Hidden Horsham - Anchor Hotel

Anchor Hotel Now Bar Vin

The Bar Vin public house, once known as the Anchor Hotel is in Market Square. Click on the thumbnail to the right to see the full image of the top section

Although the signage indicates the building was a hotel, traditionally it has been referred to as an inn. The Inn was first recorded in 1611 and in 1723 the borough court was held there. From 1768 post chaises (carriages) and saddle horses were available for hire. From 1748 and especially during the 19^th century the inn was used as political offices during elections

During the 1770s John Baker reported that the inn was also on the social network, being used for dances and other assemblies. As the date shows the inn was rebuilt in 1899. In the summer of 2006 the building was bedecked with the flags of the nations competing the the Football World Cup. Later in the year it was 'disguised' as a pirate ship in a promotion of the film Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. See the thumbnails below:

The image below left shows Market Square in 1923, just three years after the Anchor Inn ceased operating as a hotel. At this time the building was being used as the Town Hall as the text above the windows indicates. This is currently obscured by window box floral displays. The image to the right shows a similar scene from 1955. In both cases traffic flow is allowed through the square and out past The Bear, a popular route for training learner drivers. The post box is clearly visible on the left and this has now been relocated further into the square

Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.

Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.

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