About
Many people think of Worthing as a sleepy little retirement enclave. However, the town has a rich history and has schooled and been the home to a number of celebrities. The name “Worthing” derives from the old English name “Worth” which meant “valiant one or one that is noble” and “ingas” which means “people of” and is reduced to “ing” in modern language. So, there you have it – people who are valiant and noble!
Being only 50 miles south of London and 10 miles west of Brighton and Hove, it offers more affordable property for those willing to commute. Today, the town has an array of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars as well as a promanade and as of 2019, the UK's best pier!
People and property
The area around Worthing has been populated for at least 6,000 years and contains Britain's greatest concentration of Stone Age flint mines, which are some of the earliest mines in Europe. The Iron Age hill fort of Cissbury Ring is one of Britain's largest. For many centuries Worthing was a small mackerel fishing hamlet until in the late 18th century when it developed into an elegant Georgian seaside resort. In the 19th and 20th centuries the area was one of Britain's chief market gardening centres.
There are over 200 listed buildings in the borough of Worthing. Three of these, Castle Goring, St Mary's Church at Broadwater and the Archbishop's Palace at West Tarring are classified at Grade I, which is used denote buildings "of exceptional interest". Today, housing in the town centre consists 75% flats and 25% houses. Properties consist of Georgian townhouses (many of which are converted into flats), Victorian terraces, modern developments and newer Seafront apartments. Key property data includes:
- 43% of residents own their home and 57% rent.
- Almost 90% of the properties are served with ultra fast broadband (over 300 mbps) compared with regional average of 53%.
- The most predominant industry of employment is Public admin, education & health which comprises 32.2% of the working age population. During the working day, the population increases by 74.8%
- Approximately 30% of the working population walk to work.
Transport
Worthing is located 50 miles south of London and 10 Miles west of Brighton. The area has a well connected transport infrastructure. Worthing, West Worthing and East Worthing stations all have direct and connecting trains to Brighton, London, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Chichester. Approximately 87% of housing is within 200 walking meters of either a bus stop or railway station.
Schools
Our Lady of Sion, Heene Primary
Did you know?
- Worthing’s Latin motto ‘Ex terra copiam e mari salutem’ translates as ‘from the land plenty and from the sea health’.
- Oscar Wilde holidayed in the town in 1893 and 1894, writing the "Importance of Being Earnest" during his second visit.
- After taking second or third place for the past four years, Worthing Pier has been voted "Pier of the year 2019" by the members of the National Piers Society.
- Worthing has schooled a number of celebrities including Simon Mayo (radio presenter), Dame Anita Roddick (founder of the Body Shop) and Billy Idol (musician).
- Many films and television programmes have been filmed using Worthing as the backdrop including: Pinter's The Birthday Party (1968), Dance with a Stranger (1985) and Wish You Were Here (1987). Episodes of the Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin and Men Behaving Badly have also been filmed in the town.
- Worthing’s twin towns are Elzach, Germany; Gutach im Breisgau, Germany; Les Sables-d’Olonne, France; Simonswald, Germany; Waldkirch, Germany; and Patos de Minas, Brasil.
Things to do
Take the family for a walk on the South Down's in the morning and a stroll along the beach front in the afternoon. Enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the town's exceptional restaurants.
