ArundelHistory-TheGreat ArundelPong

The great Arundel pong

By local historian Mark Phillips

I was somewhat amused to find the following clipping in my library, of a letter to the editor of the West Sussex Gazette on September 10, 1868: ‘Sir, On two or three occasions lately the town has been visited by a smell, so poisonous and offensive as to seriously affect the health of several persons. Such a smell came over us on Monday night last. The inhabitants were obliged to close their windows; and many, to escape from it, positively walked some distance from their houses! I am told that this obnoxious smell arises from certain boiling of refuse matter with acids. I am not positive as to the exact cause; but I really think that, as the borough of Arundel is proud in the possession of a Mayor and Corporation, the nuisance should be at once put down. It would not be tolerated for a moment in any wellregulated town in England. Let it be done at once, or I’m off! – Yours respectfully, A. Visitor The overwhelming smell was something that a lot, although not all, locals had become, well, not exactly used to, but perhaps somewhat tolerant of. It came from the Tallow Chandler and soap manufacturer, known locally as Eversheds Soap works. This was located on the outskirts of the town over in South Marshes (Fitzalan Road), later to become the depot of Arundel Borough Council. Mr or Mrs A Visitor were quite wrong on one point, it was in fact quite common at the time for small

towns to have their own soap factory before the accessibility of improved transport made it more cost effective to produce it in large factories. However, there is no question over the disgusting aroma that could often be smelled throughout the town, especially by visitors who were unaccustomed to it. The Arundel soap works was set up beside the river Arun c1812, by 26Building along Fitzalan Road. The site of the old Soap Factory year-old William Evershed. Around 1816, William married Martha Sale and they set up home along the shipyard, on the opposite side of the river. They had several children, some of whom died quite young, but it was the youngest child, George Thomas, who took an interest and started working at the factory. By 1861, George had taken over the management of the whole business. Circa 1856 George married Emily Watkins and they set up home in 33 Tarrant Street, next to the United Reformed church. They lived a comfortable life with George even becoming Mayor of Arundel in 1875. The respect for this honoured position appeared to calm down many of the locals who used to complain every time the wind blew from the south, dispersing the obnoxious odour from the factory around the parish. By the end of the 1800s, George was finding it increasingly difficult to compete with the large industrial soap factories in the north of the country and in 1903, he took the decision to close the factory. However, the Eversheds continued to produce soap at a factory in Shoreham for many more years until it finally closed in 1954. The last soap bar produced in the Arundel factory is now with the Arundel Museum. Credit - 2002 article by Mary Barber