Southwick, West Sussex

Southwick is a small town and civil parish in the Adur District of West Sussex, England. It is part of the built-up area of Brighton and is located three miles (5km) west of the town. The civil parish covers an area of 863.7ha and has a population of 13195 persons (2001 census).

Parts of the town, although not the civil parish which is in the Adur District, are located across two county boundaries East Sussex and West Sussex; and some parts are also in Brighton and Hove. The town is loosely divided into three sections: South of the Brighton Road is the harbour with its associated industries and businesses; north of the Brighton Road up to the Old Shoreham Road is mainly residential properties dating from the middle of the nineteenth century to the 1950s; and the area between the Old Shoreham Road and the South Downs which is the most recent to be developed, although still largely residential.

The main road which passes through the town is the A259 coast road. The A27 road bypasses the town to its north.

History

Southwick was recorded in the Domesday book (1085): Nigel holds Esmerwick of William. Azor held it of King Edward. Then, and now, it vouched for one hide and a half. There is land for 4 ploughs. In demesne are 2 ploughs, and 4 villeins and 6 bordars with 2 ploughs. In the time of King Edward it was worth 40 shillings, and afterwards 30 shillings. Now 4 pounds. In that excerpt, the village is referred to by its Saxon name, Esmerewick, meaning East pool hamlet. The village was first recorded as Suthewicke in 1309.

The town grew as the coast became a popular holiday destination, many of the properties being tourist accommodation. The railway arrived in the town on 12 May 1840, being the original terminus of the line at that time.

Historical residents

• Dame Clara Butt, celebrated contralto, was born at 27 Adur Terrace.
• Lord John Reith, first Director General of the BBC.

Community

There are several churches in Southwick: the All Souls Centre (C of E) in Downsway, St Michaels (C of E) in Church Lane , St Theresa (RC) in Downland Avenue, Southwick Methodist Church in Manor Hall Road and Southwick Christian Community Church in Roman Crescent. The town's open-air shopping centre, Southwick Square, is home to many traditional and local businesses as well as some larger chains, and was central to the old village prior to its expansion north of the Old Shoreham Road in the middle of the twentieth century. Adjacent to 'the Square', as it is known locally, is the Southwick Community Centre, and Southwick Library, currently being rebuilt for 2007.

Education

The schools are Manor Hall First School and Manor Hall Middle School on Manor Hall Road, Holmbush First School and Herons Dale School, a community special school, both in Hawkins Crescent (just on the Shoreham side of the Shoreham/Southwick border), and Glebe Middle School in Church Lane. The main secondary schools for this catchment area are in Shoreham-By-Sea: King's Manor Community College (comprehensive) and Shoreham College (public). Some children may go further afield and attend Portslade Community College, St Andrew's CE High School for Boys or Davidsons School for Girls in Worthing, Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove, or Steyning Grammar School.

Recreation

There is a leisure centre and recreation ground in Old Barn Way, which is also home to Southwick Football Club, who will play the 2006/07 season in the Sussex County League Division Two. The Green, once common land central to the old village, consists of two separate fields divided by a short road of the same name. The smaller southern field, also home to the town's war memorial located in the south-eastern corner, is often used for local cricket matches. The larger northern field contains a small childrens playground and is most often used for general recreation and is also the location where travelling fairgrounds and local fairs will set-up during the summer and autumn months. There is also some parkland off of Cross Road, just south of the Old Shoreham Road. North of the Old Shoreham Road, there is Quayside, once home to the Quayside Youth Centre which burned down in May 2005, and more open land off of Downsway.

There are also several pubs in Southwick:

• The Windmill Inn, on Old Shoreham Road.
• The Romans, on Manor Hall Road.
• The Cricketers, on The Green.
• The Ship Inn, on Southwick Street.
• The Pilot, on Station Road.
• The Schooner Inn, on Albion Street.

External links

• Southwick Community Centre
• St Michael & All Angels parish church
• Catholic church