Westbourne Square has been the centre of activity since the first recorded market and the focus of many fairs and commerce for a thousand years!
The Earl of Arundel was the Lord of the Manor of Westbourne. Reverend Mee in his book ‘Bourne in the past’ mentions the Lamb Inn (owned by St John’s Church) and the White Horse, which belonged to the Earl and still thrives today.
Did you know?
The first mention of Westbourne square is in a manuscript of 1071 about a grant to hold a market by the Earl of Arundel on August 29th, the feast of the beheading of St John the Baptist, a gruesome reason to hold a market!
The original market in the square would have been canvas booths but, as these decayed over time, they were replaced with wooden huts and then the permanent buildings we see today, with the Stags Head in the centre of the Square. The plan in the village survey of 1640 shows permanent buildings emerging in the square.
Did you know?
This wonderful survey tithe map has survived and copies can be bought from West Sussex Records Office in Chichester, along with the 1840 Westbourne tithe map.
The White Horse above looks a lot less drab now and much has changed since this picture was taken around 1900, including tarmac replacing the mud road. The angled red and white pole outside indicates a barbers next door and the sign in the left window shows the opening hours of the Barclays Bank. Sadly Westbourne no longer has a bank.
Above in this postcard is how the White Horse pub looked in 1905.
Did you know?
A building (demolished in the 1800s) between the White Horse No. 55 and the George and Dragon had a number 1 on the wall. This was the former Market House or Council Chamber where the Charter or license to hold fairs and markets was held.
Manchips car hire outside the Westbourne cafe in the square in 1905.
The block including the Stags Head contained the large EJ Tree general store (and Trudgetts Terrace is named after a sweet shop). Most of the row where the Westbourne Café is now was filled by Dukes, a combined grocers, hardware shop and pet food shop.
Tom ‘Donkey’ Mills outside EJ Trees grocery and provision merchants 1909.
Many shops people remember that used to be in the square are now gone. Originally the square had an antique shop, greengrocery and haberdashery shop and a café existed in the cottages by the former Lamb Inn. The buildings from the Emsworth surgery to the now Co-Op were largely shops including a general store, seed and vegetable merchant, second hand shop, cafe and two butchers.
Here are some of the sandwich boys from 1910 that used to patrol around the town promoting the local Westbourne shops. See the young boy in the top hat decrying votes for women!
Did you know?
Trudgetts used to sell Fry’s chocolate, the Stag’s Head sold Biden’s fine ales, Morgans was a drapers store (now a house on North St) and Westbourne garage was originally Collins Millwrights.
Charles Lashley in front of the George and Dragon 1925 (now Emsworth surgery). Lashley was landlord of the pub in 1919, then he created a carters business serving local farms, doing so well he could afford the Ford Model T van shown to the left.
Salvation Army band outside Pullens next to the George and Dragon, 1950s.
Salvation Army band parading through the Square 1962.
Almost opposite the timbered cottages of 1,2 and 3 The Square was a butchers shop, run by the renowned Mr Covington, later Mr Treagust. The Spice Cottage Indian Restaurant was previously a significant general store and Westbourne bakery survives and thrives!
Did you know?
The Hovis sign in the Bakery was originally on the front of Meads general Store, now the Spice Village Indian restaurant.
- Buy your bread and cakes at Westbourne Bakery – Facebook page here
- Order a take-out Indian or eat at the Spice Cottage – click here
- Visit the White Horse Pub for a pint and good pub grub – click here
- Pop into the Stags Head pub for a pint and a tasty meal – click here
- Thanks to Westbourne History Group for text and photos – click here
- See more photos at the Westbourne village website – click here