Heritage & History

A brief history of Worthing

From around 4,000 BC the South Downs above Worthing were one of the countries earliest and largest flint mining areas.

During the Iron Age one of Britain’s largest hill forts was built at nearby Cissbury Ring – the remains of which can still be enjoyed today.

Visit Worthing Museum and Gallery’s extensive archaeology collection which includes material from Neolithic flint-mines at Cissbury and Iron Age material from Highdown.

In the C5th and C6th the area became part of the Kingdom of Sussex. The place names of the area, including Worthing, (meaning ‘place of worth’) date from this time. For many centuries Worthing remained a small agricultural and fishing hamlet, until 1750 when the town received a visit from Princess Amelia (the sixth daughter of King George III) who, suffering from joint problems, had been advised by doctors of the therapeutic benefits of sea bathing. Word spread and Worthing became a popular haunt for the famous and wealthy of the day – visitors included Oscar Wilde and Jane Austen.

In the C18th Worthing developed into an elegant Georgian seaside resort. During the C19th and C20th the town, being one of the sunniest and most fertile places in the UK, became the centre of Britain’s market gardening industry, local produce from the land and sea is still being enjoyed today.

Below: Blue Plaques Commemorating Worthing’s famous and notable residents include Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde & Harold Pinter.

Top left: Ambrose Place where playwright, actor and director Harold Pinter, lived at 14 Ambrose Place between 1962 to 64.

Top middle: Shoreham Fort, built in 1857 to protect against Napoleon III. The fort is a Scheduled Ancient Monument with a diverse history from French Spies to World Wars.

Top right: High Salvington Windmill, a fully restored Grade II listed windmill now in full working order.

Bottom left: Lancing College Chapel, a fine example of Gothic revival architecture and one the tallest interior vaulted churches in the country.

Bottom right: English Martyrs Church, the only known reproduction of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling in the world.

Before you travel, check opening times on timeforworthing.uk

For more information on the Worthingheritage walking trails head to page 26