Other historical items - The Warren, Offington, Broadwater, and Worthing
As part of our research, we have found many other items of historical interest, some too good not to share. Although they many not be specifically related to the Charmandean Estate, we have listed some below.
Whilst we appreciate not all of the below articles are of interest to all readers, we have included a variety of miscellaneous articles we have found during research.
We would like to note both the National Library of Scotland Maps (https://maps.nls.uk/) and the British Newspaper Archive (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ ) are fantastic sources of information, and have saved many hours sitting at Worthing Reference Library scrolling through old microfiche!
The articles below are mainly grouped into people or areas - it provides a glimpse into the newspapers of the past.
We may refine this page in the future as it is long!
Henfrey Smail
This is an advert for his new book, 'Notable Houses of Worthing No. 2'
Charmandean - general
The below articles don`t fit into any specific category, but we have listed here as they may be of interest.Auction of the contents of Avonmore, First Avenue, 2nd September 1936:
Marriage, 25th August 1939:
Mr Sandell
As we know from other pages on this site, the well-known building firm Frank Sandell and Sons built many of the houses on the Charmandean Estate.
Below is unrelated, but for Second Avenue in 9th Arpil 1952:
Some readers have asked if we have photos of family members who lived in Charmandean, when important events mean`t they were in the local press.
Unfortunately the copies we have are only as good as the scanned copies, but some might be of interest.
This is from 18th July 1956
The Warren
The Warren was an individually designed house, designed by Phillip Charles Hardwick, the same architect as Sompting Abbotts, in the neo-gothic style.This is from the Worthing Herald, 1919
Many thanks to the owner of this photo for allowing us to share this, please note it is not be to reproduced without permission.
Below is another photo of the Warren, clearly showing off it's neo-gothic style.
Citation: Worthing Aspects of Change, by D. Robert Elleray
The below photo/advert can be seen in the reception of Worthing College, which is of course built on the site of The Warren.
This advert, 1919, is of course when The Warren Estate contained Worthing Golf course, and all the land up to and including Cissbury Ring, before it was sold to the National Trust (date TBC):
If readers wish to find out more information on the Warren, then Henfrey Smail's book 'Notable Houses of Worthing - Offington, Broadwater and Charmandean' contains additional details.
Sompting Abbotts, Sompting Church, Charmandean and Offington have always had links over the years, as they were the some of the main country houses of Worthing at the time.
The article below left is from 17th Jan 1947, referring to Sompting Abbotts school returning to it's home after 'extensive repairs', and the below right is when the Rev. N E C Hemsworth lived in First Avenue, Charmandean.
Considering Sompting Abbotts is Grade II listed today, can one imagine why the Worthing planners at the time wanted to demolish The Warren?! What a fantastic building it must have been.
Below is a photo of Sompting Abbotts, perfectly showing off the neo-gothic style of architecture by Phillip Charles Hardwick, architect of both The Warren and Sompting Abbotts.
Sompting Abbotts in the 1920's - many thanks to Sompting Abbotts for allowing us to share this:
Reminents of history
As well as the architectural pieces of history mentioned on this site, located in private gardens, some Charmandean Residents have also found items buried in their gardens, such as this piece - could this be part of the great house's history? Part of the fountain perhaps!
If you are a resident and have found interesting items in your garden, please contact us.
A couple of interesting adverts here, such as for Lavington Road and the Downlands Estate, but we have included an extract from the Worthing Herald 3rd April 1935:
For the residents of Offington
Citation: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Article from 14th April 1909
Article from The Worthing Herald, 6th Feb 1935:
22nd April 1925
7th November 1923
13st February 1924
22nd July 1925
27th June 1928
11th April 1931
16th May 1934
26th May 1934
12th October 1935
23rd September 1936
24th July 1937
5th April 1939
Offington Lodge - which was demolished as part of the Broadwater Road widening, would have been located at the north end of Broadwater Green. This article is from the Worthing Herald, 6th October 1950.
The Offington Lodge should not be confused with the Warren Lodge, as they do look similar, and the Warren Lodge is still standing today on the East side of the Warren Road.
Advert in the Worthing Herald, 1955, for Hall Avenue - which was built only when Offington Hall was demolished.
An advert for Offington Lane, 6th April 1956
An example of the Worthing Herald Property Pages, 1958
If readers wish to see more information like this, then visit: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Development of Offington - 1898 to 2018
Comparing 1898 to 2018 side by side:
The below map is from National Library of Scotland Maps, (https://maps.nls.uk/) from 1898, larger:
Points of interest from 1898:
* The path from Warren Road to Cissbury is top-centre of the map; this also led to Broadwater Windmill when this map was drawn (1898)
* The path on the left of the top-centre led to Warren Farm, today part of Links Road Golf course buildings.
* The pond is still there on Broadwater Green
* Note Offington Lodge by Broadwater Green - this was demolished as part of the road widening.
* The southern Warren Lodge is marked on the map
* Offington Hall's driveway from the East (from Offington Lodge) was used as the basis for Offington Avenue today
* The right angular shape North East of The Warren was used by as Tennis courts when it was a girls' school. This forms part of Sanditon Way today.
Below is overlaying 2018 house positioning on top of the 1898 map (the positioning isn`t perfect, but it provides the reader a guide - The stables at Offington and the Old Brew House are overlayed, but the footpath behind Hillside Avenue isn`t quite in line. One must remember the 1898 map was probably hand drawn!):
Citation: National Library of Scotland Maps and Worthing Borough Council Maps
Points of interest from 2018
* The Southern Warren Lodge would have been positioned approximately where the Traffic lights electricity box is on Grove Lodge roundabout (!)
* The Grove Lodge roundabout itself took land from the Southern end of The Warren estate
* One of the properties in Alford Close has the location of the fountain at Offington Hall in their back garden!
If there are any historians in Offington who would like to get in contact, please use the Contact Us page.
