Hidden Horsham

This is the entrance to Tanbridge House in Tanbridge Park, located off Worthing Road. Once a family home, then a girls' school, now divided into luxury apartments. The music rooms and former toilet block were converted at the same time and are now lived in too

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The date above the door is 1887 and the inscription reads 'AD FOEDERA CRESCO'. The motto translates to 'I gain by treaty' or 'I grow for treaties'. The latter belongs to the Oliver family.

It was the Oliver Family who built the current Jacobean style house in 1887 and it was one of the first Horsham houses to be lit by electricity. Sir Thomas Oliver had bought the former Tanbridge House, thought to be built by Richard Nye around 1627. An even older building was mentioned in 1427 and 1524, then known as Cadmans. In 1860 Nye's structure was demolished to make way for the current house that was then built on higher ground. Two 16th century fireplaces were saved and re-used in the new building

Sir Thomas made his money developing the railway network. He built the Petworth - Midhurst and Horsham - Guildford lines. He also added tracks to the Coulsdon - Earlsfield lines. He is buried in the nearby Denne Road graveyard where there is a family stone

After Oliver's death in 1920 the property was sold to the County Council for £7000. In 1951 it became the Horsham High School for Girls before turning mixed and comprehensive in 1976. In 1968 the property was described as a 'fine example of the revived Wealden tradition'

The property was due to be demolished to make way for new flats and houses. In 1988 a campaign to save the house was launched by Audrey Robinson, a former teacher at the Horsham High School for Girls. The property ceased being a school in 1994 when the new, mixed, Tanbridge School was opened on a nearby site adjacent to the A24

In 1995 the site began redevelopment with the building of houses and flats by Persimmon Homes working around the outside and Taywood working in the centre. The properties were built to the same group of designs but with the Persimmon homes more highly specified. Persimmons 1995 brochures can be viewed by clicking the Tanbridge Park thumbnails below.Tanbridge House was converted by the owners

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Tanbridge House Detail

Guide to thumbnails

• The gargoyle is above and to the left of the main doorway and is still functioning. It does have a down pipe in its mouth to help direct the water flow
• The castellations surround an area on the roof that has a matching chimney pot. It is unclear whether this is accessible from inside the building. Clicking the thumbnail will show a photo of the whole building viewed from the south west corner
• This is the decoration on the South side of the building between the left hand ground and first floor windows
• This is the decoration on the South side of the building between the right hand ground and first floor windows
• Tanbridge Park Sales brochure from 1995, Northern build
• Tanbridge Park Sales brochure from 1995, Souththern build
• Tanbridge Park Sales brochure from 1995, property specification

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