A Hidden Gem in Arundel
The Old Printing Works Shopping Arcade in Tarrant Street
It’s called a ‘hidden gem of Arundel’ but this Arcade with a wonderful selection of fantastic shops and independent businesses isn’t really hard to find at all! In fact, you just need to know where to look!
So make a little detour off Arundel’s historic Tarrant Street to find yourself somewhere just slightly hidden away – but not too much – and we promise you’ll be glad you went looking for it!
Once you have found the Shopping Arcade, what is in there?
This wonderful converted Old Printing Works – now Grade 2 Listed and something of an artisan arcade, is open every day and is a perfect place to wander through.
Simply enjoy a beautiful unique building, similar to that of Harry Potter fame, Diagon Alley, that also has additional benefits!
Just a short way along Tarrant Street this truly distinctive piece of Arundel history is waiting to be discovered. Once you have entered through either of the doors to the Old Print Works Arcade The Shopping Arcade Shops in Arundel a huge wealth of surprises await you inside.
Both doorways lead you into a Victorian gem of a walk through, where you can get spoilt and pampered at AR Hair & Beauty Lounge, look and feel good in Arundel Golden Blade Barber Shop, buy beautiful jewellery at Ruben König Jewellery, and listen to CD’s and vinyl inside A Ray Of Delight Collectors Records & CD’s.
You will feel amazing in unique handcrafted hats and can also buy fabulous fabrics and sewing essentials from Isabella Josie – Bespoke Millinery and if vintage style apparel is what you need, then call at RetroEsque.
You’ll also find The Sussex Film Office who provide a complete film production support service to anyone looking to film in the area.
So if you have ever wondered whether your own home could be used as a film set or if you’d like to perhaps appear as an ‘Extra’ on the big screen, then get in touch with this fabulous unique business. They might even help you to get your ’Five minutes of fame!’
Rather randomly, in 2000 the shopping arcade was updated with items salvaged from St James parish church in Croydon! If anyone knows why they used materials reclaimed from a church in Surrey, then do drop us a line!
What was the building originally used for?
The Shopping Arcade Shops in Arundel were part of the printing house where in the 1800’s the original copies of the West Sussex Gazette – Sussex’s oldest regional newspaper, were type set and hand printed on a large Eagle Hand Press.
Every letter was carefully placed by hand, back to front so a word could then be printed. The press could print some 800 copies a day. Letter moulds became more advanced and in 1886, with the invention of the Linotype machine, and printing became much quicker.
The Gazette had four of these Linotype machines which could print 9,000 copies every hour. The first edition was published in 1853 and was called Mitchells Monthly Advertiser and West Sussex Market and Railway Intelligencer – what a title that was! Not only was it full of advertisements but it also contained a railway timetable!
In 1889, disaster struck! A fire broke out which was so ferocious that it melted the printing machinery into a mangled, molten mess but when it was replaced, better equipment was purchased.
The front offices of the building were saved from the fire and some 10 years later, and due to the successful growth of the paper the offices were replaced with the Jacobean style / Sussex half-timber work that still stands today.
Receiving national recognition, the new building was described as the most artistic county newspaper office in England. The building was also given a blue plaque to mark its 150th anniversary.
In 1907 the rotary press that was introduced that enabled the printing paper to be enlarged. In the 1960’s computers further revolutionised the printing rooms.
The company was a big local employer and many Arundel residents worked for the newspaper for years.
If you call into Arundel Museum you can see some of the old printing equipment, or make time to join with Arundel Historic Tours who can tell you more about The Shopping Arcade in Arundel.
So now you know where the Old Printing Works Shopping Arcade is to be found, what is in there and the lovely historical stories about the building, all you have to do is pay this unique Arcade a visit and enjoy this ‘not so hidden’ gem of Arundel all for yourself.
By Barb Hogan, Visit Arundel
Photos: Charlie Waring
Historic images: The West Sussex Gazette