Horsham
Encyclopedia
Horsham is a market town
with a population of 55,657 (2008) on the upper reaches of the River Arun
in the centre of the Weald, West Sussex
, in the historic County of Sussex, England. The town is 31 miles (50 km) south south-west of London
, 18.5 miles (30 km) north-west of Brighton
and 26 miles (42 km) north-east of the county town
of Chichester
. Nearby towns include Crawley
to the north-east and Haywards Heath
and Burgess Hill
to the south-east. It is the administrative and market centre of Horsham District Council
area.
arrow
head - is sometimes claimed as the birth of distinctly British culture
since it is the earliest known artefact that postdates the separation (due to glacial
meltwater filling the Channel
) of Britain from the continent
947. The town had connections to the sale of horse
s and the name is believed to be derived from "Horse Ham", a settlement where horses were kept.
An alternative explanation is that "Horsham" is a contraction of "Horsa's Ham" named after the Saxon
warrior who was said to have been given lands in the area.
Despite having been in existence for some 140 years at the time of the survey, Horsham is not mentioned in the Domesday Book
either because it was never visited by inspectors, or was simply 'left out' of the final version. It lies within the ancient Norman administrative division of the Rape of Bramber
and the Hundred of Singlecross.
In ancient times Horsham was controlled by the powerful de Braose family. Later the Eversfield family, which had risen from Surrey County obscurity into a powerhouse of ironmaster
s and landowners, built Denne Park House, their seat. The family later represented Horsham in Parliament, and controlled the Eversfield Estate in St. Leonards-on-Sea, where the seaside promenade is named for the family.
Horsham had two weekly market
s in the Middle Ages
, and was noted locally for its annual fair
s.
and Wealden Brickworks still operate two miles north of Horsham and there are disused workings throughout the area, notably at Southwater
which is now developed as an education centre and leisure park.
Horsham prospered during the Victorian era
and early 20th century. The town, along with others, has been well documented photographically by Francis Frith
. The pictures record many of the landmarks that are still in place today, although some, such the war memorial
, Jubilee Fountain and Carfax Bandstand, have been moved.
Horsham remained a prominent brewery
town until 2000, when the King and Barnes
Brewery was closed on merger with Hall & Woodhouse, brewers of Dorset
. King & Barnes was formed in 1906 from the merger of King & Sons, maltsters existing from 1850 and G H Barnes & Co., brewers whose origins date back to 1800. The brewery remained in the King family hands until the merger in 2000 when production ceased permanently. Their most famous brews included: Sussex Ale, Wealden Ale, Broadwood, Festive and the seasonal Old and Christmas Ales. The last member of the King family involved in the company still brews in Horsham as W J King & Co (Brewers) and supplies real ales to local pubs. There are two other small brewers currently operating in Horsham: Hepworth's is run by a former head brewer at King & Barnes, and Welton's, a company who were formed in Capel, Surrey, about fifteen years ago, and have been in Horsham since 2004 (?).
The town has grown steadily over recent years to a population of over 50,000. This has been facilitated by the completion of both an inner and outer town bypass. The location of any new growth is the subject of intense debate. Certainly, the town will fight hard to retain the 'strategic housing gap' between itself and its large neighbour Crawley
. However, the latest plans by the District Council include a large neighbourhood directly adjacent to Crawley
, potentially eating into that gap.
was John Weekes of Horsham. He was charged with robbery
and murder of a woman along with three accomplice
s, one of whom was a small boy used to sneak inside the woman's house and open access for the other three. When police found stolen property in the possession of the men, they easily persuaded the boy into turning King's evidence. Two of the other accomplices were convicted, but when John Weekes had his turn to plead, he refused to say anything. Once the judges brought in eight witnesses who swore Weekes could talk and was not dumb, they gave him time in the cells. When he refused further to say a single word, the judges were forced to find him not guilty of murder. Instead, he was convicted of 'standing mute through malice'. Weekes was placed under three hundredweight boards, and the sixteen stone
gaoler jumped on top of him. Local folklore continues the story, extending it to include the death of his executioner days later, sometimes in the same spot where the execution was carried out. Some think that he was a mute.
Public execution
s generally took place at a place called North Heath, now a suburb of Horsham. The road to the execution site was known for many years as Gibbet's Road but was later renamed Giblet's Road with an extension now called Giblet's Way. The last man to be put to death for homosexuality
in England was in Horsham in 1834.
. The second tier of local government is by West Sussex
County Council, based in Chichester
. In addition there are various Parish Council
s.
The town is the centre of the parliamentary constituency of Horsham
, recreated in 1983.
Francis Maude
has served as Member of Parliament
for Horsham since 1997.
Maude is also Minister for the Cabinet Office and HM Paymaster General.
, with the Surrey Hills
of the North Downs
to the north and the Sussex Downs of the South Downs
to the south. The River Arun
rises from ghylls (streams) in the St Leonard's Forest area, to the east of Horsham, cuts through the south of the town then makes its way through Broadbridge Heath
.It is joined by a number of streams flowing down from the northern rising around Rusper
.
is situated at the northerly end opposite to the recently developed former headquarters of the R.S.P.C.A.
. At the south end of the Causeway is the Church of England parish church
of St. Mary: Norman
in origin, rebuilt in the 13th century and restored in 1864-65 by the Gothic revival architect
S.S. Teulon
. The area immediately to the south of the parish church is known as Normandy. It was formerly an area of artisans cottages and an ancient well. Moving south for fifty metres and the River Arun
is encountered. On the northern bank is Prewett's Mill and on the south side is the town's cricket field. A short walk along the banks of the Arun in a south easterly direction is Chesworth Farm, an area of open public access.
To the north of the Carfax is a large park, known locally as Horsham Park, the remnant of what was formerly the Hurst Park Estate. The park has numerous football pitches, a wildlife pond and tennis courts. Various leisure facilities, including a modern swimming complex and a purpose built gymnastic centre, have been built on land around the park.
To the east along Brighton Road is Iron Bridge named after the railway bridge that carries the railway from to . The area consists of mainly Victorian and Edwardian
houses to the north of Brighton Road, whilst to the south there are areas of inter- and post-war housing. This area is known as the East Side.
formation.
), this area was developed as a neighbourhood in the latter part of the 20th Century.
in 1907, closing in 1937. The station is shown as being in the location now at Wimland Road. Roffey is a separate ecclesiastical parish with its own parish church
—All Saints Church
on Crawley Road, designed in 1878 by Arthur Blomfield
. It replaced a temporary building which was licensed for worship in 1856.
rising above the town. A quarry existed here from 1830 to 1876. Tower Hill consists of housing dating from mid Victorian to late 20th Century. It has a public house called The Boar's Head, formerly The Fox and Hounds. The economic importance of quarrying Horsham Stone to Horsham in the 19th century has left a legacy of toponyms
including Stone Pit Field, Stone Barn, Stonyhurst and Stone Pit Wood.
of the Horsham District Council.
formerly trading in cattle, sheep and corn. Its former industries include brewing, brickmaking, iron-smelting and printing. Nowadays the important industries are financial services, pharmaceuticals and technology. Horsham is also a commuter town
serving London, Brighton and Crawley.
RSA Insurance Group, an insurance company, has its registered office in Horsham. The company first came to the town in 1965 as Sun Alliance, becoming the town's biggest employer, at its peak it employed 2,500 people. Since the peak the company has steadily been reducing its workforce in the town. In 1992 Sun Alliance demolished its 1960s tower block, Stocklund House and built St Leonard's House and St Mark's Court. The latter requiring the demolition of St Mark's Church except for the spire. Sun Alliance merged with Royal Insurance in 1996 to form Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group, then renamed RSA Insurance Group in 2008. Another employer in the town is Novartis
a Swiss based multinational pharmaceutical company formerly called Ciba-Geigy before a 1996 merger.The site houses the firm's gastro-intestinal research centre and respiratory research centre employing over 300 people. The RSPCA
, an animal welfare charity, has a £16 million headquarters at Southwater
near Horsham, built to replace its former headquarters in the centre of the town.
Horsham's town centre has many national chain stores, and is suffering the loss of small and independent retailers.
In 1992 the town centre was redesigned to greatly reduce the flow of traffic through the town's main shopping streets. West Street was pedestrianised. Much of The Carfax was pedestrianised to create a town square. On the Northwest side of this square is Swan walk, a typical shopping centre. A further shopping area and public square, the Forum, opened in 2003 to the south of West Street. There is a partially covered shopping area Piries Place and a shopping street still open to traffic, East Street.
