Information AboutHorsham |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT HORSHAM | |
| towns in west sussex | |
| market towns in england | |
| horshamtowns in west sussex | |
| market towns in england | |
| horsham | |
| west sussex | |
Horsham is a market town in West Sussex , England with a population of roughly 50,000. It is the centre of the District Of Horsham . ADMINISTRATION Horsham is the largest town in the district of the same name. Horsham is administered by Horsham District Council. The second tier of administration is by West Sussex County Council which is based in Chichester. In addition there are various Parish Councils. North Horsham is known as Roffey, originally a separate village. It too has its own Parish Council. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT The first mention of Horsham was in a land charter of AD 947. The town had connections to the sale of horses and the name is derived from Horse Ham. Horsham is mentioned indirectly in the Domesday Book (although this is sometimes debated among historians) adjacent manorial lands and surrounding holdings are also mentioned. Horsham had two weekly markets in the middle ages, and was noted locally for its annual fairs. Despite a local iron industry which stayed until the seventeenth century, and a prosperous brewing industry, Horsham remained primarily agricultural until the early 20th century, when other industry and residential development began to proliferate. The town has grown steadily over recent years to a population of over 30,000. 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 the gap. TOWN CENTRE Horsham has grown up around the Carfax, a now pedestrianised square which is the meeting place of five roads. Two shopping centres, Piries Place and Swan Walk, are located off the Carfax. Close by are the two other principal shopping streets; East Street and the pedestrianised West Street. A new shopping area and public square, the Forum, has recently been completed to the south of West Street, off Blackhorse Way. To the south of the Carfax is the Causeway. This tranquil, little altered street is lined with ancient houses, and leads to the Norman church of St. Mary. ( Anglican ) Beyond the church is the River Arun and the town cricket field. To the north of the Carfax is a large 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, have been built on land around the park. FAMOUS RESIDENTS
It is rumoured that a ghost named Peter Federico Cherry who died in the early 1900s haunts the local pub the Horse and Groom, making all who drink there cursed. It is believed that this rumour was started to dissuade local children from entering the public house. LITERARY CONNECTIONS Conan Doyle had the fictitious Openshaw family, in the Sherlock Holmes story, The Five Orange Pips residing in the town. LOCATION AND TRANSPORT Road Horsham lies at the junction of three routes.
Rail The town has one main railway station, Horsham Railway Station , on the Arun Valley line from Chichester to Crawley , Gatwick and London Victoria . Other services continue north to Dorking , Epsom and London Bridge . There is also Littlehaven Station, (also referred to on occasion as Littlehaven Halt) in the north east of the town on the Crawley line. Other Cyclists, pedestrians and horseriders can reach Guildford 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. EDUCATION The main secondary schools in Horsham are;
Horsham is also home to the well-known:
EMERGENCY SERVICES FACILITIES Horsham Community Hospital , is open weekdays, and is located on Hurst Road. The town also boasts its own law courts, ambulance station, fire station and police station, again located on Hurst Road. LEISURE AND CULTURE Horsham has various facilities for leisure and culture (along with spending one of the highest amount of money on outdoor artwork, roughly £250000):
EXTERNAL LINKS
Local Government website.
A good starting point including photographs of the town.
Local business community website.
One resident's unique portrayal of the town's less publicised history.
Guide to country pubs near Horsham.
Showcases unsigned musicians in their annual Battle of the Bands competition in addition to other live music events.
A Community Forum for Horsham Residents and Businesses
An information portal for Horsham with maps, ratings, reviews and information. |
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