The Henly family played an important role in the area for centuries. At least three generations were involved in Arun barge operations, also operating as local coal and lime merchants, and running the Black Dog & Duck public house.

Joseph Henly (1780-1846) was recorded locally in the 1841 Census as a bargeman, as were two of his sons, George and Josiah.

Joseph’s son, George (1827-1898), was the wharfinger at Bury, and ran barges on the Arun Navigation and further afield. He also ran the Black Dog Inn, later amended to the Black Dog & Duck, to reflect his shooting prowess.

George married Emma Steadman in 1852, they had a son, Henry, and a daughter, Mary. After Emma died., George married Ester Ede in 1860, and produced three sons and six daughters.

Henry Henly (1855 - 1914) had taken over the pub from his father by 1891. He was to pass it on to his son, Lindsay.

Henry also operated the family barges. In the 1881 Census, he was shown at the age of 26 as a bargeman. At this time he was lodging with Eliza Andrews, the widow of John Andrews, and recorded as ‘head of household’ operating a market garden of one acre, assisted by her other family members. Eliza was a well known resident of Bury at the time.

The Black Dog & Duck

There are two postcards of the Black Dog & Duck which probably show Henry Henly. The exterior view shows a small group outside the pub and Henry could be the individual standing on the left, with possibly other members of staff in the background. The photographer is identified as “P. Searle, Photo., Amberley”’ (top left, in red). On the reverse, a sideways printed caption reads " H. Henly, Noted Cider House.". The card was posted in Pulborough on Aug 13, 1909.

In the interior photograph, the person behind the bar, on the far right, is assumed to be Henry. The photographer was possibly David Dinnage, according to the Sussex Postcards website. The card was not posted so its date is unknown.

‘Concerned’

On the third postcard, ‘Concerned’, Henry Henly is probably the individual on the right, while the old lady is likely to be Eliza Andrews, whose market garden would possibly have supplied the local pubs, including the Black Dog & Duck.. She died at the age of 98 in 1909.

Eliza was born Eliza Davis in 1811, in Houghton, and was married twice; the second time to fruiterer John Andrews. He died in 1875, leaving her to operate the one acre market garden. In 1891 and 1901 she was living about seven houses away from the Inn.

If these identities are correct, their ages shown would place the date of the photograph as 1906. The photographer was probably David Dinnage,