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Shoreham (New) in Sussex County England History and GeographySHOREHAM (NEW), a borough, market town, sea-port, and parish, in the hundred of FISHERGATE, rape of BRAMBER, county of SUSSEX, 23 miles (E.) from Chichester, and 56 (S. by W.) from London, containing, according to the last census, 1047 inhabitants, which number has since increased to about 1500. This town is indebted for its origin to the decay of Old Shoreham, situated not far distant, which, though anciently a place of importance, is now an inconsiderable village. In ancient history it is chiefly remarkable for having been built on the spot where ?lla, the Saxon, landed with supplies from Germany, in aid of his countrymen, Hengist and Horsa. The town is situated about one mile from the English channel, on the river Adur, across which is a long wooden bridge, on the main road between Brighton and Portsmouth. A suspension bridge, on a design similar to that at Hammersmith, is now in progress over the river, at the western entrance into the town, at the expense of His Grace the Duke of Norfolk; which, when completed, will reduce the distance between Shoreham and Worthing about two miles. Shoreham is noted for its ship-building, and vessels of seven hundred tons have been launched here. From its proximity to Brighton and Worthing, the trade and importance of the port has, of late years, rapidly increased; its revenue, within the last twenty years, has been augmented five-fold, having been, in 1810, about £7000, and now amounting to £35,000. The harbour, which is a tide harbour, is very commodious: in spring tides it has about nineteen feet of water, in common ones about fourteen feet, and not more than three feet at ebb. The river runs by the side of the town, parallel with the sea, with which it communicates about half a mile eastward, and is frequented by ships of considerable burden. The imports consist principally of timber, deals, merchandise from France, wine, spirits, coal, &c.; and considerable quantities of oak timber are exported. Cement manufactories have been established here. The custom-house, lately erected, under the direction of Mr. Smirke, is an elegant building in the Grecian style, situated in the centre of the town. A large market for corn is held every fortnight; and a fair on July 25th. Shoreham is a borough by prescription, and is governed by a high constable appointed by the lord of the manor. It has sent two members to parliament since the 1st of Edward I.; the right of election being in the inhabitants paying scot and lot, and the freeholders of the rape of Bramber: the high constable is the returning officer. At the election in 1791, a majority of the electors having formed themselves into a society, called the Christian Club, the real object of which was to sell their votes to the best bidder, an act of parliament was passed, disfranchising every member of the society, and extending the votes for New Shoreham to the whole rape of Bramber, so that the right of election was imparted to about one thousand six hundred freeholders, instead of two hundred, to which it had been previously confined. The living is a discharged vicarage, annexed to that of Old Shoreham, in the archdeaconry of Lewes, and diocese of Chichester, rated in the king's books at £6. 1. 8., endowed with £200 private benefaction, £800 royal bounty, and £800 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the President and Fellows of Magdalene College, Oxford. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an extremely interesting specimen of Norman architecture. At present only the choir is fitted up and appropriated to divine worship, the nave having been entirely destroyed. It was originally cruciform, and one of the largest in the neighbourhood, as well as perhaps the most elegant; the architectural details within being still remarkable for their richness and diversity. The Independents and Wesleyan Methodists have each a place of worship. There are National schools for boys and girls. Here was anciently a priory for Carmelites, or White friars, founded by Sir John Mowbray, Knt.; also an hospital, dedicated to St. James, but no remains of either are now discernible. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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