The History and Antiquities of HorshamDudley, Howard
History
The History and Antiquities of Horsham
Dudley, Howard
Horsham (West Sussex, England)
The lower portion contains the large and handsome Town-Hall, of which the
annexed sketch will afford some idea: a few years ago, the appearance
which it presented was entirely different, being built on arches, in a
similar manner, to the Council chamber, at Chichester, and surmounted by
a stone with the inscription “Thirty six miles from Westminster Bridge,”
engraved thereupon: by the kind liberality of the Duke of Norfolk, it was
completely repaired, and greatly enlarged; and though no longer applied
to its original purpose, (except in the instance of the quarter sessions)
it is still found very serviceable for lectures, public meetings, &c. &c.
The north front is embellished by the arms of royalty, flanked by those
of Norfolk and Horsham. On either side of the Hall, is a neat street,
only one of which is a thoroughfare; these meet on the southern side of
the building, in a very handsome and respectable walk, called the Church
Causeway, at the termination of which, is the ancient and spacious
church, (dedicated to St Mary) the approach is rendered particularly
picturesque, by an avenue of lofty lime trees, of some extent, which
leads in a perfectly straight direction, to the church-yard gateway: the
effect of the view from this avenue, is exceedingly pleasing,
particularly of a summer evening, when the rays of the setting sun cast a
beautiful golden tint, upon the venerable porch, which appears a
conspicuous object behind the portal.
[Picture: South view of Horsham Church]
The northern side of the edifice, though perhaps not quite equal to the
southern, appears to great advantage, though the modern windows, which
have been subsituted in several instances for others of great antiquity,
add greatly to diminish the general effect.
[Picture: Horsham Church]
On entering the church by the eastern gateway, the interior of the
structure appears to the highest advantage: the large and beautifully
simple communion window, reaching almost from the basement to the roof,
is by no means the least attractive object of attention; while the
handsome appearance of the altar, raised by a flight of several steps,
covered entirely with crimson cloths, the unusually large extent of the
communion rails; and the numerous beautiful monuments, in every
direction, afford a very elegant appearance, perhaps not to be equalled
by any other parochial edifice in the county. Yet at the same time, the
venerable roof of oaken planks; the large yet highly sculptured beams
which have weathered nearly a thousand years; the tattered escotcheons;
the crested helmets; and the antique tombs, afford a view at once
pleasing and romantic.—Some attempt has been made to illustrate this
portion of the church, (the chancel) in the annexed engraving, but no
drawing can do justice to the original building.
[Picture: The Chancel]
The dimensions of the church are as below.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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