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Littlehampton pub history index
At 38 Pier Road in 1901 census, and at 61 Pier Road by 1911. *
When ‘The Nelson’ was built circa 1830 it was known as the
‘Victory Inn’, and was for many years run by Mrs Ann Osborne. ‘The Victory’
served, amongst others, the fishermen living in the then newly built row of
cottages built by John Peckham Henly between it and the town and called
variously Henly’s Buildings then dubbed Muscle Row due to the muscular
appearance of the men who lived there and finally Mussel Row by the end of the
century (part of Pier Road). In the last half of the century the pub’s name was
change to the ‘Nelson and Victory’. In 1897 the pub was updated by building a
new building around the original structure, incorporating the older building
within the new; a move made to avoid a break in the continuity of the licence.
With this rebuild came another name change, this time to just ‘The Nelson’, the
name that survives to today. When the interior of the building was having work
done to it in the late 1970s, portions of the original building walls, still
with the painted signs, were revealed. **
1841 Census. There is no entry for either Ann Osborne (surname of any spelling)
nor for the Victory Inn. Henly’s Buildings are listed chronologically and then
the entries go straight on to the Coastguard and Battery Cottages. *
The construction date of circa 1830 therefore appears to be inaccurate; a date
of circa 1840 seems more likely and would explain why there is no census record
for it in 1841. It was possibly a typographical error when the history of the
building was originally researched and recorded and from which the Littlehampton
Museum took its information. *
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.
Nelson and Victory Inns, Littlehampton - when separate establishments
Nelson and Victory Inn, Littlehampton - after amalgamation
Nelson and Victory Inn, Littlehampton - bar scene
All kindly provided by Brian Haines
Images 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.
1851(Victory) / Mrs Osborne / … / Post Office Directory *
1851 / Ann Osborne / Head, Innkeeper / 35 / Christchurch, Hants / Census *
1851 / Nelson Osborne / Son, scholar / 8 / Arundel, Sussex / Census
1855(Victory) / Mrs Ann Osborne / … / Post Office Directory *
1858(Victory) / Mrs Osborne / … / Melville’s Directory & Gazetteer of Sussex *
1861(Victory) / John Patrick / Victualler / 56 / Arundel, Sussex / Census *
1871(Victory) / Richard Lucas / Head, Mariner / 59 / Pagham, Sussex / Census *
1871 / Jane Lucas / Wife / 52 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1871 / Jas Lucas / Son, Mariner / 32 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1871 / Martha Lucas / Daughter in law / 27 / Swansea / Census
1871 / Fanny Bates / Lodger / 27 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1878 / William Jones / ... / Post Office Directory – listed as the Nelson and
Victory *
1881(1) / William Jones / Head, Publican / 45 / Siddlesham, Sussex / Census *
1881 / Fanny Jones / Wife / 45 / Chichester, Sussex / Census
1881 / Fanny Jones / Daughter, general servant / 20 / Littlehampton, Sussex /
Census
1881 / Lydia Jones / Daughter, scholar / 16 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1881 / Kate Jones / Daughter, scholar / 14 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1881 / Albert Jones / Son, scholar / 9 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1881 / James Jones / Son, scholar / 6 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1881 / William Jones / Son / 3 / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1881 / Nellie Jones / Daughter / 8 months / Littlehampton, Sussex / Census
1881 / Richard W Thomas / Visitor, warehouse keeper / 25 / London / Census
1882 / William Jones /… / Kelly’s Directory – listed as Nelson & Victory *
1887 / Alfred Funnell /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1890 / Frank Roberts /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1891 / Frank W Roberts / Head, Publican / 46 / Parkstone, Dorset / Census *
1891 / Eliza Roberts / Wife / 49 / Bosham, Sussex / Census
1891 / Frank W Roberts / Son, carpenter / 20 / Bosham, Sussex / Census
1891 / Edith T Roberts / Daughter, domestic servant / 17 / Bosham, Sussex /
Census
1898 / F Roberts /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1899 / Frederick Walter King /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1901(1) / Douglas Crampton / Head, Hotel keeper (listed - Nelson) / 49 /
Kensington, London / Census *
1901 / Mary Crampton / Wife / 35 / St Peter, Kent / Census
1901 / Pauline Crampton / Daughter / 9 / W Kensington, London / Census
1901 / Isabella Burtenshaw / Servant, general domestic / 14 / Littlehampton,
Sussex / Census
1901 – This is a strange situation with Frederick Walter King listed in 1899 and
F King in 1902. The nearest Frederick W King is listed as living at Argyle Road,
Preston, Brighton, Sussex in the Census, was he the owner of the pub and Douglas
Crampton the landlord in 1901? In 1911 Mary Crampton is widowed living as an
apartment house keeper at 83 Empress Maud Road (aka South Terrace) just a few
doors away from the pub. Douglas Adams’ death was recorded at East Preston in Q2
1910. *
1902 / F King /… / Bennett’s Business Directory – listed as in Empress Maud Road
(later called South Terrace) but should have been listed in Pier Road. *
1904 / F Hopgood /… / Bennett’s Business Directory *
1905 / Frank Hopgood /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1911(2) / Frank Hopgood / Head, Licensed Victualler / 58 / Brighton, Sussex /
Census *
1911 / Francis Josaphine Thomas / Housekeeper / 44 / Kentish Town, London /
Census
1911 / Carol Florence Thomas / Daughter of Florence, dressmakers assistant / 16
/ Lee, Kent / Census
1911 / Josaphine Thomas / Daughter of Florence, school / 13 / Clapton, London /
Census
1927 / Frank Hopgood /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1930 / Edward G Hunter /… / Kelly’s Directory *
1932 / George A Ford /… / Littlehampton Directory – moved from the White Hart *
1938 / George A Ford /… /Kelly’s Directory *
1953 / G A Ford /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1957-8 / G J Hollis /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1963 / G J Holliss /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1967-8 / C Lewis /… / Littlehampton Directory *
1969-70 / C Lewis /… / Littlehampton Directory *
* Provided By Brian Haines
** Littlehampton
Museum
*** Littlehampton History Society books
Provided By
Kevan