Horsham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Horsham |
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.jpg) The Bandstand on Carfax |
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 Horsham
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| Area | 4.55 sq mi (11.8 km2) |
| Population | 50,934 (2018 est.) |
| • Density | 11,194/sq mi (4,322/km2) |
| OS grid reference | TQ1730 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Horsham |
| Postcode district | RH12, RH13 |
| Dialling code | 01403 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | Horsham District Council |
Horsham is a lively market town in West Sussex, England. It sits near the River Arun and the edge of the Weald. The town is about 31 miles (50 km) south-west of London. It is also 18.5 miles (30 km) north-west of Brighton. Horsham is the main centre for the Horsham area.
Contents
- History of Horsham
- How Horsham is Governed
- Geography of Horsham
- Horsham's Economy
- Landmarks in Horsham
- Transport in Horsham
- Education in Horsham
- Media in Horsham
- Sports in Horsham
- Public Services in Horsham
- Community Facilities in Horsham
- Famous People from Horsham (Deceased)
- Famous People from Horsham (Living)
- What People Say About Horsham
- Town Twinning
- See also
History of Horsham
The first time Horsham was written about was in the year 947 AD. Its name might mean "horse home." Another idea is that it means "Horsa's home." Horsa was a Saxon warrior.
For a long time, Horsham was known for trading horses. Later, it became important for making iron and bricks. More recently, brewing (making drinks like beer) was a key industry.
How Horsham is Governed
Horsham has two main levels of local government. These are the Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council. These councils help manage the town and the areas around it.
Most of Horsham's built-up area is not part of a smaller local parish. However, some parts of the town, like North Horsham, are in civil parishes.
Horsham is also the centre of its own area for the UK Parliament. This area is called the parliamentary constituency of Horsham. People in Horsham vote for a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the government. The current MP for Horsham is John Milne.
Changes in Local Government
Horsham was once an old town with its own local leaders. From 1295, it even elected members to Parliament. By the 1700s, the local leaders didn't do much to run the town. Instead, powerful landowners, like the Dukes of Norfolk, used them to control who became MP.
To fix this, the Reform Act 1832 was passed. This law made elections fairer. After these changes, Horsham's old local government stopped working.
Later, in 1875, a new local board was set up to govern the town. This board became an urban district in 1894. The Horsham Urban District was eventually removed in 1974. It joined with nearby areas to form the larger Horsham District we know today.
Geography of Horsham
Weather in Horsham
Horsham holds a special record in the UK. On September 5, 1958, the heaviest hailstone ever recorded in the UK fell here. It weighed 140 grams (4.9 ounces). This hailstone was as big as a tennis ball! It hit the ground at an amazing speed of 224 miles per hour (100 m/s).
Horsham's Landscape
Horsham is about 50 metres (164 feet) above sea level. It is located in the middle of the Weald, a lowland area. To the north are the Surrey Hills. To the south are the Sussex Downs. The River Arun flows through the south of the town. Many smaller streams also join the Arun.
Horsham Town Centre
Horsham's town centre grew up around an area called the Carfax. South of the Carfax is the Causeway. This street has old houses from the 1600s, 1700s, and early 1800s. It is also lined with old London Plane trees.
The Horsham Museum is at one end of the Causeway. At the other end is the Church of England parish church of St. Mary. This church is very old, first built in the Norman style. It was rebuilt in the 1200s. The area near the church is called Normandy.
Just 50 metres south of the church is the River Arun. You can find the town's cricket field on the south side of the river. A short walk along the river leads to Chesworth Farm. This is an open area where people can visit.
North of the Carfax is Horsham Park. This park has football fields, a pond for wildlife, and tennis courts. There are also leisure facilities near the park. These include a swimming pool and a gymnastics centre.
East of the town centre, along Brighton Road, is Iron Bridge. This bridge gets its name from the railway bridge that crosses it. This area is called the East Side. It has many Victorian and Edwardian houses.
Horsham's Suburbs
Horsham has grown a lot over time. It now includes smaller villages that are part of its outer areas.
Holbrook
Holbrook is an area named after a stream that flows into the River Arun. It has mostly modern houses built in the late 1900s.
Littlehaven
This area dates back to the late 1700s. A small number of houses and an inn were here then. A train station opened in 1907, which is now called Littlehaven.
Needles
The Needles area was built from around 1955. It has a mix of houses and bungalows. It is named after a local farmhouse. This farmhouse was built using wood from ships that crashed on the Needles rock formation.
New Town
New Town is an area east of the town centre. It grew quickly in the early 1800s. This is why it got the name "New Town," which it still has today.
North Heath
This area was developed in the late 1900s. It was once just the northern part of Horsham parish.
Oakhill
Oakhill was once known as Grub Street. It developed south of Depot Road in the 1800s.