At the west end of the town centre stands a controversial water sculpture known as the 'Rising Universe
' fountain, more commonly known locally as 'The Shelley Fountain'. It was designed by Angela Connor, and erected to commemorate the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley
who was born at Field Place in Broadbridge Heath, near Warnham
, not far from Horsham. The design is based on a fountain planned for the city of Cambridge
which was rejected due to public protest. The County Times wrote "Its appearance and quality as a public work of art has attracted widespread derision and distress. Just how long it will survive is the burning question of the moment.". At its opening the mayor of Lerici
, Horsham's twin town where the poet drowned, described the memorial as "very brave". The fountain is designed to release a torrent of six and a half tons of water periodically, it is 45 ft across at its base, standing 28 ft high. It carries a plaque bearing one of his poems.
The fountain was turned off in the spring of 2006 to save water. Despite recycling it used 180 gallons a day to cover evaporation and filtration losses. However, the council has made water saving efficiencies elsewhere and the fountain was turned on again on November 13, 2006, its tenth birthday but was turned off again after that Christmas. In May 2008 the fountain was turned off again due to the failure of its main hydraulic cylinder. On 19 January 2009 the fountain was fenced off for repairs. It was reopened without the fountain functioning. The fountain was due to be repaired at the start of March 2011 at a cost of more than £30,000. As of November 2011 the fountain is functioning fully.
The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin is the oldest building in Horsham. It has been associated with the life and worship of the community and in continuous use for nearly eight centuries. It is located at the end of the Causeway in Normandy, the oldest extant part of Horsham. It has a peal of ten bells.The present structure is largely of Mid Victorian design
The Town Hall in the Market Square is a much adapted and restructured building dating from c 1648 when it was referred to as a 'Market House'. In 1721 a new construction of Portland Stone
was built containing a poultry and butter market. The building fell into disrepair and was substantially rebuilt around 1812.It was only as late as 1888 that it became the property of Horsham Council.The building was again largely rebuilt and is essentially of late Victorian origin with a Norman facade preserving some aspects of the older buildings.It has been used as council offices and as a magistrates court in the proceeding years, and more recently housed the Horsham Registry Office on the upper floor. The ground floor was still used as an occasional market place until the Town Hall was closed by the Council to be let as a restaurant.
The town has one main railway station, Horsham railway station
, on the Arun Valley Line
from Chichester
to Crawley
, Gatwick and London Victoria
. Normally trains on this line depart from Bognor Regis and alternately from Portsmouth or Southampton Central and are joined at Horsham. Likewise southbound ("down") trains divide here. Other services ("stopping" during the off-peak period) leave Horsham for London Bridge. Sutton & Mole Valley line services go north to Dorking
, Epsom
, Sutton and London Victoria. There is also Littlehaven Station
(previously named Littlehaven Halt), in the north east of the town on the Crawley line. There is also Christ's Hospital railway station serving the west of Horsham.
and 65 km (40.4 mi) from London Heathrow Airport
.
and Shoreham
via the Downs Link
, a long distance bridleway and cycle route which follows the now disused Horsham-Guildford, and Horsham-Shoreham railway lines and passes through Southwater
, just to the south of Horsham. Most bus services are run by Metrobus, with other routes operated by Arriva, Compass Bus
and Stagecoach. See List of bus routes in West Sussex.
The main secondary schools in Horsham are:
Horsham is also home to the well-known:
play their home matches at Cricketfield which is used twice a season by Sussex CCC for matches. Although cricket was played in Horsham before 1768, the first recorded game of a town side was on 8 August 1771, which is when Horsham Cricket Club was created. The Club has played various locations over the years, before settling at the present ground in 1851. Horsham Cricket Club were national champions in 2005.
Horsham F.C.
are the town's senior football club and currently (2011–12) play in the Isthmian League Premier Division. This is currently the highest division the club have ever played in. They have had some success in recent seasons, reaching the final of the Sussex Senior Cup in 2007. They reached the 2nd round of the F A Cup in 07-08, losing in a replay to Swansea City. The team currently play at the Horsham YMCA ground (see below) whilst they seek a new ground in Horsham. The dedicated followers of the team are known as the 'Lardy Boys'.
Horsham YMCA FC, founded in 1898, are playing their 2009/10 season in the Isthmian League Division One South. They are nicknamed 'The YMs', and play their home games at Gorings Mead in the Iron Bridge part of Horsham. http://www.horshamymcafc.com/
Forest F.C.
were established in 1958 as the Old Boys team of Forest School and joined the Sussex County League in 1988. For the 2009-10 season, they are members of the Sussex County League Division Three.
Horsham RUFC who play at the Coolhurst Ground, are the town's premier Rugby Union team. They were founded in 1928 with their first headquarters at the Station Hotel opposite Horsham Station. Initially the team played on farmland adjacent to the Warnham Park Estate but from 1930 until 1968 they were settled at Horsham Cricket Club. The club grew considerably after the war with further pitches rented in Horsham Park. In 1972 they moved to their present home. At present Horsham 1st XV are in London 4 South East. The club runs teams at every level starting with u7s http://www.horshamrufc.com
Holbrook RUFC are a smaller rugby club, based at The Holbrook Club in north Horsham. It was originally formed in 1971 as Sunallon RFC, which was the name of the then Sun Alliance Sports & Social Club. This then developed into Sun Alliance RFC and following a merger with the Liverpool based Royal Insurance in 1996 into Royal & Sun Alliance RFC (RSA). Holbrook RFC now have two teams as of the 2008/09 season, with the 1sts in Sussex League 1 following promotion, and 2nds in Sussex League 3. http://www.holbrookrfc.co.uk
Horsham Gymnastic Club have a national reputation for producing top female gymnasts a number of whom have progressed to the England and Great Britain national squads.
, is open weekdays, and is located on Hurst Road.
The town also has its own law courts, ambulance station, fire station and police station also located on Hurst Road. The Statutory emergency fire and rescue service
is provided by the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Home Office
policing in Horsham is provided by the Sussex Police
.
The Registry of births, deaths and marriages is located in Park House, North Street in central Horsham.
Horsham Park immediately to the north of central Horsham is 24 hectares of open space for the use of the people of Horsham. It contains an 18th century country house used in part by the Horsham District Council and contains formal gardens and a maze. At the eastern side is The Pavilions In The Park leisure centre with a gym and a 25m swimming pool run by a private company for Horsham District Council. A BMX and Skate park is located on the Hurst Road side of Horsham Park. The remaining space is used extensively for leisure pursuits such as tennis, football and rugby.
Horsham Museum
is located on the picturesque Causeway in a half timbered medieval house. It has local history objects displayed in twenty-six galleries. Situated on North Street is 'The Capitol', the venue (formally Horsham Arts Centre) features a theatre, 2 full-time cinema screens, a studio and gallery. On Lower Tanbridge Way is two storey modernised library run by West Sussex Libraries.
at the age of 16. It includes descriptions of St Mary's Church and other buildings along with lithographs and wood-cut images of the town. The book entitled The History and Antiquities of Horsham has been reproduced in full to enable research on line.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had the fictitious Openshaw family, in the Sherlock Holmes
story The Five Orange Pips
, residing in the town.
Douglas Maddon
's book The English Department's Whores, is a thinly-veiled satire of life in Horsham.
In October 2006, Horsham was pronounced the second best place to live in the UK, beating off the likes of Epsom
and Tunbridge Wells
and only beaten by Winchester
. This was claimed by a Channel 4
show, The 10 best and worst places to live in the UK.
The programme mentioned that:
In 2007, a Reader's Digest poll put Horsham as the 25th best place in mainland Britain to bring up a family.
On 27 September 2007, Horsham was awarded as the overall winner of Britain in Bloom
in the Large town / small city category in the whole of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with a Gold Award. It also has the honour of being presented with the Royal Horticultural Society
's 'Bloomin' Wild' award which reflected the theme for year's national judging.
Horsham is placed number 27 in the book 'Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places To Live In The UK'
. The satirical book describes Horsham as "a No Fun Zone run by old conservatives for old conservatives."
This award was given because of the Horsham Council refused to build a Night Club in the town, then carried on to say said that "the weekly disco at the Roffey youth centre would be enough".
