Victim of Fire! The Angel at Midhurst
Victim of Fire! The Angel at Midhurst - its brewing history
(From Brewery History Society Newsletter, March 2025)
In 2023, there was a huge fire in the centre of Midhurst, West Sussex. It started in the roof space of the building on the north side of the Angel Inn. The hotel and the adjoining building, which contained two shops, a restaurant and living accommodation were very badly damaged. The hotel facade remains, in a fragile state, two large chimneys had to be dismantled yet it is thought that some features can yet be saved.
The Angel is listed Grade II by Historic England. Efforts at dating it take it back to the 16th century. The Victoria County History has "The south side of it has five bays of 16th-century timber-framing with close-set studding with curved struts to the story-posts. The 18th-or 19th-century street front is plastered". It is at least this old, with parts probably much older still. Over the years it has variously been called ‘The Angel Hotel’ and ‘The Angel Inn’. Like so many inns it graduated to ‘hotel’ status which perhaps resulted in the grander street frontage of about 1840.
The Brewery History Society archives contain details of an interesting auction which took place on 13 July 1813 at the Angel Inn … "The Angel Inn was described in glowing terms for the purpose of the auction: A leasehold estate for 1000 years comprising that capital and well known Inn called the Angel, with stabling for 23 horses and other out buildings, two extensive gardens, bowling green, yard, etc. This inn is placed in the most eligible part of Midhurst and is unquestionably one of the best on the London Road from Chichester. At this house the markets are held and public business transacted; it is also very liberally supported by the inhabitants of the Town."
As well as being a popular staging post, hotel, auction room, court room and place of entertainment the Angel had a brewery associated with it. A new newspaper appeared on the streets of Midhurst in 1882 known as the ‘Midhurst Times’ (much later becoming the Midhurst and Petworth Observer). It carried advertisements on the front page, one of which related to the ‘Angel Steam Brewery’. It was said that "behind the Angel Hotel in North Street, proprietor John Parker was selling his mild beer at ninepence a gallon and stout at 1s 6d a gallon" (West Sussex Archives).
At the rear of the building there is a pond of which, according to a local resident, the water is very clean and the level never changes. This would have made it suitable for brewing as well as providing fresh water for the stables and the hotel. There is a pump and a well in the grounds.
John Parker is the man most recorded as running a brewery at The Angel, between 1866 and around 1890, but there was a malt house and brewery there before him. Certainly around 1820 when there was an auction held at The Angel of a malt house and brewery in Midhurst, the Angel Inn and the Half Moon Public House at Midhurst, along with the Bell Public House at Cocking, the dwelling house formerly called the Black Horse at Heyshott and other property at Midhurst and Cocking, formerly the property of James Cobden, brewer, a bankrupt. (West Sussex Record Office).
As an aside, in the 1841 census there is a record of a cooper, Thomas Holt [also recorded as ‘Hold’] ... owner and occupant of the adjoining building ... may have worked at ‘The Angel’ next door.
On the 1871 Census John Parker is described as an Hotel Keeper, Brewer, Maltster and farmer of 74 acres employing 11 men, and is recorded as living at the Angel. By the 1881 Census he is living in Midhurst’s Market Square but is reported as being the proprietor of the Angel. Living there were four women with Jane Hackett described as the head of the household and ‘Housekeeper Domestic Servant’. At some time, John Parker’s brother-in-law T C Popplewell joined him in the business to form Parker & Popplewell. On the death of Mr Popplewell in 1923, the Angel together with four other pubs passed to Gales of Horndean and brewing ceased in 1927. Shortly afterwards this area was rebuilt as a function room for the hotel, with a garden, and more recently apartments. These survived the fire.
What will become of what is left of the Angel and its adjoining characterful building? The site is still surrounded by scaffolding with no public information being released.
Carol Brinson and Graham Tite
March 2025