Roffey
Roffey is north-east of Horsham's centre. It has been a village since at least the 1200s. A church was built here in 1878. Roffey is now a separate church parish.
Tower Hill
Tower Hill is a small village about a mile south of Horsham. It sits on a hill made of Horsham Stone. This stone was quarried here from 1830 to 1876. The area has houses from the mid-1800s to the late 1900s.
Trafalgar
Trafalgar is an area developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It has mostly semi-detached houses. It was once known as "The Common."
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Warnham, Cranleigh | Dorking | Crawley, Faygate | |
| Broadbridge Heath, Slinfold |  |
St Leonard's Forest | ||
 Horsham  |
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| Billingshurst | Southwater | Mannings Heath Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath |
Horsham's Economy
Horsham is a market town. In the past, it traded in animals like cattle and sheep, and also corn. Its wealth came from industries like brewing, brickmaking, and iron-smelting. While some of these still exist, they are much smaller now.
Today, important industries in Horsham include financial services, medicines, and technology. Many people who live in Horsham travel to work in London, at Gatwick Airport, or along the South East Coast. The town still has markets on Thursdays and Saturdays in the Carfax.
Horsham's town centre has many small businesses. It also has larger retail chain stores. You can find supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Lidl, and Waitrose.
The RSA Insurance Group, a big insurance company, has its main office in Horsham. It used to be the town's largest employer.
Until 2015, the company Novartis was a major employer in Horsham. It made medicines. The RSPCA, a charity that helps animals, has its headquarters near Horsham in Southwater. Horsham is also home to Creative Assembly, a company that makes video games.
Landmarks in Horsham
The Horsham Town Hall in the Market Square is a very old building. It was first mentioned around 1648 as a 'Market House'. It has been rebuilt and changed many times. Today, it is mostly from the late Victorian era. It used to be council offices and a court. Now, it is being used as a restaurant.
The Carfax has the town's memorial for those who died in the two world wars. It also has a large, popular bandstand.
The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin is the oldest building in Horsham. It has been used for almost 800 years. It is located at the end of the Causeway. The church has ten bells.
You can find the remains of Horsham or Chennelsbrook Castle, which was built in the 1000s, near Chennells Brook.
At the west end of the town centre, there used to be a special water sculpture. It was called the 'Rising Universe', but people often called it 'The Shelley Fountain'. It was built to remember the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who was born nearby. The fountain was designed to release a huge amount of water. It was removed in 2016 because it was too expensive to keep running.
Transport in Horsham
Roads
Horsham is where three main roads meet. The A24 is a dual carriageway that goes north to south. It connects London and Dorking to Worthing. The A264 links Horsham to Crawley and the M23 motorway. The A281 runs between Guildford and Brighton.
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Bus services are provided by companies like Metrobus and Stagecoach South. They go to places like Brighton, Crawley, Gatwick Airport, and Guildford.
There are also taxis and private hire cars in Horsham. They are regulated by the Horsham District Council.
Trains
The Horsham is run by Southern. It is on the Arun Valley Line. This line connects Horsham to places like Chichester, Crawley, Gatwick Airport, and London Victoria. Some trains split or join at Horsham.
There are also services from Horsham to London Victoria via Dorking and Sutton. Since 2018, Thameslink trains also run from Horsham to Peterborough via London Bridge. The station was expanded and updated in 2012. Other stations near Horsham are Littlehaven and Christ's Hospital.
Air Travel
Horsham is about 20 km (12 miles) from Gatwick Airport. It is also about 65 km (40 miles) from Heathrow Airport.
Other Ways to Travel
Cyclists, walkers, and horse riders can use the Downs Link. This is a long path that follows old railway lines. It connects Horsham to Guildford and Shoreham.
Education in Horsham
Horsham has several main secondary schools:
- Tanbridge House School (for both boys and girls)
- Millais School (for girls)
- The Forest School (for both boys and girls)
- Bohunt Horsham (for both boys and girls)
The College of Richard Collyer is a sixth form college in Horsham. It was founded in 1532 and is often called "Collyer's."
Horsham also has well-known independent schools:
- Christ's Hospital: This is one of the oldest schools in the country, started in 1552. It is a boarding and day school for students aged 11–18.
- Farlington School: This is an independent day and boarding school for children aged 4–18. It started as a girls' school but now accepts boys too.
Media in Horsham
Local news and TV shows for Horsham come from BBC South and ITV Meridian. You can listen to local radio stations like BBC Radio Sussex and Heart South. The town also has a local newspaper called West Sussex County Times. It is published every Thursday.
Sports in Horsham
Horsham Hockey Club plays its home games at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre.
Horsham Gymnastic Club has trained many top female gymnasts. Some have even joined the England and Great Britain national teams.
