The Rising Sun at Nutbourne

When	What
c1590	A small private dwelling house constructed on the site
1836	The owner, Charles Chatfield, is granted a licence to sell ale. He sets up his hostelry, later extending the premises to add a new frontage in the Victorian style, while retaining many of the original features within.
1841	The house and garden appear on the Tithe Map. The residents at the time were William Holden, agricultural labourer and Thomas Marsh.
1891	Charles and Joan Vickers were the publicans, living in The Rising Sun with their two daughters Fanny and Harriet and their son Frank
1910s	As the social centre of the village, the landlord is able to bring moving pictures to Nutbourne, adding a small cinema in a back room for silent movies. It is said that thanks to the excellent refreshment on offer the early Chaplin and Keaton films were even funnier than usual !
1930	The arrival of talking pictures meant that the cinema gradually changed use to a clubroom for village activities, playing host to meeings of the Nutbourne Women's Institute from 1953 until 1968, as well as serving as the local polling station, a role retained to this day.
1954	Charles and Joan Vickers are publicans, living in The Rising Sun with their daughters Kay and Carol.
1981	The Howard family takes over at The Rising Sun, with Regan and Janice Howard the publicans and their sons Tristan and Oliver.
1980s	Local farmer Clive Allen regularly takes his prize steers to the bar for a daily pint!
2010	Tristan and Oliver Howard are the landlords and have maintained the charm and elegance of The Rising Sun as a focal point of village activtity, offering fine ale, a selection of wines, good home-cooked food to order and an unspoilt atmosphere that is unrivalled for miles around - a proper pub and garden with special rural appeal.

The Rising Sun Public House at Nutbourne, pictured in 1910. The elegant Victorian frontage remains unchanged to this day, albeit partly hidden behind green creeper which reinforces the old world charm.

The Rising Sun at Nutbourne, pictured in around 1910, in a postcard which was sold in the village shop

Nutbourne's elegant hostelry, The Rising Sun, pictured in 1983. It remains one of the finest locals in West Sussex and is well worth a visit.

The Rising Sun pictured in 1983 - already operated by the Howard Family

The Rising Sun at Nutbourne today. It retains many of the original features, with a friendly local atmosphere, fine food and, of course, a great selection of traditional ales

The Rising Sun today

The Rising Sun is a fine old stone building, which was extended in Victorian times.
Local ironstone was used extensively in the construction. Many of the original features remain unspoilt
in a house which dates originally from the sixteenth century. The public house has been at the heart
of village life in Nutbourne for more than eight generations, adapting to suit changing needs
over 170 years while retaining its charm and distinctive personality.

In Edwardian times the backroom was adapted to bring moving pictures to the hamlet, with the enterprising landlord
acting as both projectionist and usher, offering refreshments that were unrivalled anywhere in Sussex.
The rise of talking pictures saw the back room change role to become a clubroom for community activities,
doubling-up as a polling station and headquarters for the local Women's Institute from 1953 until 1968.

Besides visiting to imbibe in the fine local ale and enjoy the home cooking and traditional gardens,
local people still go to the pub to collect their papers and to vote, though nothing today can
rival the exploits of local farmer Clive Allen, who used to take his prized black steers into
the bar for their daily pint in the 1980s - truly a sight to behold!

The pub's sign, 1980s style in this picture from 1983 The distinctive sign that hangs above Nutbourne's Rising Sun today

Publicans Tristan and Oliver Howard maintain a proud family tradition,
keeping The Rising Sun one of Sussex's true hidden treasures,
that is well worth seeking out and enjoying.

Shortcut links to the web pages for other historic houses in the Nutbourne area

Atmyres Farm Bramfold The Camber Darkdean Drovers Ebbsworth Hobbs Holly Tree Cottage Lyons Cottage Farm

The Manor Mill Farm Mill House Nutbourne Place The Old Manor The Old School The Old Store The Rising Sun

Cottage by Mill Pond Shepherd's Thatch Shorts Farm Stream Farm Timber Cottage Wheel House