Southwick in West Sussex

I recently posted photographs and details of a walk around Shoreham Port in Southwick West Sussex. This time, my walk took me towards the heart of Southwick. I travelled by train to Southwick Station and turned left to go under the railway arch towards the town centre.

The photographs below are shown in the order I took them.

Photo Gallery – Southwick West Sussex

Looking towards Southwick. — Southwick West Sussex

The Ship Inn in Southwick. — Southwick West Sussex

It was a cold yet crisp autumn day, but as you can see, the sun kept me company throughout my walk. The first sight of Southwick town is framed by the railway arch just outside the station. The pastel pink colour of the Ship Inn can be seen in the distance and invited me to venture further, which I eagerly did along Southwick Street. Just past the Ship Inn, I caught sight of the splendid Manor House, set back among its leafy grounds.

A little further on, I saw Southwick Community Centre, part of which is in the beautiful building shown in the photo gallery above. I backed up a few steps to investigate Southwick Square, the main shopping area of Southwick. I discovered, from the plaque shown in the photograph, that the centre had been opened in the early sixties. Tasteful modern architecture from that time clearly showed what had been achieved when the town planners “got it right”.

I would estimate that there are scores of shops in the centre, and I only counted one that was closed, showing a “To Let” sign. I spotted a functioning Barclays Bank, a Co-Operative store, WH Smith, and a Hanwell’s hardware store, alongside many independent shops. A further surprise was the presence of a butcher and a greengrocer, both of which are rare these days. There is scope for refreshments, as seen in the coffee shops showcased in the gallery.

Judging by the number of people walking around Southwick Square and coming in and out of the shops, the area is thriving.

I made my way towards The Green, one of the largest I had seen in a small town. I cut across the green and made for the peaceful area of St Michael & All Angels Church.

Retracing my steps, I observed the ancient houses lining the leafy perimeter of The Green. There I spotted the Southwick War Memorial with its peaceful backdrop of The Green.

As the sun was almost down, I approached the railway arch and station from where I had started my exploration of this beautiful area. The sun-lit masts of yachts berthed at the Lady Bee Marina in Southwick Port could be seen in the distance.

Not having visited this part of Southwick before, I was unsure what to expect, but a friend had told me that the town is lovely and well worth exploring. I was not disappointed and found myself captivated by the charm of Southwick, which had an almost rural quality throughout.