Virtual tour takes intown's oldest street

WORTHING Street, the street where smugglers operated and bombs once fell, comes alive in a fascinating new project.

You can take a virtual walk down Worthing’s oldest street as part of a Heritage Open Day on Sunday, May 29, from 10am to 4pm, at the Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road.

Also on view will be an exhibition entitled At Home In The 1940s which includes magazines, comics, rationing and registration cards, letters, items for cookery and travel, Dig-for-Victory, Make-do and Mend and the Home Front.

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For entertainment, there will be 1940 jive dancing and swing era music, people wearing Second World War uniforms with decommissioned weaponry and a 1934 Austin 12.

Project manager and Worthing historian Chris Hare explains: “The history of old Worthing Street and the village that grew up around it forms the basis of the Worthing Village Heritage Project run by the Sidney Walter Centre, which is located at the heart of the project area and was once a school from 1902 until 1964.

“Local residents have got involved to research the houses, old buildings and the history of the area and its people, such as smugglers, and events during the Second World War.”

Chris added: “Worthing Street was once the only street through the old village of Worthing which goes back to Saxon times. Despite the massive expansion of Worthing over the past 200 years, its route can still be traced on 20th century OS maps via the north end of Chapel Road, North Street and High Street.

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“Redevelopment and road-widening schemes in the past 60 years or so have been responsible for the destruction and demolition of many of the buildings along this route, in particular the 1986 road widening scheme for the north end of Chapel Road, North street and the top of High Street, which also changed the alignment of the old route.”

Ron Kerridge and Barry Keech, two Worthing historians, have created a website explaining the history of all the old buildings that once stood along Worthing Street, which was the main street of the old village and is now the northern end of Chapel Road, North Street and High Street.

Ron said: “The display is of those buildings we have researched for the website, which are located in and around old Worthing Street (as seen on the 1932 OS map) and which have since been demolished. The photographs and illustrations have supporting maps and historical notes and will be arranged in a chronological order commencing at Teville Gate and terminating at the south end of High Street. So people can come along and take a virtual, visual walk down old Worthing Street and see how it once looked or perhaps bring back a few memories.”

The exhibition will also include old printed posters of Worthing, books of Worthing & Disrict ephemera, including Sussex by the Sea, and scrap books.

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As part of the day, there will also be six illustrated talks ranging from Worthing in the 30s and 40s, to the history of health care and doctors, dentists and death. At 10.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. there is a session called Find Your Ancestors when family historian, Phil Wood, goes on-line with Ancestry to help people find their lost relatives there and then.

Chris Hare began the project a year ago. Dozens of people who live in the area are involved in researching the history of the people, the buildings and the events of the old village area of Worthing which covers an area between North Street and the railway line, Chapel Road to Homefield Park.

Chris said: “Volunteer researchers have visited Worthing Reference Library, West Sussex Record Office at Chichester and the National Newspaper Library at Colindale in North London to find out more information about the history of the old village. Many of them have learnt new skills and found out invaluable information about their ancestors who lived in this area. I am always keen to welcome as many people as possible to get involved.”

Admission to the Heritage Open Day is free. Refreshments will be available. The bar will also be open. For those wanting more information and location maps go to www.oldworthingstreet.com or contact Chris Hare, who lives in the project area, on 07794 600639.