Hidden Treasures

Sometimes overlooked
in favour of its more
glamorous coastal
cousins, a new book
sheds light on the charms and
quirks of Worthing.
Wendy Hughes’ Not A
Guide To Worthing takes an
irreverent look at the Sussex
town, from its peculiar claims
to fame (tomatoes; seagulls
who steal chocolates from
Thornton’s; a hospital where
TV comedian Harry Hill was
once a locum) to its planning
“disasters”, its notable residents
(including Harold Pinter
and Oscar Wilde) and its
curious legends (run around
the tomb of John Olliver, a
reputed smuggler of the 18th
century, and his ghost is said
to jump out and chase you).
Hughes, who is also the
author of Haunted Worthing
and Shipwrecks Of Sussex,
moved to Worthing some years
ago after the asthma sufferer
discovered its miraculous
health benefits.
“We came for a short break
and within ten minutes of
arriving I found I could
breathe without my inhaler.
I assumed it was a coincidence
but we came back several times
and it happened again – so we
decided to move.”
She began researching the
book the old-fashioned way –
on foot – and the pages reflect
her travels through the town,
from the stories behind street
names (Ophir Road was
named after the ship that ran
aground in 1896) to interesting
local landmarks such as Castle
Goring, which is neither a
castle nor in Goring.
“I’ve always found the town
interesting,” says Hughes.
“It’s not just a holiday
resort, there is a lot of depth
behind the obvious façade.”
Among her favourite pieces
of information gleaned in the
course of writing the book are
that Worthing boasts the only
known replica of the Sistine
Chapel outside Rome (see it at
the English Martyrs’ Church
in Goring Way) and that
cucumbers grown in the town
were once exported to miners
in south Wales as a convenient
way to quench their thirst
while at work.
Hughes hopes the book
will show how much more
there is to Worthing than first
meets the eye, and offer a
fresh angle on the usual travel
guide format.
“I hope readers find it quirky
and entertaining, with lots of
bite-sized morsels to enjoy.
“I love Worthing. I love the
friendliness and warmth of
the people, the vast number of
events throughout the year and
the many theatres and cinemas.
I’m so glad I found it.”