Before the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Grenadian Olympic Team trained at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre.
Cricket
Horsham Cricket Club plays at Cricketfield Road. The club was started on August 8, 1771. They were national champions in 2005. Jofra Archer, a famous England player, used to play here.
Horsham Trinity Cricket Club was founded in 1921. They play at the Victory Road recreation ground.
Football
Horsham F.C. is the town's main football club. They play in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They have won the Sussex Senior Challenge Cup eight times. They also reached the first round of the FA Cup five times. The team now plays at the Hop Oast Stadium.
Horsham YMCA F.C. was founded in 1898. They are known as 'The YMs'. They play their home games at Gorings Mead.
Broadbridge Heath F.C. plays in the Isthmian League Division One South East.
Roffey F.C. was promoted to the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division for the 2024–25 season. They play in Roffey.
Rugby
Horsham Rugby Club is the town's main Rugby Union team. They play at the Coolhurst Ground. The club was founded in 1928. They have grown a lot since then. At the end of the 2018–19 season, Horsham 1st XV reached their highest level ever.
Holbrook RUFC is a smaller rugby club. It was formed in 1971. They now have two teams.
Public Services in Horsham
Horsham Hospital is open on weekdays. It is on Hurst Road. The town also has its own law courts, ambulance station, fire station, and police station. These are also on Hurst Road. The West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service provides fire and rescue help. Sussex Police is the police force for Horsham.
The office for registering births, deaths, and marriages is in Park House, North Street.
Community Facilities in Horsham
Horsham Park is a large open space north of the town centre. It is 24 hectares (about 60 acres). It has an old country house, formal gardens, and a maze. At one side is The Pavilions in the Park leisure centre. This centre has a gym and a 25-metre swimming pool. There is also a BMX and Skate park in Horsham Park. The rest of the park is used for sports like tennis, football, and rugby.
Horsham Museum is on the Causeway. It is in an old medieval house. It has many local history items in its twenty-six galleries. On North Street is The Capitol Theatre, Horsham. This place has a theatre, two cinema screens, and a gallery. The modern library, run by West Sussex County Council, is on Lower Tanbridge Way.
Famous People from Horsham (Deceased)
- John Roland Abbey (1894–1969), a famous book collector.
- Ian Allan (1922–2015), who published books about transport.
- Robert Blatchford (1851–1943), an author and socialist.
- Henry Burstow (1826–1916), a singer and bell-ringer.
- Samuel Carpenter (1649–1714), the first Treasurer of Pennsylvania.
- Edward Bainbridge Copnall (1903–1973), an artist and sculptor.
- Walter Crane (1845–1915), an artist and book illustrator.
- Raymond Cusick (1928–2013), who created the Daleks from Doctor Who.
- Walter Dendy Sadler (1854–1923), an artist and painter.
- Catherine Howard (c.1520–1542), one of King Henry VIII's wives.
- Hammond Innes (1913–1998), an author.
- Christopher Martin-Jenkins (1945–2013), a cricket journalist.
- Thomas Medwin (1788–1869), a poet and writer.
- John Guille Millais (1865–1931), a painter and naturalist.
- Edward Mote (1797–1874), who wrote the hymn 'My hope is built on nothing less'.
- John Pilfold (1769–1834), a Royal Navy officer at the Battle of Trafalgar.
- Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822), a famous poet born near Horsham.
- Eric Thompson (1929–1982), the narrator of The Magic Roundabout.
Famous People from Horsham (Living)
- Chris Aldridge – a BBC Radio 4 announcer.
- Mark Alexander – a British artist.
- Carl Donnelly – a comedian.
- Jamie Hewlett – an artist who created Tank Girl and co-created the band Gorillaz.
- Alan Mullery – a former footballer and manager.
- Jolyon Palmer – a former British Formula One driver.
- David Sedaris – a novelist and comedian.
- Holly Willoughby – a TV presenter and model.
- Storror – a British freerunning group.
What People Say About Horsham
In October 2006, a Channel 4 TV show said Horsham was the second best place to live in the UK. Only Winchester was better.
The show said that:
- Horsham had very low crime.
- About 70% of students got good grades (A* to C) in their GCSEs.
- Most adults (over 85%) had jobs.
- People in Horsham live a long time: 76 years for men and 83 for women.
In 2007, a Reader's Digest survey ranked Horsham as the 25th best place in mainland Britain to raise a family.
On September 27, 2007, Horsham won a Gold Award in the Britain in Bloom contest. It was the overall winner in the "large town / small city" group. It also won the 'Bloomin' Wild' award from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Town Twinning
Horsham District is twinned with:
- St Maixent L'Ecole, France
- Lage, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Horsham Town is twinned with:
- Lerici, Italy
- Horsham, Victoria, Australia
See also
In Spanish: Horsham para niños
