insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 07 - September 2015 | Page 71

TOWNSPOTLIGHT

S P OT L I G H T

O N

WORTHING
Worthing is the quintessential seaside town, with a bustling centre that offers a little of everything;
here you can find sun, sand, sea, the South Downs, and of course sensational food, drink, and
entertainment. With a fascinating history, plenty of natural beauty, and things to do whatever the
weather or season, Worthing is a wonderful place to be.

History in Brief
The area in and around Worthing was first
inhabited around 60,000 years ago. Stone Age
settlers found that the land was rich and fertile,
and the location was good for farming, mining,
and it was protected by the sea; an ideal spot
to make a home.
Eventually, by the time the New Stone Age
came around (approximately 5,500 years
ago) Worthing had become home to one of
the most important flint mines in the country.
Yet, despite this, it wasn’t until the 1700s that
Worthing became a place for those other than

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in the mining industry to live and visit – doctors
were keen to impress upon their patients that
sea air and water was good for whatever
ailed them, and so seaside towns such as
Worthing suddenly became the place to go
for convalescing. Even King George III sent
his daughter Amelia to Worthing when she
was unwell, and this prompted a huge surge
in the town’s popularity. Money was ploughed
into the town, and soon, with the advent of
street lighting, a promenade and pier, and
some rather splendid houses, Worthing was
upgraded from unknown coastal town to a
highly sought after area.