Southwick, West Sussex

Southwick is a small town and civil parish in the Adur District of West Sussex, England located three miles (5km) west of Brighton and a suburb of the East Sussex resort City of Brighton & Hove. The civil parish covers an area of 863.7ha and has a population of 13195 persons (2001 census).

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.

The town also has Roman history. The Methodist church on Manor Hall Road is built on top of a Roman villa. There are also corresponding road names in the area, such as Roman Road, and Roman Crescent.

The Manor Cottage and what used to be the doctor's surgery are also of historic interest. One of the town's schools, Eastbrook, was formerly known as the Manor Hall schools, suggesting that there may have been a larger manor linked with the cottage.

Historical residents

*Dame Clara Butt, celebrated contralto, was born at 27 Adur Terrace.

Community

There are several churches in Southwick: St Michael and All Angels (C of E) in Church Lane , St Theresa (RC) in Downland Avenue, Southwick Methodist Church in Manor Hall Road,all souls downsway 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, which was rebuilt for 2007.Famous tourist attractions include Orchard Close during the Christmas season in which every house in the street is decorated in lavish Christmas lights, with all money raised from the collection box going to various charities.

Education

Primary/Middle 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 Manor Hall schools will combine with the nearby Fishersgate First School to form Eastbrook School, from September 2008.

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 Davisons 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 Football League Division Two.

Southwick Recreation Ground is also the home of Southwick Rangers Youth Football club which was established in 2005 and has recently won charity status. The club has over 100 members and have teams playing in the Sussex Sunday Youth League at U9's, U10's, U11's, U12's U13's U14's and U16's. The club is a friendly family run club and is currently recruiting for all age groups for the 2008/2009 season they can be contacted through their website at http://www.southwickrangers.com.

Southwick is also home to Adur Athletic Football Club, and was the first clun in the Adur area to receive. Association Charter Standard Community Club, and the 2nd club in Sussex to receive the honour.The club has over twenty teams ranging from Senior A down to U-7's. The club can be contacted through their website at http://www.adurathletic.co.uk

Southwick is also home to Southwick Hockey Club. Southwick Hockey Club is one of the most progressive hockey clubs in Sussex: located just to the west of the city of Brighton and Hove, with astro pitches at Kings Manor Community College and Portslade Community College (PCC). The club has 4 mens teams, 2 ladies teams and a mixed team, as well as offering training to juniors. Part and parcel of the whole ethos of the club is enjoyment and participation; "whilst we do allow members to take their hockey seriously, it is also important to allow members to meet back at the Romans pub (our club house) and have a few drinks!" Also worthy of note is the southwick ladies first team who have been the pride of the club for many years. The best way to contact Southwick Hockey club is by visiting the club website on http://www.swkhc.org

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 children's 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 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 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

* [http://www.adur.gov.uk/ Adur District Council]
* [http://www.southwickcommunitycentre.org.uk/ Southwick Community Centre]
* [http://www.crsbi.ac.uk/ed/sx/swick/ St Michael & All Angels parish church]
* [http://www.dabnet.org/southwck.htm Catholic church]
* [http://www.southwickrangers.com Southwick Rangers Football Club]
* [http://www.southwick-ccc.org.uk/ Southwick Christian Community Church Website]