Welcome to Charmandean History, documenting the history of one of Worthing`s old manor houses, Charmandean House, and the development of the Charmandean and Longlands Estates built on the land.
The aim of this website is to bring together information about the history of the house and gardens, up to it's demolition in the 1960's, and how the Charmandean Estate has changed over the years.
We hope you enjoy reading about the history of the old house, how the Estate was developed, and if you have anything to add then please don`t hesitate to contact us.
The site will be updated with further information as it becomes available, so any photos, maps, drawings, stories, anything you think would add value to the history of Charmandean, we are always interested in and can be added to the website.
We would be particularly interested in stories or photos of anyone who remembers Charmandean House, or points of historical interest regarding The Charmandean Estate.
As a result, new pages have been added, and the site restructured hopefully making it easier to navigate in the different sections and categories
It's a scrapbook!
The site navigation headings have been split out, avoiding 'sub-headings' which makes it easier for readers of all ages and on different mediums of desktop, tablet and phone. It might not be the best web-design but please remember the site has been treated as a 'scrapbook', and we have tried to make it a user friendly and a central place to record the history, associated stories, and life of Charmandean House and latterly, the development of the Estate, before it is lost.
The Charmandean Story
We have integrated a journey into the website, so that a reader can travel through the timeline and read about the House, the first and second phases of development, its people, and it's life as a school.
Or, if you just want to browse the various pages full of information, select from the headings above.
Thanks for reading!
An owner's photo album of Charman Dean in c.1910
We are lucky enough to have been contacted by the great great niece of Alfred King, who owned Charmandean between 1900-1914.
She has allowed us to share her family's photo album of Charmandean in the Charmandean - Photo Album pages
The War Years and the flying bomb attack
Due to recent collaboration between some residents who`s houses were involved in the bomb attack during the war years, we have been able to obtain further articles of interest.
All details in Development of Charmandean
Recent discovery of Charmandean Yew Walk steps
Due to recent collaboration between residents we`re found a set of the original stone steps from the 1850's is still there! Many thanks to the residents involved!
More details in Yew Walk Page
Commemorative Tree Planting and time capsule
To commemorate the sad event of the late Queen's passing and then subsequent succession to the throne of King Charles III, a Giant Redwood tree was planted in Charmandean Open Space by the Charmandean and Area Residents Association for future generations to enjoy, along with a time capsule of dedications by residents.
The information shown on this site has been collected from a variety of sources, and where extracts from books or early maps, there are citations indicating the sources.
Please note: We are always careful to preserve security and privacy, hence we will not publish anything which is detrimental to this, nor items which are both a security risk to Charmandean residents and not available to the general public on the web or history research sources.
Left: One of the original newspaper adverts from 1930 advertising the first houses to be built, in First Avenue.
House adverts and articles
Our research has found many adverts and articles over the years, so we have collated them in a single page as they may not be of interest to everyone, however residents might find an historic advert or reference to their house!
'Building a house', providing an insight and unique photos of Charmandean in 1934.
Famous people have lived in Charmandean Estate over the years, including Arthur Askey
Left is a still of a video of Arthur Askey, shot at his home at the top of First Avenue in 1945.
See more of this and watch the video from the link in the People of Charmandean page.
[Citation: British Pathe]
Yew walk steps, rediscovered, over 180 years old!
In 2022, our research discovered one of the original 3 sets of steps leading down from the Yew Walk to the 'lower lawn' still exists, in one of the gardens of Longlands Spinney
See full article in Yew Walk Steps and East Driveway
Photo taken c.1950, showing the South side of Charmandean House, when it was still the Charmandean School for Girls.
Although it was a girls school for c.13 years, prior to that it was a boys school for 5 years. The motto of the boys school was 'Nihil Sine Deo', which means 'Nothing without God'. Do any ex-pupils remember the school?!
This shows the additions of the East and West wings, verandas, and the large Glasshouse.
In the grounds of Charmandean House, there was a special place known as the 'Yew Walk'.
Thanks to the daughter of a former teacher, we now know it looked like this....more School photos in the Charmandean - As a school page.
The Worthing Herald, Sat 5th Jan 1929, reports:
'The school moved to Charmandean with its spacious fields, its wonderfully wooded grounds, its glorious views and unsurpassed position. The ‘Yew Walk’ alone, where well-founded tradition says, the monks who served the ancient Broadwater Church, used to meditate, could not fail to add dignity to the place and leaves its mark on all those who come and go'
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Throughout the website, where photographs, articles, newspaper stories and the like have been used, reference has been provided and citation given stating where the article is from, and that it is not the property of CharmandeanHistory.co.uk.
