The Arcade, Littlehampton

Stone arches at either end of Littlehampton’s Arcade show the year the arcade was built – 1922 – and the year it was proudly renovated – 1992. There are attractive murals over the internal wall at one end, showing images of Littlehampton – a lighthouse, beach huts, deck chairs; and in one empty unit a mural depicting the arcade itself. But both these pieces of artwork could do with a touch up, as it almost feels as if they might have been painted during that major refurbishment 30+ years ago, and not touched since.

The glass ceiling is in place (replaced after the 1987 hurricane blew in most of it) but again could do with a clean-up. And the ironwork trusses holding the roof in place are attractive, if also a bit dusty and cobwebby.

There is a florist, a skincare gift shop and a new gym in the arcade today, but also a lot of empty units, giving it a quiet feel, and although it is a passage between two streets (High Street and Arcade Road) it is a crucial 100 metres or so away from the main shopping streets in Littlehampton today. But a few more creative independent businesses and a spruce up of the artwork, and this arcade could become a destination in itself. Maybe it warrants a revisit later, during the holiday season…

My pick of the arcade’s past

The arcade in Littlehampton was built in the early 1920s. By summer 1923 the glass roof was in place and some shops were open.

As a way of drawing in customers the pharmacy in the arcade in 1926 offered cash prizes for babies judged to be making most consistent ‘physical development and progress’ over a 5 month period, but to be eligible, mothers had to bring their babies into the shop once a fortnight for check ups.

Another publicity campaign, this time to do with a new special rate for sending telegrams, was inaugurated from the arcade post office in 1935. The aim was also to show that not all telegrams brought bad news. So, in June 1935, Stella Murphy, Inauguress, sent a telegram to the then Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII), just to announce the new telegram rate from Littlehampton. The Prince replied: “Much appreciated Littlehampton’s inaugurated telegram, Edward P.”

The cafe in the arcade became the scene of a police incident shortly after German bombing of Britain began in earnest in September 1940. Four Italian women were overheard talking in the café, but did not have permission to travel as far as Littlehampton from their homes in London. One was an elderly lady who spoke no English, but they were all arrested under the restrictions placed on ‘enemy’ nationals at the time.

The 1987 hurricane that hit southern England brought several panes of glass down from the arcade roof. They were finally replaced in a major refurbishment in 1992, but for those five years the arcade suffered puddles and wet floors whenever it rained.

Sources for the above stories all www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk and specifically: 1) Littlehampton Gazette, 19 November 1926 – National World Publishing Ltd; 2) Littlehampton Gazette, 7 June 1935, National World Publishing Ltd; 3) West Sussex Gazette, 19 September 1940, National World Publishing Ltd.