Lage
, Germany
Horsham Town twinnings: Lerici
, Italy
Horsham, Victoria
, Australia
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
with a population of 55,657 (2008) on the upper reaches of the River Arun
River Arun
The Arun is a river in the English county of West Sussex. Its source is a series of small streams in the St Leonard's Forest area, to the east of Horsham...
in the centre of the Weald, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, in the historic County of Sussex, England. The town is 31 miles (50 km) south south-west of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 18.5 miles (30 km) north-west of Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and 26 miles (42 km) north-east of the county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
. Nearby towns include Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
to the north-east and Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath
-Climate:Haywards Heath experiences an oceanic climate similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.-Rail:Haywards Heath railway station is a major station on the Brighton Main Line...
and Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill is a civil parish and a town primarily located in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England, close to the border with East Sussex, on the edge of the South Downs National Park...
to the south-east. It is the administrative and market centre of Horsham District Council
Horsham (district)
Horsham is a local government district in West Sussex, England. Its council is based in Horsham. The district borders those of Crawley, Mid Sussex, Mole Valley, Chichester, Arun and Adur....
area.
Prehistory
The "Horsham Point" - a MesolithicMesolithic
The Mesolithic is an archaeological concept used to refer to certain groups of archaeological cultures defined as falling between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic....
arrow
Arrow
An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
head - is sometimes claimed as the birth of distinctly British culture
Culture of the United Kingdom
The culture of the United Kingdom refers to the patterns of human activity and symbolism associated with the United Kingdom and its people. It is informed by the UK's history as a developed island country, major power, and its composition of four countries—England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and...
since it is the earliest known artefact that postdates the separation (due to glacial
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
meltwater filling the Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
) of Britain from the continent
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
Middle Ages
The first mention of Horsham was in King Eadred's land charter of ADAnno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
947. The town had connections to the sale of horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s and the name is believed to be derived from "Horse Ham", a settlement where horses were kept.
An alternative explanation is that "Horsham" is a contraction of "Horsa's Ham" named after the Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
warrior who was said to have been given lands in the area.
Despite having been in existence for some 140 years at the time of the survey, Horsham is not mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
either because it was never visited by inspectors, or was simply 'left out' of the final version. It lies within the ancient Norman administrative division of the Rape of Bramber
Rape of Bramber
The Rape of Bramber is one of the rapes, the traditional sub-divisions unique to the historic county of Sussex in England. Bramber is a former barony, originally based around the castle of Bramber and its village, overlooking the river Adur.-History:...
and the Hundred of Singlecross.
In ancient times Horsham was controlled by the powerful de Braose family. Later the Eversfield family, which had risen from Surrey County obscurity into a powerhouse of ironmaster
Ironmaster
An ironmaster is the manager – and usually owner – of a forge or blast furnace for the processing of iron. It is a term mainly associated with the period of the Industrial Revolution, especially in Great Britain....
s and landowners, built Denne Park House, their seat. The family later represented Horsham in Parliament, and controlled the Eversfield Estate in St. Leonards-on-Sea, where the seaside promenade is named for the family.
Horsham had two weekly market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
s in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, and was noted locally for its annual fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
s.
Modern era
Despite a local iron industry which stayed until the 17th century and a prosperous brewing industry, Horsham remained primarily a market town serving the many farms in the area until the early 20th century, when other industry and residential development began to proliferate. One of the most important of these was the manufacture of bricks from the Wealden clay on which Horsham sits. WarnhamWarnham
Warnham is a village and civil parish in the Horsham district of West Sussex, England. The village is some three kilometres north west of central Horsham to the west of the A24 road...
and Wealden Brickworks still operate two miles north of Horsham and there are disused workings throughout the area, notably at Southwater
Southwater
Southwater is a large village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England with a population of roughly 10,000. The village is administered from the Horsham District Council Offices. Much of the population of Southwater originated from the brick industry which thrived in the...
which is now developed as an education centre and leisure park.
Horsham prospered during the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
and early 20th century. The town, along with others, has been well documented photographically by Francis Frith
Francis Frith
Francis Frith was an English photographer of the Middle East and many towns in the United Kingdom....
. The pictures record many of the landmarks that are still in place today, although some, such the war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
, Jubilee Fountain and Carfax Bandstand, have been moved.
Horsham remained a prominent brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
town until 2000, when the King and Barnes
King and Barnes
King and Barnes is the name of a former family owned English brewery, based in Horsham, Sussex.-History:The brewery was founded around 1800 as Satchell & Co. Satchell was later bought out by the maltster, James King, and the business renamed King & Sons. In 1906, another Horsham brewer, G.H...
Brewery was closed on merger with Hall & Woodhouse, brewers of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. King & Barnes was formed in 1906 from the merger of King & Sons, maltsters existing from 1850 and G H Barnes & Co., brewers whose origins date back to 1800. The brewery remained in the King family hands until the merger in 2000 when production ceased permanently. Their most famous brews included: Sussex Ale, Wealden Ale, Broadwood, Festive and the seasonal Old and Christmas Ales. The last member of the King family involved in the company still brews in Horsham as W J King & Co (Brewers) and supplies real ales to local pubs. There are two other small brewers currently operating in Horsham: Hepworth's is run by a former head brewer at King & Barnes, and Welton's, a company who were formed in Capel, Surrey, about fifteen years ago, and have been in Horsham since 2004 (?).
The town has grown steadily over recent years to a population of over 50,000. This has been facilitated by the completion of both an inner and outer town bypass. The location of any new growth is the subject of intense debate. Certainly, the town will fight hard to retain the 'strategic housing gap' between itself and its large neighbour Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
. However, the latest plans by the District Council include a large neighbourhood directly adjacent to Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
, potentially eating into that gap.
Legal history
The last man to die by pressing in the whole of EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was John Weekes of Horsham. He was charged with robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and murder of a woman along with three accomplice
Accomplice
At law, an accomplice is a person who actively participates in the commission of a crime, even though they take no part in the actual criminal offense. For example, in a bank robbery, the person who points the gun at the teller and asks for the money is guilty of armed robbery...
s, one of whom was a small boy used to sneak inside the woman's house and open access for the other three. When police found stolen property in the possession of the men, they easily persuaded the boy into turning King's evidence. Two of the other accomplices were convicted, but when John Weekes had his turn to plead, he refused to say anything. Once the judges brought in eight witnesses who swore Weekes could talk and was not dumb, they gave him time in the cells. When he refused further to say a single word, the judges were forced to find him not guilty of murder. Instead, he was convicted of 'standing mute through malice'. Weekes was placed under three hundredweight boards, and the sixteen stone
Stone (weight)
The stone is a units of measurement that was used in many North European countries until the advent of metrication. It value, which ranged from 3 kg to 12 kg, varied from city to city and also often from commodity to commodity...
gaoler jumped on top of him. Local folklore continues the story, extending it to include the death of his executioner days later, sometimes in the same spot where the execution was carried out. Some think that he was a mute.
Public execution
Public Execution
Public Execution is a Mouse and the Traps retrospective album that has been released in both LP and CD formats. The LP has an unusually large number of tracks , while the CD includes 4 bonus tracks and catalogues almost all of the released music by Mouse and the Traps and their associated bands: ...
s generally took place at a place called North Heath, now a suburb of Horsham. The road to the execution site was known for many years as Gibbet's Road but was later renamed Giblet's Road with an extension now called Giblet's Way. The last man to be put to death for homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
in England was in Horsham in 1834.
Governance
Horsham is the largest town in the Horsham District Council areaHorsham (district)
Horsham is a local government district in West Sussex, England. Its council is based in Horsham. The district borders those of Crawley, Mid Sussex, Mole Valley, Chichester, Arun and Adur....
. The second tier of local government is by West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
County Council, based in Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
. In addition there are various Parish Council
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
s.
The town is the centre of the parliamentary constituency of Horsham
Horsham (UK Parliament constituency)
Horsham is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
, recreated in 1983.
Francis Maude
Francis Maude
Francis Anthony Aylmer Maude is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he currently serves as the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, and as a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Horsham...
has served as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Horsham since 1997.
Maude is also Minister for the Cabinet Office and HM Paymaster General.
Topography
Horsham has an elevation of 50 metres (164 ft) above sea level, it is situated in the centre of the Weald in the Low Weald, at the very western edge of the High WealdHigh Weald AONB
The High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is situated in south-east England. Covering an area of , it extends across the counties of Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent. It is the fourth largest Area of Outstanding Beauty in England and Wales...
