History of Horsham Park

_History of the park

Protecting the park

As Friends of Horsham Park, we are committed to making sure Horsham Park can be enjoyed by all, now and in the future.

In 2025, we successfully registered the park as an Asset of Community Value , providing protection for the park for the next five years. The application process created a wonderful record of how much the park is loved and used by people across our community – something we all knew, but is important and valuable to have documented.

Looking ahead, one of our key aims is to secure protection in perpetuity through the Fields in Trust scheme, ensuring Horsham Park remains a protected green space for everyone to enjoy for generations to come.

Horsham Park – Timeline

Park House: The beginning (1701)

1701 – John Wicker builds Park House (now a Grade II listed building) around the core of a medieval burgage house known as ‘Cockmans’, which had been struck by lightning and badly damaged that summer.

1800s – Robert Hurst purchases Park House, its garden, and the surrounding parkland following the enclosure of Horsham Common in 1813.

The Park Becomes Public (1914-1928)

1914-1918 – During the First World War, the park hosts events, activities, and fundraising It later serves as a venue for celebrations marking the end of the war.

1927 – Colonel A R Hurst approaches Horsham Urban Council with an offer to sell Park House, its gardens, and a portion of the current park.

1928 – The purchase is finalised. Taxpayers are asked to contribute an additional 1d (one penny) in tax to make this public space possible.

The Park Grows (1934-1970s)

1934 – Horsham’s first swimming pool opens in the park.

1938 – Land is requisitioned for a casualty centre during the Second World War; after the war, this becomes the park nursery.

1949 – The park expands with the purchase of some additional land.

1970s – A sports centre is built, this later becomes the bowling alley and eventually the Rec Rooms.

1981 – An indoor swimming pool replaces the original unheated outdoor pool.

Modern Developments (1991-Present)

1991 – Park House ‘sensory garden’ is created, featuring a central sundial sculpture designed by local artist John Skelton.

1999 – The Human Nature Garden is built on the site of the old putting green.

2000 – The Millennium Maze opens, with a bronze dragon sitting at its centre.

2001 – The skatepark is created.

2002 – Pavilions in the Park replaces the swimming pool, and a larger playground is built.

2008 – The nursery school is relocated and the area is returned to parkland, and a volleyball court is built.

2014 – Horsham’s first Parkrun takes place, beginning a popular weekly tradition.

2016 – High Places adventure play area opens.

2017 – A temporary ice rink replaces the volleyball court; this area is later grassed over.

2018 – Two new gym pods are installed, replacing the ‘trim trail’ around the edge of the park.

2019 – Poets’ Corner is created next to Park House.

2019 – The old bandstand raised bed is transformed into a bee-friendly flowerbed, complete with a bug hotel.

2025 – Horsham Park is registered as an Asset of Community Value.

A Living Legacy

From its origins as private parkland to becoming a cherished public space, Horsham Park has continuously evolved to meet the needs of our community. Each addition and improvement reflects the park’s enduring role as a vital green space at the heart of Horsham.

Drawing of Victorian women playing stoolball with Park House in the background
Stoolball being played in Park House gardens – picture courtesy of Horsham Museum and Art Gallery

Learn more

Would you like to read more about Horsham Park?  If so, you might be interested in the following:

  1. Notes on the park extracted from seven volumes of a History of Horsham – kindly contributed by Jeremy Knight, Horsham Museum and Art Gallery: Horsham Park Notes by Jeremy Knight
  2. An article about the Park by Maggie Weir Wilson, local author of ‘Secret Horsham‘ : Horsham Park 2017 by Maggie Weir Wilson – Although there have been changes to the park since the original article was written, it gives an excellent overview of the park’s development.