / Head, Licensed Victualler / 35 / Arundel, Sussex /
Census *
1861 / Ann Hammond / Wife / 41 / Whimple, Devon / Census
1861 / Robert Sanders / Lodger, Labourer / 25 / Amberley, Sussex / Census
1861 / Henry Sirrell / Lodger, Labourer / 24 / Amberley, Sussex / Census
1861 / James Brindle / Lodger, Hawker / 51 / Paddington / Census
1861 / Charles Swain / Lodger, Bricklayer / 35 / Guernsey, Channel Islands /
Census
1861 / Samuel Ayres / Lodger, Painter / 66 / Portsmouth / Census
1861 / Charles Nicholls / Lodger, Cutler / 56 / Horsham, Sussex / Census
1861 / Harriett Saxby / Lodger, Dressmaker / 19 / Yapton, Sussex / Census
1862 / Richard Hammond /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1866 / J Nye /... / Post Office Directory *
1867 / Charles Denyer /… / Postal & Commercial Directory *
1870 / Charles Denyer /… / Post Office Directory *
1871 / Charles Denyer / Head, Mariner / 69 / Pagham, Sussex / Census *
1871 / Matilda Denyer / Wife / 58 / Pagham, Sussex / Census
1871 / Matilda Denyer / Daughter, scholar / 18 / Littlehampton, Sussex /
Census
1871 / Harvey Denyer / Son, scholar / 12 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1871 / George Haimes / Lodger, commercial traveller / 48 / Regents Street,
London / Census
1871 / James Merritt / Lodger, tin man / 44 / Flisk, Kent / Census
1871 / Sarah Merritt / Lodger, tin man’s wife / 38 / Southampton, Hants /
Census
1871 / Jack Longley / Lodger, chair maker / 44 / Tonbridge, Kent / Census
1871 / Mary Longley / Lodger, chair maker’s wife / 47 / Tonbridge, Kent /
Census
1871 / Joseph Winds / Lodger, labourer / 42 / Portsmouth, Hants / Census
1871 / Ellen Winds / Lodger, labourer’s wife / 33 / Portsmouth, Hants /
Census
1871 / Henry Winds / Lodger / 3 / Faversham, Kent / Census
1871 / John Bunger / Lodger, labourer / 51 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1871 / Wm Greenyer / Lodger, labourer / 44 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1871 / G Dowdey / Lodger, labourer / 44 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1871 / Alfred Dondey / Lodger, scholar / 15 / Chichester, Sussex / Census
1871 / John Williams / Lodger, peg maker / 30 / Sussex / Census
1871 / Emily Williams / Lodger / 1 / Sussex / Census
1871 / Henry Smith / Lodger / 52 / Sussex / Census
1871 / Ireland Skellian / Lodger, labourer / 31 / Sussex / Census
1871 / George Hide / Labourer, brick maker’s labourer / 46 / Yapton, Sussex
/ Census
1871 / Thomas Woolven / Lodger, coachman / 24 / Findon, Sussex / Census
1871 / Esther Williams / Lodger, peg maker / 20 / Sussex / Census
1878 / Robert Hodges /... / Post Office Directory *
1881 / Frederick H Hannen / Head, Hotel keeper / 26 / / Fordingbridge, Hants
/ Census *
1881 / Frances Hannen / Wife / 29 / Weston Rivers, Wilts / Census
1881 / ?Smythe / Lodger, stockbroker / 40 / Weston Rivers, Wilts / Census
1881 / Jane Buxey / Servant, general / 24 / Gosport, Hants / Census
1881 / Jesse Barns / Servant, billiard marker / 16 / Midhurst, Sussex /
Census
1882 / Frederick Herbert Hannen /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1887 / Thomas Birchley /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1890 / Mrs Hannah Birchley /... / Post Office Directory *
1891 / Hannah Birchley / Head, Hotel keeper / 45 / Rustington, Sussex /
Census *
1891 / Augusta Birchley / Daughter / 14 / Arundel, Sussex / Census
1891 / Lillian Birchley / Daughter / 10 / Brompton, Kent / Census
1891 / Sarah A Newbury / Sister, bar assistant / 49 / Rustington, Sussex /
Census
1891 / Florence Newbury / Niece, dressmaker / 16 / Littlehampton, Sussex /
Census
1891 / Sarah Simpson / Visitor, living on own means / 65 / Littlehampton,
Sussex / Census
1891 / Adam Bruce / Boarder, musician / 40 / Newcastle on Tyne / Census
1891 / George Snewin / Servant, boots / 21 / Shoreham, Sussex / Census
1891 / Louise Young / Servant, general domestic / 20 / London / Census
1896 / H Birchley /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1898 / J Ball /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1899 / Edward Jeffrey / Howard /… / Kelly’s Directory of Sussex *
1901 / Edward J Howard / Head, Hotel Proprietor, Army pensioner / 50 /
Brentford, Middlesex / Census *
1901 / Mary A Underwood / Niece, manageress / 25 / Aldershot, Hants / Census
1901 / Lillie Jackson / Niece, housemaid domestic / 18 / Worthing, Sussex /
Census
1901 / Edward A Parish / Visitor, licensed (unclear) / 44 / Rickmansworth,
Herts / Census
1903 / Edwin Albert Parish /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1905 / E A Parish /... / Post Office Directory *
1906 / F A Parish /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1905 / Edward Albert Parish /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1907 / Robert H Holliss /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1909 / Thomas H Holliss /… / Kelly’s Directory – error in second initial *
1911 / Thomas Robert Holliss / Head, Hotel Proprietor / 63 / Goat Brook,
Hants / Census *
1911 / Elizabeth Jane Holliss / Wife / 59 / St Johns Bermondsey, London /
Census
1911 / Ernest Victor Holliss / Son, Professor of Music / 19 / Bermondsey,
London
1911 / John Watts / Visitor, tobacconist / 53 / St Marys Rotherhithe, London
/ Census
1911 / Alice Kate Watts / Visitor / 51 / Snowfields Bermondsey, London /
Census
1911 / Walter Kent / Barman / 33 / Old Ford, London
1911 / Annie Kent / Wife of Walter, Cook / 38 / Lambeth, London / Census
1911 / Mary Ellen Mitchell / Servant, housemaid / 15 / Westbourne, Sussex /
Census
1911 / Ann Bentley / Boarder / 32 / Buxton, Derbyshire / Census
1911 / Selina Hannah Duncan / Boarder / 24 / London
1911 / John Fred Duncan / Boarder / 17 months / Aldingbourne, Sussex /
Census
1925 / T R Holliss /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1927 / Ernest Victor Holliss /… / Kelly’s Directory – Thomas’ son *
1934 / Ernest Victor Holliss /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1938 / Henry Edmund Roberts /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1947 / Mrs E M Phillips /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1953 / Mrs E M Phillips /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1967-8 / William C Phillips /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1969-70 / William C Phillips /… / Littlehampton Directory *
* Provided By Brian Haines
** Littlehampton
Museum
*** Littlehampton History Society books
Provided By
Kevan