, with the Surrey Hills
Surrey Hills AONB
The Surrey Hills is a Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , located in Surrey, England. The AONB was designated in 1958 and covers one quarter of the county of Surrey...
of the North Downs
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. The North Downs lie within two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs...
to the north and the Sussex Downs of the South Downs
South Downs
The South Downs is a range of chalk hills that extends for about across the south-eastern coastal counties of England from the Itchen Valley of Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, in the east. It is bounded on its northern side by a steep escarpment, from whose...
to the south. The River Arun
River Arun
The Arun is a river in the English county of West Sussex. Its source is a series of small streams in the St Leonard's Forest area, to the east of Horsham...
rises from ghylls (streams) in the St Leonard's Forest area, to the east of Horsham, cuts through the south of the town then makes its way through Broadbridge Heath
Broadbridge Heath
-Notable residents:The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, was born at Field Place, which stands about a mile to the north of the village.The bestselling novelist Georgette Heyer lived at the Swan Ken, Broadbridge Heath, for several months in 1931....
.It is joined by a number of streams flowing down from the northern rising around Rusper
Rusper
Rusper is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It lies north of the town of Horsham and west of Crawley. Rusper is the centre of Rusper Parish which covers most of the northern area between Horsham and Crawley. Rusper is governed by the Horsham District...
.
Town centre
Horsham has grown up around the Carfax (see landmarks), which is a meeting area place of four roads. To the south of the Carfax is the Causeway. This tranquil street consists of houses erected in the 17th, 18th and early 19th century and is lined with ancient London Plane trees. The Horsham MuseumHorsham Museum
Horsham Museum is a museum at Horsham, West Sussex, in South East England. It was founded in August 1893 by volunteers of the Free Christian Church and became part of Horsham District Council in 1974...
is situated at the northerly end opposite to the recently developed former headquarters of the R.S.P.C.A.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a charity in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. In 2009 the RSPCA investigated 141,280 cruelty complaints and collected and rescued 135,293 animals...
. At the south end of the Causeway is the Church of England parish church
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of St. Mary: Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
in origin, rebuilt in the 13th century and restored in 1864-65 by the Gothic revival architect
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
S.S. Teulon
Samuel Sanders Teulon
Samuel Sanders Teulon was a notable 19th century English Gothic Revival architect.-Family:Teulon was born in Greenwich in south-east London, the son of a cabinet-maker from a French Huguenot family. His younger brother William Milford Teulon also became an architect...
. The area immediately to the south of the parish church is known as Normandy. It was formerly an area of artisans cottages and an ancient well. Moving south for fifty metres and the River Arun
River Arun
The Arun is a river in the English county of West Sussex. Its source is a series of small streams in the St Leonard's Forest area, to the east of Horsham...
is encountered. On the northern bank is Prewett's Mill and on the south side is the town's cricket field. A short walk along the banks of the Arun in a south easterly direction is Chesworth Farm, an area of open public access.
To the north of the Carfax is a large park, known locally as Horsham Park, the remnant of what was formerly the Hurst Park Estate. The park has numerous football pitches, a wildlife pond and tennis courts. Various leisure facilities, including a modern swimming complex and a purpose built gymnastic centre, have been built on land around the park.
To the east along Brighton Road is Iron Bridge named after the railway bridge that carries the railway from to . The area consists of mainly Victorian and Edwardian
Edwardian architecture
Edwardian architecture is the style popular when King Edward VII of the United Kingdom was in power; he reigned from 1901 to 1910, but the architecture style is generally considered to be indicative of the years 1901 to 1914....
houses to the north of Brighton Road, whilst to the south there are areas of inter- and post-war housing. This area is known as the East Side.
Suburbs
Horsham has developed beyond the original boundaries to incorporate some of the smaller hamlets which now form part of the outer neighbourhoods.Holbrook
An area of Horsham named after a feeder stream of the River Arun. It consists of residential housing, the majority of which is of late twentieth century origin. The suburb is substantial enough for two council wards. The hamlet around Old Holbrook House is immediately to the north of the A264 which abuts Holbrook. Holbrook House was previously the home of Sir William Vesey-Fitzgerald, Governor of Bombay and M.P. for Horsham (1852–1875). The Tithe Barn at Fivens Green is the most notable building in the district.Littlehaven
This hamlet dates back to the late 18th Century, when a small number of houses were in existence, with an inn opening in the early part of the 19th Century. A station opened in the area in 1907, originally called Rusper Road Crossing halt, but later renamed .Needles estate
South-west of the town the Needles estate was laid out from c. 1955, with a mixture of privately owned and council-built houses and bungalows. Land around Hills Farm nearby was sold for development in 1972 and further development took place in the 1980s The Needles are named after a local farmhouse, called so as it was built using timbers from ships wrecked on The NeedlesThe Needles
The Needles is a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, England, close to Alum Bay. The Needles lighthouse stands at the end of the formation...
formation.
New Town
In keeping with many other towns, new developments to the east of the town centre were rapid in the early Victorian era, and that area of town became known, as it is today, as New Town. The area contains the Iron Bridge, a steel structure that carries the railway to the south of Horsham.North Heath
Originally used as a label to describe the northern part of the parish of Horsham (compared to Southwater to describe that part south of the River ArunRiver Arun
The Arun is a river in the English county of West Sussex. Its source is a series of small streams in the St Leonard's Forest area, to the east of Horsham...
), this area was developed as a neighbourhood in the latter part of the 20th Century.
Oakhill
This area was originally known as Grub Street, and developed south of Depot Road in the 19th century.Roffey
Roffey is north east of the centre of Horsham and as a hamlet dates back to at least the 13th Century, with taxation records of 1296 showing 18 liable people in the area. Kelley's Post Office Directory for 1867 describes 'Roughey' as consisting 'of a few farmhouses and cottages. Here is an iron church, capable of accommodating 80 persons'. Maps of the 1880s show Roffey Corner (still spelt Roughey), but appear to label the hamlet as Star Row, with Roffey in use again by the turn of the century. A railway station opened as Roffey Road HaltRoffey Road Halt
Roffey Road Halt is a now disused station on the Arun Valley Line in West Sussex, England and was the second station out from Horsham on the stretch to Crawley. It occupied a rural setting and opened on the 1st June 1907. The anticipated housing growth did not occur and it closed in 1937...
in 1907, closing in 1937. The station is shown as being in the location now at Wimland Road. Roffey is a separate ecclesiastical parish with its own parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
—All Saints Church
All Saints Church, Roffey
All Saints Church is the Anglican parish church of Roffey, in the Horsham district of the English county of West Sussex. The present church, built to serve the Victorian suburb of Roffey—part of the ancient market town of Horsham—replaced a schoolroom in which religious services had been held...
on Crawley Road, designed in 1878 by Arthur Blomfield
Arthur Blomfield
Sir Arthur William Blomfield was an English architect.-Background:The fourth son of Charles James Blomfield, an Anglican Bishop of London helpfully began a programme of new church construction in the capital. Born in Fulham Palace, Arthur Blomfield was educated at Rugby and Trinity College,...
. It replaced a temporary building which was licensed for worship in 1856.
Tower Hill
Tower Hill is a hamlet that lies one mile south from Horsham on a ridge of land containing a sandstone known as Horsham StoneHorsham Stone
Horsham Stone is a type of calcerous, flaggy sandstone containing millions of minute sand grains. It is also high in mica and quartz. The rock extends in an arc-like formation for several kilometres around the West Sussex town of Horsham from which it bears its name and lies just below the Wealden...
rising above the town. A quarry existed here from 1830 to 1876. Tower Hill consists of housing dating from mid Victorian to late 20th Century. It has a public house called The Boar's Head, formerly The Fox and Hounds. The economic importance of quarrying Horsham Stone to Horsham in the 19th century has left a legacy of toponyms
Toponymy
Toponymy is the scientific study of place names , their origins, meanings, use and typology. The word "toponymy" is derived from the Greek words tópos and ónoma . Toponymy is itself a branch of onomastics, the study of names of all kinds...
including Stone Pit Field, Stone Barn, Stonyhurst and Stone Pit Wood.
Trafalgar
An area of late 19th and early 20th centuries development on land west of the London Road at North Parade it consists chiefly of semi detached houses with corner shops,most of which have closed. Until the mid 20th century it was known as 'The Common', after a piece of common land that survived inclosure in Trafalgar Road for many years. Trafalgar forms one of the wards of Horsham Hurst (electoral division)Horsham Hurst (electoral division)
Horsham Hurst is an electoral division of West Sussex in the United Kingdom and returns one member to sit on West Sussex County Council.-Extent:The division covers the western part of the town of Horsham....
of the Horsham District Council.
