The Arcade that's stood test of time in Bognor Regis

However, for Bognorians during the late 1800s, this area would have comprised the impressive gardens of York House, a doctor's residence on the corner of York Road.

During the expansion of the town, one of the most prolific builders of that time was William Tate, who was known as the pioneer of Bognor '“ but that is another story.

William bought the land adjacent to the house on which to build the impressive Arcade.

The French first developed this type of construction in the 1800s, with the first British arcade being built in 1817 in London.

The inclusion of an arcade was seen as a sign of the town's prominence.

Starting in 1901, William Tate commenced building the Arcade as we know it today. His plan was to join it to another construction, planned for later, which would eventually provide a walk through to the seafront by way of the new Kursaal Building.

He completed the Arcade in 1902 and it was opened on July 26. The building incorporated the Regency York House on the east side of the structure. It was, at that time, the largest area of privately-owned property in Bognor.

It comprised 24 shops and a similar number of offices in the area known as Arcade Chambers.

In 1903, the local press announced to Bognor residents the Arcade was 'assuming a thoroughly business like appearance for the season, with the majority of shops being occupied'.

In the early days, there was a commissionaire on duty at the entrance to the Arcade, resplendent in his gold-braided uniform. He would also hold open carriage doors for the gentry.

There was a glass canopy over the pavement to allow people to alight from their vehicle and enter the arcade in the dry. At Christmas, he would change his uniform for that of Father Christmas and would sit with his bran tub, dispensing presents to the children.

When the Arcade was opened, many nearby areas of the town had yet to be built, for instance London Road opposite was still relatively undeveloped. The shop on the corner, which today accommodates bon marche, was not built until 1914.

On the opposite corner was the Congregational Church, built in 1869, and further along London Road was St John's Church erected in the 1880s.

By 1910, guidebooks were extolling the virtues of the town, describing the arcade as a 'very tasteful and useful structure lined with high class shops'.

The Post Office opened in the Arcade in 1903 and remained at the site now occupied by Party A Doo, until about 1926 when it moved to the High Street.

During 1929, the town's residents waited for news of King George V and Queen Mary, who often shopped in the town.

One of the shops she visited was Toyland, which had opened in 1902 in the Arcade and was operated by a Miss Margaret Hunt and her sister.

This particular shop remained within this family until 1977, when it closed due to the changing trends and the increase in the number of larger toy outlets.

A serious fire started on the upper floor of the British Legion Club on November 5, 1930. The fire caused extensive damage to 14 shops, and all the offices were destroyed.

At a cost of about 25,000 a major restoration of the area took place, without changing the outward appearance of this historical building.

A book was published in 1985 called Shopping Arcades, a gazetteer of British Arcades 1817 '“ 1939. In it the Bognor Arcade is described as of 'Edwardian seaside architecture, of single storey structure with glass gable ends'.

The High Street entrance was noted as being 'between corner turrets of twin three storey blocks, built of brick and timber with tiled spires and finials', which we are still able to see today.

We should, of course, take a look at some of the shopowners over the years and included in this would have to be Mr A E Reynolds, who was a 'gentlemen's hatter, tailor and hosier'.

The lease for this shop was with this branch of the Reynold's family from the opening in 1902 until 1969.

Collecting postcards was a popular hobby from the 1890s and these give a great insight into the town's history.

Another popular item to collect was a crested piece of china or a piece of Goss China, especially as a seaside souvenir. In Bognor, we had our own agent for Goss China, Mrs S Piper, who owned a shop in the Arcade and another in the High Street from 1902 until 1939.

Her advertisements declared that they sold 'an assortment of shapes and models', referring to the various designs of china that were available as souvenirs of Bognor.

Why not have a look through your collection of china and see if you have a piece that has a notation on the base stating, 'made for S Piper Bognor'? I have a commemorate cup and plate depicting Craigweil House which was produced when the King came to recuperate.

Changes have continued throughout the history of the Arcade. We have seen changes in the types of traders.

A friend this week remembered the Delmonico Restaurant where they sold kunzel cakes.

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MAP Can you remember them? Who can remember the Wimpy Bar, for so many years the best place for a burger? On this site, we now have Howards and at the seaward end Crumbs, both providing sustenance but a far cry from the early trades in the Arcade.

Now we have an Arcade that has stood the test of time for more than 100 years. It is a world away from the out-of-town shopping arcades we think of today. However, with its wide range of trades, it is still providing a necessary and enjoyable service to the town.