Hidden Horsham - The Forum

The Sundial in the Forum

The Forum was developed in the space between Blackhorse Way and Sainsburys and provides recreational areas and more shops to expand the town centre. The sundial was unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen on the 24^th of October, 2003. Aerial photos on Google Maps and Local.Live have not yet been updated to show the new development. For posterity the aerial views currently available have been saved on this site. To see up to date aerial views you will need to go to Virtual Horsham, see external links below

The £22m redevelopment began on the 7^th of May, 2002 and also included the new multi-storey car park, affordable housing and the bus station. Some of the 65 new homes were reserved for key workers such as nurses and teachers. The much-liked weeping beech tree was carefully guarded during the work and still takes pride of place in the Forum. A cycle route runs in parrallel with Blackhorse Way from The Causeway to the library

The sundial is another work of art from Lorne McKean to add to the flying swans in Swan Walk and the donkey and cart in Piries Place; both crafted in bronze. The piece was sponsored by Sainsbury's and Allders once again in bronze with the cost put at £160,000. In the plinth of the the 9 foot diameter sundial the Horsham Time Capsule was installed, put together to mark the Millennium. Unlike many capsules, this one is on view through a glass panel

The sundial features references to the dinosaur remains at Rudgwick and Southwater, the influence of Saxons and Romans, the bronze age at Chanctonbury Hill, of St Cuthman at Steyning, myths and legends of the forests, the Quakers, Shipley Mill and Hilaire Belloc, the Knights Templar, the Carthusian Monastery at Cowfold, Percy Bysshe Shelley and his cat, and much more

The development was dedicated on the 25^th of July, 2003 when the Chairman of Horsham District Council, Cllr Vivien Lyth, laid the stone in the centre of the works which were still underway

The Forum was used by What Car? magazine in a photo shoot of three superminis on the 24th August 2007. At the time of writing this feature the area is about to undergo a 30 week repair programme to stop water leaks into the lower car parks

Contributions, comments and suggestions are welcomed. Please use the contact page to let us know your thoughts. More information on the images is always welcomed