Economy
Horsham is a market townMarket town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
formerly trading in cattle, sheep and corn. Its former industries include brewing, brickmaking, iron-smelting and printing. Nowadays the important industries are financial services, pharmaceuticals and technology. Horsham is also a commuter town
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
serving London, Brighton and Crawley.
RSA Insurance Group, an insurance company, has its registered office in Horsham. The company first came to the town in 1965 as Sun Alliance, becoming the town's biggest employer, at its peak it employed 2,500 people. Since the peak the company has steadily been reducing its workforce in the town. In 1992 Sun Alliance demolished its 1960s tower block, Stocklund House and built St Leonard's House and St Mark's Court. The latter requiring the demolition of St Mark's Church except for the spire. Sun Alliance merged with Royal Insurance in 1996 to form Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group, then renamed RSA Insurance Group in 2008. Another employer in the town is Novartis
Novartis
Novartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...
a Swiss based multinational pharmaceutical company formerly called Ciba-Geigy before a 1996 merger.The site houses the firm's gastro-intestinal research centre and respiratory research centre employing over 300 people. The RSPCA
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a charity in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. In 2009 the RSPCA investigated 141,280 cruelty complaints and collected and rescued 135,293 animals...
, an animal welfare charity, has a £16 million headquarters at Southwater
Southwater
Southwater is a large village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England with a population of roughly 10,000. The village is administered from the Horsham District Council Offices. Much of the population of Southwater originated from the brick industry which thrived in the...
near Horsham, built to replace its former headquarters in the centre of the town.
Horsham's town centre has many national chain stores, and is suffering the loss of small and independent retailers.
In 1992 the town centre was redesigned to greatly reduce the flow of traffic through the town's main shopping streets. West Street was pedestrianised. Much of The Carfax was pedestrianised to create a town square. On the Northwest side of this square is Swan walk, a typical shopping centre. A further shopping area and public square, the Forum, opened in 2003 to the south of West Street. There is a partially covered shopping area Piries Place and a shopping street still open to traffic, East Street.
Landmarks
In the commercial centre of Horsham is an open square known as the Carfax. This area contains the Town's Memorial to the dead of the two world wars, a substantial, well used bandstand and a Saturday market. The name Carfax is likely of Norman origin - a corruption of 'Quatre Voies'(four faces) or 'Carrefour', a place where four roads meet. The Carfax was also formerly Known as "Scarfoulkes" The derivation of which is uncertain.(See Nameplate on building at North east corner of area). Two other places share the name in England 1/[Carfax, Oxford] 2/ Carfax, Winchester. The Carfax area of Pedestrianisation it provides a centre to the town and contains commercial shops and two public houses.Rising Universe
The Rising Universe, more commonly known locally as the Shelley Fountain, is a large modern water sculpture in Horsham, West Sussex, England. It was built to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who was born near Horsham. The design is based on a fountain...
' fountain, more commonly known locally as 'The Shelley Fountain'. It was designed by Angela Connor, and erected to commemorate the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically regarded as among the finest lyric poets in the English language. Shelley was famous for his association with John Keats and Lord Byron...
who was born at Field Place in Broadbridge Heath, near Warnham
Warnham
Warnham is a village and civil parish in the Horsham district of West Sussex, England. The village is some three kilometres north west of central Horsham to the west of the A24 road...
, not far from Horsham. The design is based on a fountain planned for the city of Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
which was rejected due to public protest. The County Times wrote "Its appearance and quality as a public work of art has attracted widespread derision and distress. Just how long it will survive is the burning question of the moment.". At its opening the mayor of Lerici
Lerici
Lerici is a town and comune in the province of La Spezia in Liguria , part of the Italian Riviera. Its nearest bay is the Bay of Lerici. The town is connected by ferry to the Cinque Terre and Portovenere....
, Horsham's twin town where the poet drowned, described the memorial as "very brave". The fountain is designed to release a torrent of six and a half tons of water periodically, it is 45 ft across at its base, standing 28 ft high. It carries a plaque bearing one of his poems.
The fountain was turned off in the spring of 2006 to save water. Despite recycling it used 180 gallons a day to cover evaporation and filtration losses. However, the council has made water saving efficiencies elsewhere and the fountain was turned on again on November 13, 2006, its tenth birthday but was turned off again after that Christmas. In May 2008 the fountain was turned off again due to the failure of its main hydraulic cylinder. On 19 January 2009 the fountain was fenced off for repairs. It was reopened without the fountain functioning. The fountain was due to be repaired at the start of March 2011 at a cost of more than £30,000. As of November 2011 the fountain is functioning fully.
The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin is the oldest building in Horsham. It has been associated with the life and worship of the community and in continuous use for nearly eight centuries. It is located at the end of the Causeway in Normandy, the oldest extant part of Horsham. It has a peal of ten bells.The present structure is largely of Mid Victorian design
Portland stone
Portland stone is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds. It has been used extensively as a building stone throughout the British Isles, notably in major...
was built containing a poultry and butter market. The building fell into disrepair and was substantially rebuilt around 1812.It was only as late as 1888 that it became the property of Horsham Council.The building was again largely rebuilt and is essentially of late Victorian origin with a Norman facade preserving some aspects of the older buildings.It has been used as council offices and as a magistrates court in the proceeding years, and more recently housed the Horsham Registry Office on the upper floor. The ground floor was still used as an occasional market place until the Town Hall was closed by the Council to be let as a restaurant.
Road
Horsham lies at the junction of three routes:- the A24A24 road (Great Britain)The A24 is a major road in England. It runs south from Clapham in southwest London through Morden before entering Surrey and heading through Ewell, Epsom, Ashtead, Leatherhead and Dorking...
north to south route from LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and DorkingDorkingDorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
to WorthingWorthingWorthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester... - the A264A264 roadThe A264 is an east-west road in southern England that runs from Pembury in west Kent to Five Oaks in West Sussex.There have been a number of notable changes in this important east-west route which follows the north Sussex border with Kent and Surrey....
/A29A29 roadThe A29 is a major road in England. It runs for approximately 34 miles from Capel, south of Dorking, leaving the A24, running through Billingshurst and Pulborough, crossing the South Downs at Bury Hill and passing Fontwell Park Racecourse before terminating on the B2166 on Bognor Regis sea...
north east to south west route from CrawleyCrawleyCrawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
to ChichesterChichesterChichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings... - the A281A281 roadThe A281 is a northwest-southeast road in southern England that passes through the countryside between Guildford, Surrey and Pyecombe, West Sussex near Brighton.-Route :*Guildford *Shalford *Bramley...
north west to south east route from GuildfordGuildfordGuildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
to BrightonBrightonBrighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
.
Railway
Horsham railway station
Horsham railway station serves the town of Horsham in West Sussex, England. It is on the Arun Valley Line 61 km south of London Victoria and the Sutton & Mole Valley Lines, and train services are provided by Southern...
, on the Arun Valley Line
Arun Valley Line
The Arun Valley Line, also known as the Mid Sussex Line, is part of the Southern-operated railway services. For the initial part of the route trains follow the Brighton Main Line, and at a junction south of Three Bridges the route turns westwards...
from Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
to Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
, Gatwick and London Victoria
Victoria station (London)
Victoria station, also known as London Victoria, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. It is named after nearby Victoria Street and not Queen Victoria. It is the second busiest railway terminus in London after Waterloo, and includes an air terminal for passengers...
. Normally trains on this line depart from Bognor Regis and alternately from Portsmouth or Southampton Central and are joined at Horsham. Likewise southbound ("down") trains divide here. Other services ("stopping" during the off-peak period) leave Horsham for London Bridge. Sutton & Mole Valley line services go north to Dorking
Dorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
, Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
, Sutton and London Victoria. There is also Littlehaven Station
Littlehaven railway station
Littlehaven Railway Station serves the areas of Littlehaven, Holbrook and Roffey in the northeast of the town of Horsham, West Sussex. It is on the Arun Valley Line, and is the first station out of Horsham on that route going towards London.- History :...
(previously named Littlehaven Halt), in the north east of the town on the Crawley line. There is also Christ's Hospital railway station serving the west of Horsham.
Air
Horsham is 20 km (12.4 mi) from Gatwick AirportLondon Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is located 3.1 miles north of the centre of Crawley, West Sussex, and south of Central London. Previously known as London Gatwick,In 2010, the name changed from London Gatwick Airport to Gatwick Airport...
and 65 km (40.4 mi) from London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
.
