Tucked into the western outskirts of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and sitting atop the River Arun is the market town of Horsham in West Sussex. Not content with being in close proximity with one Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty, Horsham is but 10 miles from the outskirts of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the north and is further cradled by the South Downs National Park to the west and south. These three beautiful areas cover a combined area of 3,499 km² and offer breathtaking views and gorgeous landscapes.
Surrey Hills AONB
Within a 25 to 50 minute drive of Horsham a wide variety of historical places of interest can be found, including Petworth House & Park, Pippbrook House, Parham House & Gardens, Bramber Castle, and Newark Augustinian Priory.
Petworth House & Park
The name Horsham is believed to be derived from one of two possible explanations, either that of an Anglo-Saxon warrior given lands in the area or that the settlement kept horses. The latter would make sense given that the town has been known for its horse trading since medieval times. The first historical mention of Horsham is in AD 947 in a land charter of King Eadred’s. The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin is the oldest existing building in Horsham. Originally a Norman church occupied the spot and remains of this church can be found in the tower, the west door and the north- west wall. A new church dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, was completed in about 1247. Still a working market town to this day the Horsham Market is open every Thursday and Saturday in the Bishopric from 9am to 5pm.
Horsham Market poster 1916. Credit - Friends of Horsham Museum
A perfect blend of the old and the new, Horsham is an excellent place to live and raise a family. There’s plenty to do with spaces like Horsham Park offering Green space with educational & sensory gardens, tennis courts, skate park, orienteering & a café, Warnham Local Nature Reserve a sizable, 92-acre nature preserve with abundant bird life & more than 400 plant species and Horsham Museum & Art Gallery which is like a Victoria & Albert Museum in miniature with more than 26 galleries covering subjects from local trades to fashion, and prehistory to the poet Percy B. Shelley. There is also great shopping at the Swan Walk Shopping Centre and on the highstreet with a vast array of all your favorite shops. Local amenities include several sports clubs, train station, golf course, cinema, several play areas, hospital, several leisure centres, and many doctor and dentist surgeries.
The Red Deer Pub Brasserie
There are a great variety of restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes in and around the town. Enjoy family friendly contemporary favourites like Pizza Express and Bill’s or something a little more special like the Red Deer, a gorgeous French brasserie & pub with a delicious seasonal and sustainable menu who also welcome children and your four legged friends. There are almost too many classic country pubs with beer gardens, roaring fires, live music too choose from for a sunday lunch or evenings drinks. For those that prefer a spot of cake and coffee, there are some really great little cafes. I Love Crates who are both a produce outlet and cafe who purchase all their produce from the hundreds of local producers and artisans who are rearing, growing and baking everything from artisan bread, fruit and vegetables, dairy, eggs, preserves, chocolate, oils, coffee roasting together with many brewers and wine makers.
Horsham is the perfect location for those that love country living but have to make the weekday commute to work. Trains run every 30 minutes directly into London Victoria station and take 51 minutes. For family days out to the south coast you can put the kids in the car and be in Worthing in 35 minutes, Brighton in 40 minutes or the City of Chichester in just under an hour.
There is a fantastic selection of schools in Horsham with class sizes being particularly attractive in the areas’ primary schools.
Nurseries & pre-schools: Horsham Nursery School, St Mary’s Pre-school, Little Jays Pre-school, Holbrook Community Pre-school, Playmates Pre-school, Little Monkeys Nursery, Amber Pre-School, Over The Rainbow Playschool, Skylarks Pre-school, Solid Rock Pre-school, Headstart Day Nursery Horsham, Solid Rock Pre-school, Horsham Nursery School, Leechpool Caterpillar Club, New View Nursery, Jack and Jill Preschool, Heather Playgroup, Greenway Nursery School and Rainbow Club, Horsham Montessori, Little Barn Owls Nursery & Farm School, Kookaburra Playgroup.
Primary schools: Holbrook Primary School, Arunside Primary School, Kingslea Primary School, Heron Way Primary School, All Saints C of E Primary School, Trafalgar Community Infant School, Leechpool Primary School, North Heath Community Primary School, St Mary's C Of E Primary School, St Robert Southwell Catholic Primary School, Littlehaven Infant School, St John's Catholic Primary School, Saint Mary's Church of England Primary School, Northolmes Junior School.
Secondary schools: Millais Girls Secondary School, Bohunt Horsham School, The Forest School Boys School, Tanbridge House School (rated ‘Outstanding by Ofstead’).
Special schools: Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School.
Westbrook Place by Abbey New Homes is a superb new collection of three and four-bedroom family homes and a ready-made community in Broadbridge Heath just outside the centre of Horsham. Prices start from £390,000 for a modern three-bedroom mid-terraced home with every house available to purchase with Help to Buy. For second steppers and others who have a property to sell, Abbey New Homes offer an Assisted Move scheme to help you sell your existing house or apartment at full market value through its approved agents at no cost; saving you time and money.
Hallway of the Carmack show home
The Carmack showhome master bedroom
There are six distinctive house types to choose from at Westbrook Place, yet every home provides spacious open-plan living accommodation and generously-sized bedrooms – ideal for family life.
The Carmack showhome living room
For more information, or to view the newly-opened showhome, please contact Abbey New Homes’ sales agents, Cubitt West Land & New Homes, by calling 01403 286131 (10am to 5pm everyday) or email [email protected].