About Horsham

A brief history of Horsham

Horsham, as a settlement, has existed for many centuries. In fact, the first mention of the town was in a Land Charter written in AD 947. The word ‘Horsham’ is thought to be derived from ‘Horse Ham’ which means a place where horses are kept. There has actually been a long history of the trading of horses in and around the town for the duration of its history.

In its early days, Horsham was controlled by a number of powerful families who derived their success from the local iron industry and from landownership. The iron industry in Horsham lasted up until the 1600s bringing some wealth to the town. A successful brewing industry also existed in the local area right up until the year 2000 when the town’s largest brewery (King and Barnes) was closed. The town was primarily known as a market town, with markets being held since the Middle Ages.

Local Construction Materials

There are a number of construction materials that are particular to the local area. Horsham actually sits on a bed of Wealden Clay which has been used to manufacture bricks. Wealden and Warnham Brickworks are still in operation to this day, producing bricks from the local clay. Horsham Stone is the areas most famous construction material. Horsham Stone is famous for its rippled appearance, which was created millions of years ago by the action of the sea. It has been used across Sussex and local area for many centuries since the Bronze Age. The primary uses of Horsham Stone are for roofing materials, flooring, paving and road services. As a construction material it is hard-wearing, waterproof and durable.

Areas We Cover in Horsham

Here are some of the areas and postcodes that we cover in the Horsham area. We also cover many other areas in the South East of England.

Post Codes covered include: RH12 & RH13