Other
Cyclists, pedestrians and horseriders can reach GuildfordGuildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
and Shoreham
Shoreham-by-Sea
Shoreham-by-Sea is a small town, port and seaside resort in West Sussex, England. Shoreham-by-Sea railway station is located less than a mile from the town centre and London Gatwick Airport is away...
via the Downs Link
Downs Link
The Downs Link is a 36.7-mile footpath and bridleway linking the North Downs Way at St. Martha's Hill in Surrey with the South Downs Way near Steyning in West Sussex and on via the Coastal Link to Shoreham-by-Sea.- History :...
, a long distance bridleway and cycle route which follows the now disused Horsham-Guildford, and Horsham-Shoreham railway lines and passes through Southwater
Southwater
Southwater is a large village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England with a population of roughly 10,000. The village is administered from the Horsham District Council Offices. Much of the population of Southwater originated from the brick industry which thrived in the...
, just to the south of Horsham. Most bus services are run by Metrobus, with other routes operated by Arriva, Compass Bus
Compass Bus
Compass Bus, or Compass Travel, is an independent bus and coach operator based in Durrington, Worthing, West Sussex. They operate over 50 bus services throughout West Sussex and Surrey, linking many places other bus companies do not serve. They operate commercial and contracted routes, including...
and Stagecoach. See List of bus routes in West Sussex.
Newspapers
The West Sussex County Times is a paid-for newspaper that has served the town since 1869. It contains a free newspaper called the Horsham Advertiser. Another free newspaper, The Resident, was set up in 2008.Education
- Tanbridge House SchoolTanbridge House SchoolTanbridge House School is a secondary school in Horsham, West Sussex. It is a specialist school of IT, Maths and Science. Its current head master is Mr Jules White who started in January 2008. Previous heads include Ms Ball, Mr Neil Chapman, Dr Peter Thomas & Ms Maureen Johnson...
(mixed comprehensive), - Millais SchoolMillais SchoolMillais School is an girls' comprehensive school for students aged 11–16 situated in Horsham, West Sussex and an Outstanding School following an Ofsted inspection in 2010. There is no sixth form and the number on roll is 1495. It is a specialist language college and a training school.The school's...
(girls' comprehensive), - Forest School (boys' comprehensive).
Horsham is also home to the well-known:
- College of Richard Collyer, (sixth form) founded in 1532, and known more commonly as "Collyer's", on Hurst Road. This road also has on it the Arun House adult education centre (a constituent institution of the Central Sussex CollegeCentral Sussex CollegeCentral Sussex College is a college of further education in West Sussex. It has campuses across West Sussex and offers courses ranging from Sixth form and Adult education to undergraduate courses through partnerships with universities.-History:...
). - Christ's HospitalChrist's HospitalChrist's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
, To the south of the town is the 'Bluecoat School', a public school founded in 1552, with strong links to the City of London. It moved to the area in 1902. - Farlington School for GirlsFarlington School for GirlsFarlington School for Girls is an independent school day and boarding school for girls aged three to eighteen in Horsham, West Sussex, England. Farlington was founded in 1896 originally in Haywards Heath but moved to its present site at Strood Green near Horsham in 1955...
, An independent girls school at Strood Green about three miles from Horsham travelling towards RudgwickRudgwickRudgwick is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England located six miles west of Horsham on the north side of the A281 road. The border between Surrey and Sussex runs through the northern part of the village.... - Horsham YMCAHorsham YMCA-Origins:The Young Men's Christian Association was founded on June 6, 1844 in London, England, by George Williams with the intention of creating an organization to put Christian principles into practice. It strove to help young men who came to London for work who were often living in squalid and...
provides programmes of training for young people entering the workforce. This is supported by accommodation for up to 44 homeless young people
Sports
Horsham Cricket ClubHorsham Cricket Club
Horsham Cricket Club is one of the oldest cricket clubs in the world and represents the Sussex market town of Horsham.Although cricket was played in Horsham before 1768, the first recorded game of a town side was on 8 August 1771, and Horsham Cricket Club was created soon after 1806...
play their home matches at Cricketfield which is used twice a season by Sussex CCC for matches. Although cricket was played in Horsham before 1768, the first recorded game of a town side was on 8 August 1771, which is when Horsham Cricket Club was created. The Club has played various locations over the years, before settling at the present ground in 1851. Horsham Cricket Club were national champions in 2005.
Horsham F.C.
Horsham F.C.
Horsham F.C. are a non-League football club based in Horsham, West Sussex, England, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division.-History:...
are the town's senior football club and currently (2011–12) play in the Isthmian League Premier Division. This is currently the highest division the club have ever played in. They have had some success in recent seasons, reaching the final of the Sussex Senior Cup in 2007. They reached the 2nd round of the F A Cup in 07-08, losing in a replay to Swansea City. The team currently play at the Horsham YMCA ground (see below) whilst they seek a new ground in Horsham. The dedicated followers of the team are known as the 'Lardy Boys'.
Horsham YMCA FC, founded in 1898, are playing their 2009/10 season in the Isthmian League Division One South. They are nicknamed 'The YMs', and play their home games at Gorings Mead in the Iron Bridge part of Horsham. http://www.horshamymcafc.com/
Forest F.C.
Forest F.C.
Forest F.C. is a football club based in Horsham, England. They were established in 1958 and joined the Sussex County League in 1988. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Sussex County League Division Three....
were established in 1958 as the Old Boys team of Forest School and joined the Sussex County League in 1988. For the 2009-10 season, they are members of the Sussex County League Division Three.
Horsham RUFC who play at the Coolhurst Ground, are the town's premier Rugby Union team. They were founded in 1928 with their first headquarters at the Station Hotel opposite Horsham Station. Initially the team played on farmland adjacent to the Warnham Park Estate but from 1930 until 1968 they were settled at Horsham Cricket Club. The club grew considerably after the war with further pitches rented in Horsham Park. In 1972 they moved to their present home. At present Horsham 1st XV are in London 4 South East. The club runs teams at every level starting with u7s http://www.horshamrufc.com
Holbrook RUFC are a smaller rugby club, based at The Holbrook Club in north Horsham. It was originally formed in 1971 as Sunallon RFC, which was the name of the then Sun Alliance Sports & Social Club. This then developed into Sun Alliance RFC and following a merger with the Liverpool based Royal Insurance in 1996 into Royal & Sun Alliance RFC (RSA). Holbrook RFC now have two teams as of the 2008/09 season, with the 1sts in Sussex League 1 following promotion, and 2nds in Sussex League 3. http://www.holbrookrfc.co.uk
Horsham Gymnastic Club have a national reputation for producing top female gymnasts a number of whom have progressed to the England and Great Britain national squads.
Public services
Horsham Community HospitalHospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
, is open weekdays, and is located on Hurst Road.
The town also has its own law courts, ambulance station, fire station and police station also located on Hurst Road. The Statutory emergency fire and rescue service
Fire service in the United Kingdom
The fire services in the United Kingdom operate under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
is provided by the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
policing in Horsham is provided by the Sussex Police
Sussex Police
Sussex Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing East Sussex, West Sussex and City of Brighton and Hove in southern England. Its head office is in Lewes, Lewes District, East Sussex.-History:...
.
The Registry of births, deaths and marriages is located in Park House, North Street in central Horsham.
Community facilities
Horsham Museum
Horsham Museum
Horsham Museum is a museum at Horsham, West Sussex, in South East England. It was founded in August 1893 by volunteers of the Free Christian Church and became part of Horsham District Council in 1974...
is located on the picturesque Causeway in a half timbered medieval house. It has local history objects displayed in twenty-six galleries. Situated on North Street is 'The Capitol', the venue (formally Horsham Arts Centre) features a theatre, 2 full-time cinema screens, a studio and gallery. On Lower Tanbridge Way is two storey modernised library run by West Sussex Libraries.
Cultural references
The first illustrated history of Horsham was written in 1836 by Howard DudleyHoward Dudley
Howard Dudley wrote the first illustrated history of Horsham, West Sussex, in 1836. The book was entitled The History and Antiquities of Horsham and its Vicinities. He also produced the lithographs and woodcuts that were used as the illustrations, and then went on to print the book himself...
at the age of 16. It includes descriptions of St Mary's Church and other buildings along with lithographs and wood-cut images of the town. The book entitled The History and Antiquities of Horsham has been reproduced in full to enable research on line.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had the fictitious Openshaw family, in the Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
story The Five Orange Pips
The Five Orange Pips
"The Five Orange Pips", one of the 56 short Sherlock Holmes stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is the fifth of the twelve stories in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes....
