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Town/City Name
Horsham
County
West Sussex
Population
50,934
About Horsham
Another market town in England is Horsham. It is found 26 miles from Brighton’s north-west, 31 miles from London’s south south-west and 26 miles from Chichester’s county town’s north-east.
As of 2018, there were 50,934 people reported to be living in the town. The towns close to Horsham include Crawley, Burgess Hill and Haywards Health.
When going out in Horsham, a lot of people visit the trails and parks around town. There are a lot of historic areas and amazing places to check out while you are in the city. Some of these places include the Anzac Centenary Swing walk Bridge and Horsham Walking Tracks, Horsham Botanic Gardens, Horsham Regional Art Gallery, Horsham Golf Club, and the numerous antique shops in the area.
The Horsham Botanic Gardens is one of the most favourite places in Horsham. Several tourists visit this place. William Guilfoyle designed the place in the 1870s. People can enjoy the playground, the picnic place, the well-kept lawn areas, and there are even some art pieces that the public can see.
When talking about food, there are a variety of restaurants in Horsham. Some of these restaurants have lively scenes while some are cosier. They offer a wide range of cuisine that will impress every visitor who’ll come to the city.
When it comes to the drinks, visitors can check out different pubs in Horsham. There are around 300 pubs in Horsham with different atmospheres where people can see the rich history and modernism of the place.
There are several popular people who hailed from Horsham, too. Some who have already passed away include the book collector John Roland Abbey, publisher Ian Allan, author and socialist Robert Blatchford and singer Wilfred Brown.
Some of the notable people who reside in Horsham include comedian Carl Donnelly, Great Britain Handball player Mark Hawkins, former Footballer Alan Mullery and novelist and comedian David Sedaris.
Places to eat in Horsham, Restaurants in Horsham
Places to drink in Horsham, Pubs and Bars in Horsham
A brief history of Horsham
There are pieces of evidence regarding early settlement in Horsham. The town dates back to 947 AD. The town was first mentioned in the land charter of AD 947 by King Eadred. It was known for the sale of horses, and people believed that this is where the town’s name came from.
Horsham is said to be derived from Horse Ham which is a place where horses are kept. However, there is no proven justification for this explanation. Some people say that the town’s name is a contraction of Horsa’s Ham which came from the name of the warrior who was believed to be a land giver during the earlier time.
The Domesday Book has never mentioned Horsham. The de Braose family was said to be the family who ruled over Horsham in the Ancient times. Built by William de Braose, the Horsham Castle was abandoned in 1154.
There were a lot of businesses and industries in Horsham. There was a local iron industry which lasted until the 17th century, and there was also a brewing industry. Horsham was also known as a market town, and brick manufacturing also became prominent in the area.
Horsham flourished greatly during the Victorian era and during the early 20th century. There were pictures of the town taken by Francis Frith, and these photographs showed the landmarks which still exist today. Some of these landmarks, however, have been moved.
John Weekes was the last person to experience pressing or crushing in the whole of England. He was charged with murder and robbery.
During the time, public executions were done. It took place at North Heath. Today, this is a Horsham suburb. Homosexuality was also frowned upon during this time, and the last man to die because of it in the whole of England was sentenced in Horsham in the year 1834.
Popular things to do in Horsham
- Enjoy your day at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens – https://www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/
- Spend a few hours at Huxley's Birds of Prey Centre and Gardens - http://www.flyingfalcons.co.uk/
- Admire the beauty of Sumners Ponds - https://www.sumnersponds.co.uk/
- Visit the wildlife haven at Warnham Local Nature Reserve - https://www.warnhamnaturereservefriends.org.uk/
- Buy local products at Horsham Markets - https://foodrockssouth.co.uk/horshammarkets/
Free things to do in Horsham
- Visit the excellent and tranquil Horsham Park – https://www.horsham.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside/horsham-park/find-horsham-park
- See natural wildflower meadows at Chesworth Farm - https://www.horsham.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside/chesworth-farm
- Say a little prayer at St. Mary’s Church - https://www.stmaryshorsham.org.uk/
- Enjoy trails at Leechpool and Owlbeech Woods - https://www.horsham.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside/leechpool-and-owlbeech-woods
- Walk along Downs Link - https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisure-recreation-and-community/walking-horse-riding-and-cycling/downs-link/
Great for kids in Horsham
- Let children have fun at Ceramic Shack Pottery Painting Studio – https://www.ceramicshack.co.uk/
- Explore the things you can do at The Rec - https://therec.io/
- Solve sneaky clues at Horsham Spy Mission Treasure Trail - https://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/things-to-do/sussex/horsham
- Take part in awesome adventures at The Pavilions In The Park - https://www.placesleisure.org/centres/the-pavilions-in-the-park/
- Enjoy the mess at Little Crafters Pottery Studio - http://ww25.thelittlecraftersstudio.co.uk/?subid1=20210331-2244-543d-918a-84659e6515b5
Great for dogs in Horsham
- Chesworth Farm
- Leechpool and Owlbeech Woods
- Horsham Riverside Walk
Dog friendly bars
- The Queen's Head
- The Fountain Inn
- The Bull Inn
Dog friendly restaurants
- The Frog and Nightgown Pub and Tea Room
- The Black Jug
- Dog & Bacon
Did you know?
The heaviest hailstone in the whole of the UK is held by Horsham. It was small as a tennis ball, weighing 140g. It fell on September 5 1958.
A show titled The best and worst places to live in the UK listed Horsham as the second best place to live in 2006. This was aired on Channel 4. The first place was Winchester.
The hidden gems of Horsham
Chanctonbury Ring can be considered a hidden gem in Horsham because not a lot of people visit this place most often. This is an early Iron Age or late Bronze hillfort that gives people a beautiful view over the countryside of South Down. The “supernatural” is said to happen in the place’s ring. Legend even says that you can summon the devil in this place.
Unique to Horsham
The Rising Universe which is a water sculpture was usually seen in the town centre. Locals knew this sculpture as The Shelly Fountain because it honours Percy Bysshe Shelley who was born in Broadbridge Heath. The designer of the sculpture was Angela Conner.
