Hidden Horsham - Park House
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Park House |
Park House, home of Horsham District Council is on North Street but seen in this view from the park. It was built in 1720 by John Wicker, later lord of Nutham, who had made his fortune as a brewer. Between the years 1771 ans 1777 it was leased by diarist and cricket fan John Baker who used the grounds to grow meadow hay
Robert Hurst, lawyer and MP for Steyning and later Horsham, bought the house in 1799 and it remained in the family until 1929. It was sold with the grounds to Horsham Urban Council who used it for offices. In the early 1980s it was fully restored after a fire. The family plot for the Hurst family is still evident at the Denne Road Graveyard
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'This has a blunt take-it-or-leave-it East front, Wren style, locally done. Nine bays, central pediment, central door-case just as Wren used at Winslow, Bucks, banded rustication, not quoins, and segment-headed windows, dour concessions to the English Baroque' |
Click on the image to the left for the full size photo from the park grounds and click on the image to the right for the view of Park House from the car park at the front
The images below show Park House in 1955 and earlier in 1929 before the addition on the right hand side. Prior to moving into Park House the council offices were at the Anchor Hotel (now Bar Vin) in Market Square. The thumbnail to the right shows Park House and its entrance path. Click here for a then and now comparison
 Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection. |
 Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection. |
Fact File | Location: RH12 1RL | Build Date: 1720 | Listed: Yes |
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