, residing in the town.
Douglas Maddon
Douglas Maddon
Douglas Maddon is the nom de plume of Northern Irish author and teacher David McDowell. He is best known for the novel The English Department's Whores published in 2001.-Early political career :...
's book The English Department's Whores, is a thinly-veiled satire of life in Horsham.
Notable deceased residents
- John Roland AbbeyJohn Roland AbbeyMajor John Roland Abbey was an English book collector and High Sheriff.-Early life:He was the eldest of three sons of William Henry Abbey, a brewer, and was named John Rowland before dropping the 'w'...
(1894–1969), book collector. - George Bax HolmesGeorge Bax HolmesGeorge Bax Holmes was a wealthy Quaker and fossil collector in Victorian Horsham. Having started life pursuing a medical career he was able to devote more time to his fossil hunting from 1834. It was in that year that his father died and left him considerable property interests...
(1803–1887), palaeontologist - Robert BlatchfordRobert BlatchfordRobert Peel Glanville Blatchford was a socialist campaigner, journalist and author in the United Kingdom. He was a prominent atheist and opponent of eugenics. He was also an English patriot...
(1851–1943), author and socialist. - Wilfred BrownWilfred BrownWilfred Brown was an accomplished English tenor.He was born in Horsham, Sussex and educated at Collyer's School, then at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and Trinity College of Music. Brown was a lifelong member of the Religious Society of Friends...
(1922–1971), singer - Henry BurstowHenry BurstowHenry Burstow was a shoemaker and bellringer from Horsham, Sussex, best known for his vast repertoire of songs, many of which were collected in the folksong revival of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries...
(1826–1916), singer and bell-ringer, important to the early twentieth-century folk-song revival, and for his 'Reminiscences of Horsham', published in 1911. - Samuel CarpenterSamuel CarpenterSamuel Carpenter was a Deputy Governor of colonial Pennsylvania. He signed the historic document "The Declaration of Fealty, Christian Belief and Test" dated 10 September 1695; the original is in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania...
(1649–1714), First Treasurer and Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania. Born in 1649 in Horsham. His father was John Carpenter, the Sheriff of Horsham, who was murdered while attending his duties in Horsham on August 9, 1671. - Edward Bainbridge CopnallEdward Bainbridge CopnallEdward Bainbridge Copnall MBE was a British sculptor.Son of photographer Edward White Copnall, Bainbridge Copnall was born in Cape Town, South Africa and was moved to Horsham at an early age...
(1903–1973), artist and president of the Royal Society of British Sculptors lived in Horsham from an early age. One of his works, a sculpture titled 'The Astronomer' was presented to the College of Richard Collyer in the town, by his sister Phyllis Millar and is on display in the upper quadrangle. Other examples of his work are kept by Horsham Museum. - John CopnallJohn CopnallJohn Bainbridge Copnall was an English artist best known for his abstract expressionist painting of richly coloured stylised realism, often on a grand scale. He was also a teacher of painting for twenty years at the Central School of Art and Design in London.- Early life :John Copnall was born in...
(1928–2007), artist and teacher, a leading English abstract painter and teacher at the London Central School of Art and Design. - Walter CraneWalter CraneWalter Crane was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most prolific and influential children’s book creator of his generation and, along with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, one of the strongest contributors to the child's nursery motif that the genre of...
(1845–1915) artist and book illustrator died at Horsham - Howard DudleyHoward DudleyHoward Dudley wrote the first illustrated history of Horsham, West Sussex, in 1836. The book was entitled The History and Antiquities of Horsham and its Vicinities. He also produced the lithographs and woodcuts that were used as the illustrations, and then went on to print the book himself...
(1820–1864),wrote the first illustrated history of Horsham in 1836 - Walter Dendy SadlerWalter Dendy SadlerWalter Dendy Sadler was an English painter.Walter Dendy Sadler was born in Dorking, a market town in Surrey in southern England, and brought up in Horsham, West Sussex, England, where he showed a precocious talent for drawing...
(1854–1923) artist and painter, was brought up in Horsham. - Frederick GoughFrederick GoughColonel Charles Frederick Howard Gough, MC, TD was a British Territorial Army officer, company director and politician.-Navy education:...
MC TD (1901–1977), an army major at the Battle of ArnhemBattle of ArnhemThe Battle of Arnhem was a famous Second World War military engagement fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze, Driel and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944....
, served as Horsham's Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
from 1951 to 1964. - Catherine HowardCatherine HowardCatherine Howard , also spelled Katherine, Katheryn or Kathryn, was the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England, and sometimes known by his reference to her as his "rose without a thorn"....
(c.1520-1542), one of King Henry VIIIHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's wives, lived in Horsham. - Hammond InnesHammond InnesRalph Hammond Innes was a British novelist who wrote over 30 novels, as well as children's and travel books....
(1913–1998), author, was born in Clarence Road. - Thomas MedwinThomas MedwinThomas Medwin was an early 19th century English poet and translator, who is chiefly known for his biographies of his cousin Percy Bysshe Shelley and his recollections of his close friend Lord Byron.-Early life:...
(1788–1869), poet and biographer of Lord Byron and his cousin Percy Bysshe Shelley. - John Guille MillaisJohn Guille MillaisJohn Guille Millais , known as "Johnny" Millais, was an English artist, naturalist, gardener and travel writer who specialised in wildlife and flower portraiture. He travelled extensively around the world in the late Victorian period detailing wildlife often for the first time...
(1865–1931), painter, naturalist and author, son of the Pre-Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais,. - Raoul MillaisRaoul MillaisHesketh Raoul Lejarderay Millais , usually known as Raoul or 'Liony' Millais was a portrait painter, equestrian artist and sportsman...
(1901–1999), artist, son of John Guille Millais. - Edward MoteEdward MoteEdward Mote was a pastor and hymn writer. Born in London on 21 January 1797, his parents managed a pub and often left Edward to his own devices playing in the street. He was trained as a cabinet maker and worked in London for many years. Later he entered the ministry was pastor at Rehoboth Baptist...
(1797–1874), Writer of the hymn 'My hope is built on nothing less' and was minister of Rehoboth Baptist Church in New Street for 26 years where he is buried. - John Pilford (1769–1834), Royal Navy officer most noted for his command of the HMS Ajax at the battle of Trafalgar.
- Percy Bysshe ShelleyPercy Bysshe ShelleyPercy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically regarded as among the finest lyric poets in the English language. Shelley was famous for his association with John Keats and Lord Byron...
(1792–1822) was born at Field Place,Warnham two miles from Horsham,. - Lt.-Col. George StylesGeorge StylesLieutenant Colonel Stephen George Styles GC was a bomb disposal expert in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps . He received the George Cross for his service in defusing terrorist bombs in Northern Ireland in the 1970s....
GC (1928–2006), army bomb-disposal expert, was educated at Collyer's School. - Eric ThompsonEric ThompsonEric Norman Thompson was an English actor, producer and television presenter.Thompson was born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, the son of George Henry and Anne Thompson, and grew up Rudgwick, Sussex, attending Collyer's School, Horsham...
(1929–1982), narrator of the British version of The Magic RoundaboutThe Magic RoundaboutThe Magic Roundabout was a children's television programme created in France in 1963 by Serge Danot...
, was educated at Collyer's School. - William Vesey-Fitzgerald (1818–1885), Governor of Bombay, M.P. for Horsham lived at Holbrook.
- Howard Vincent (1849–1908), Conservative Party Member of Parliament, barrister and police official who was born at Slinfold
Notable living residents
- William BeerWilliam BeerWilliam Andrew Thomas Beer is an English cricketer. Primarily a leg break bowler, he currently plays for Sussex County Cricket Club and Horsham....
- Sussex CCC cricketer - Junior CampbellJunior CampbellJunior Campbell is a Scottish composer, songwriter and musician. He was a founding member, lead guitarist, piano player, and singer with the Scottish band Marmalade and co-wrote and produced some of their biggest successes, including "Reflections of My Life", "I See The Rain" and "Rainbow".He...
