A bit of Worthing history

Extract from: Picture of Worthing
To which is Added an Account of Arundel and Shoreham, with Other Parts of the Surrounding Country, by John Evans

Published in 1805

Pages 10 – 16

Of all the watering places in Great Britain ,
WORTHING is , on account of the recency of
its origin , entitled to special attention . It is
a circumstance which will in the course of
our narrative admit of abundant confirma
tion . We here merely state it , because we
would caution the reader against expecting
too much on the subject . No honest narra
tor will exceed his materials , though at WOR
THING , and in its vicinity , there are many
things calculated to multiply the sources of
innocent enjoyment .

SITUATION AND ORIGIN .
WORTHING is situated on that part of the
coast which constitutes the southern side of
the county of Sussex , being twelve miles west
ward of Brighton , eighteen eastward of Chi
chester , and fifty – six south of London . Not
many years ago it was an obscure fishing town ,
consisting of a few miserable huts ; the inha
bitants of which drew an uncertain sub

sistance from the ocean . None of these
houses ( as an old fisherman assured me )
exceeded forty shillings a year ; and an ad
joining spot of ground for a garden , to the
extent of an acre , might be bought for half
an anchor , or five gallons of brandy . There
are persons now living at the place who re
collect the first family coming hither for
recreation . To them , its present appearance
cannot fail of proving a subject of admi
ration .

It is amusing to hold a conversation with the
aged natives of WORTHING on this subject .
They mention some particulars which shew
that the improvements of the spot had never
entered into their imaginations . Hence it
must remind the intelligent observer , of those
wonders which decorate eastern story ; where ,
by the waving of a wand , the magician con
jures up scenes adapted to overwhelm the
spectator with astonishment . The history of
WORTHING is in fact traditional , to be traced

from father to son in succession ; and like the
inhabitants of the Antediluvian world , they
have been in the habit of relating to each other
the transactions of the times that preceded them ;
thus without a record do they hand down their
simple and unadorned tale to posterity . But we
would fain rescue it from so precarious a mode
of conveyance , for oral tradition is attended
with many imperfections .

Without detailing , however , every little
article with which tradition can furnish us ,
it may be sufficient to remark in general , that
the coast of Sussex , has for some time past ,
afforded places of resort for the summer sea
son . But Brighton , and other watering places
of notoriety becoming crowded , spots of
a more secluded cast were sought after and
obtained . Hence the origin of Bognor , Lit
tle Hampton , and Worthing . Indeed they
have arisen out of the complection of the
times , when characters of almost every de
scription sigh after a temporary retirement .

LEADING DIVISIONS .
WORTHING consists of several rows of
houses . Montague Place and Bedford Row
constitute the longest range of buildings ; the for
mer having a neat plat of ground before it ; and
both of them form conspicuous objects near the
seashore . They rear their fronts with a neatness
and elegance , which render them appropriate
habitations for persons of fortune and respecta
bility . Though raised at different periods , they
vie with each other in the beauty of their
prospects , and in the salubrity of their situa
tions . Summer Lodge , the property of Mrs.
Stringer , on the left of Montague Place , is
a pleasing object , with a lawn and paddock
running from its front to the beach . There is
also Copping – Row , from the bow – windows of
whose houses , though small , may be caught a
sight of the ocean . A little row of houses
on the edge of the beach , pleasantly situated ,

is denominated the Terrace ; though the num
ber of the houses is scarcely sufficient to merit
that appellation . The other branches of the
village are known by the names of Montague
Street , Warwick – Street , High – Sireet , to
gether with North and South , East and West
Streets . The enumeration of these leading
divisions , may enable the reader to form some
idea of its extent and prosperity . The inhabi
tants likewise , are making improvements in
the streets , having obtained an Act of Parlia
ment , in 1803 , for widening the roads , as well
as for draining and covering the ditches , so
that no stagnated water , nor indeed , any other
nuisances might be found . These improve
ments are noticed , because a want of atten
tion to them has not unfrequently frustrated
the purposes of health and recreation .

LIBRARIES .
The village of WORTHING reaches a con
siderable way up from the sea side towards

Broadwater , in which parish it stands . And
in this line of buildings , though here and there
somewhat stragling , we meet with a hand
some – colonnade of houses , ascended by a
flight of steps , and commanding a truly de
lightful prospect of the ocean ! At the cor
ner , is the Colonnade Library , kept by Mrs.
Spooner ; containing a selection of books , the
perusal of which may be pronounced sub
servient to instruction and entertainment .
The writer of this narrative , aware of the usual
trash of circulating libraries , was pleasingly
disappointed in finding so many volumes
worthy of attention .

There is also another Circulating Library in
WORTHING , ( to which the above observation
relating to the selection of books , may with
equal justice be applied ) kept by Mr.Stafford ,
called the Marine Library , situated near the
beach , and peculiarly neat in its appearance .
Here is the Post – Office , for a boy passes and re
passes every day to Shoreham with letters ; com

ing in about eleven in the morning , and going
out at three in the afternoon . At both Li
braries the most popular of the London papers
are to be seen daily ; a convenience that im
parts a zest to the gratifications of retirement.