(born William Campbell) (lead guitarist, singer and songwriter with the sixties band The Marmalade), Also known for co-writing the music for the original Thomas the Tank Engine and FriendsThomas the Tank Engine and FriendsThomas and Friends is a British children's television series, first broadcast on the ITV network in September 1984. Until 2003, it was named Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. This series was shot on 35mm film...
television series' and films. - Harry EnfieldHarry EnfieldHenry Richard "Harry" Enfield is a BAFTA-winning English comedian, actor, writer and director.-Early life:...
- English comedian attended Collyer's sixth formSixth formIn the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
college. His famous Kevin the TeenagerKevin the TeenagerKevin Patterson is a character created and played by the British comedian, Harry Enfield.-Evolution:Kevin first appeared in the "Little Brother" sketches of Harry Enfield's Television Programme as an annoyingly energetic boy who constantly vexed his older brother with his irritating catchphrases...
character made mention of living on Merryfield Drive in Horsham. He currently plays Jim Stonem in the E4 drama, Skins. Also Stavros the kebab shop owner is allegedly based upon the owner of the Greek Fish & Chip Shop near the station in the mid-1970s. - Robin GoodridgeRobin GoodridgeRobin Goodridge is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the rock band Bush.-Biography:...
- Drummer in rock band BushBush (band)Bush are an alternative rock band formed in London in 1992 shortly after vocalist/guitarist Gavin Rossdale and guitarist Nigel Pulsford met in a London nightclub. Realising they shared a love for such diverse artists as the Pixies, Bob Marley, The Jesus Lizard, MC5, Nirvana, Hüsker Dü, and Big...
attended Tanbridge House School. - Jamie HewlettJamie HewlettJamie Christopher Hewlett is an English comic book artist and designer. He is known for being the co-creator of the comic Tank Girl and co-creator of the virtual band Gorillaz.-Biography:...
- Artist/cartoonist and creator of the comic strip Tank GirlTank Girl (film)Tank Girl is a 1995 science fiction action film loosely based on the Tank Girl comic book created by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett. It was directed by Rachel Talalay and stars Lori Petty as Rebecca Buck, aka the eponymous Tank Girl, who had originally appeared in the UK comic magazine...
(made into a film in 1995) and co-creator of the band GorillazGorillazGorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
(nominated for five Grammy Awards in December 2005). He attended both Tanbridge House School and the former Northbrook Art College. - Douglas MaddonDouglas MaddonDouglas Maddon is the nom de plume of Northern Irish author and teacher David McDowell. He is best known for the novel The English Department's Whores published in 2001.-Early political career :...
- Novelist and former lecturer at Collyer's Sixth Form College - Alan MulleryAlan MulleryAlan Patrick Mullery MBE is a former English football player and manager. After enjoying a successful career with Fulham and in the 1960s and 1970s, he became a manager working with several different clubs. He is now employed as a television pundit...
- Former footballer with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur,former manager of Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion. - Chris NashChris NashChristopher David "Chris" Nash is an English cricketer who plays for Sussex County Cricket Club.He also played first-class cricket for Loughborough UCCE in 2003 and 2004 having made his first-class debut for Sussex in 2002, against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.Nash was born in Cuckfield, Sussex...
- Sussex CCC cricketer - Simon NyeSimon NyeSimon Nye is an English comic television writer, best known for creating the hit sitcom Men Behaving Badly, writing all of the four ITV Panto, co-writing the 2006 film Flushed Away, co-writing Reggie Perrin and creating the latest adaption of William Brown in the Just William CBBC...
- Writer of Men Behaving BadlyMen Behaving BadlyMen Behaving Badly is a British comedy that was created and written by Simon Nye. It follows the lives of Gary Strang and his flatmates, Dermot Povey and Tony Smart It was first broadcast on ITV in 1992...
, attended Collyer's when it was still a Grammar School - Paul ParkerPaul Parker (cricketer)Paul Parker MA is an English schoolmaster and former cricketer, who played in one Test in 1981.-Life and career:...
- England and Sussex CCC cricketer (captain); attended Collyer's School - Chris Simms (author)Chris Simms (author)According to the Good Book Guide, Chris Simms "has never shown any reluctance to chill the blood of the reader." Born in 1969, Horsham, West Sussex. Chris graduated from Newcastle University then travelled round the world before moving to Manchester in 1994. Since then he’s worked as a freelance...
- Crime thriller writer who was born in Horsham - Jamie TaylorJamie TaylorJamie Taylor is an English footballer who plays for Lincoln City as a striker.-Career:Born in Crawley, West Sussex, Taylor played for Broadbridge Heath, scoring 17 times during the 2000–01 season, before moving to Horsham at the start of the 2001–02 season. In November 2001 he scored 9 times in...
- Footballer for Dagenham and Redbridge FC in Football League Two - Michael ThornelyMichael ThornelyMichael Thornely is an English Cricketer who used to play for Sussex County Cricket Club. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right arm medium pace bowler. He was born on October 19, 1987 Camden, London and signed a two year deal with Sussex at the end of the 2007 season after scoring 800...
- Sussex CCC cricketer - Faye WhiteFaye WhiteFaye Deborah White, MBE is an English footballer who plays for Arsenal Ladies in the FA Women's Super League and the England women's national football team as a central defender...
- Footballer captain of England and player for Ottawa Fury, formerly of ArsenalArsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... - Roy Whiting - Convicted child killer of 7 year old Sarah Payne .
- Holly WilloughbyHolly WilloughbyHolly Marie Willoughby is an English television presenter and model, known for her work in presenting children's TV and entertainment shows. In her early career she modelled underwear and went on to present CD:UK...
- TV presenter and model attended Collyer's Sixth Form College. - The FeelingThe FeelingThe Feeling are a BRIT award-nominated English pop band from West Sussex and London. The band categorise their music as "pop".Following a limited release of their first single "Fill My Little World" in late 2005, the band entered the UK Singles Chart at #7 with their first full release "Sewn" in...
- a pop band
Recent comments
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
and Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
and only beaten by Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. This was claimed by a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
show, The 10 best and worst places to live in the UK.
The programme mentioned that:
- Horsham was in the top 15% for low crime;
- about 70% of students gained 5 A* _ C grades at GCSE;
- over 85% of the workforceWorkforceThe workforce is the labour pool in employment. It is generally used to describe those working for a single company or industry, but can also apply to a geographic region like a city, country, state, etc. The term generally excludes the employers or management, and implies those involved in...
is economically active; - Horsham has a high life expectancyLife expectancyLife expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
of 76 years for men and 83 for women; - there are no official homeless people living in Horsham.
In 2007, a Reader's Digest poll put Horsham as the 25th best place in mainland Britain to bring up a family.
On 27 September 2007, Horsham was awarded as the overall winner of Britain in Bloom
Britain in Bloom
RHS Britain in Bloom, supported by Anglian Home Improvements, is the largest horticultural campaign in the United Kingdom. It was first held in 1963, initiated by the British Tourist Board based on the example set by Fleurissement de France. It has been organised by the Royal Horticultural Society ...
in the Large town / small city category in the whole of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with a Gold Award. It also has the honour of being presented with the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
's 'Bloomin' Wild' award which reflected the theme for year's national judging.
Horsham is placed number 27 in the book 'Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places To Live In The UK'
Crap Towns
Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places To Live In The UK and Crap Towns II: The Nation Decides are a series of humorous books edited by Sam Jordison and Dan Kieran and published in association with UK Quarterly The Idler. Towns in the UK were nominated by visitors to The Idler Website for their...
. The satirical book describes Horsham as "a No Fun Zone run by old conservatives for old conservatives."
This award was given because of the Horsham Council refused to build a Night Club in the town, then carried on to say said that "the weekly disco at the Roffey youth centre would be enough".
Twinning
Horsham District twinnings: St Maixent L'Ecole, FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Lage
Lage
Lage is a town in the Lippe district of North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany, approximatively 8 km northwest of Detmold. It has c. 36,000 inhabitants. The coat of arms of Lage depicts a farmer's plough...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Horsham Town twinnings: Lerici
Lerici
Lerici is a town and comune in the province of La Spezia in Liguria , part of the Italian Riviera. Its nearest bay is the Bay of Lerici. The town is connected by ferry to the Cinque Terre and Portovenere....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Horsham, Victoria
Horsham, Victoria
Horsham is the largest city by population and regional centre of the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia and is approximately north-west of Melbourne via the Western Highway. At the 2006 census, Horsham had a population of 14,125. Horsham is in the federal Division of Mallee...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
External links
- Horsham District Council - Local Government website
- Visit Horsham - Official Visitors' website