Shoreham
History of Shoreham Library
Shoreham’s new library was opened on the 12th June 1969 by author Mr Clifford Musgrave.
Previously, the library had been accommodated in the lower anteroom of St Mary’s Hall and its use had grown over the years. In 1935/1936 the number of readers had doubled resulting in a full-time librarian being appointed and a children’s section being opened. It had become clear that a purpose-built library was essential but securing a site was the greatest difficulty. Eventually the County Council purchased the Pond Road/St Mary’s Road site.
When opening the new library, Mr Musgrave praised virtues of the new, ultra-modern building, fine architecture and modern methods of computerisation, and commented particularly on the local collection of books. The heating and lighting of the library was said at the time to be a special feature and to differ from that in all other libraries built recently by West Sussex County Council. External walls and roof had a high insulation value with a small window area supplemented by a high degree of artificial lighting. The heat produced by this supplemented the main heating. The adult section had room for 10,000 books and 4,000 books in the children’s section. There was also a reference area with seating for 30 readers. 1,100 books were issued on the opening day (Friday) and another 1,000 on the following day.
Images
A large number of images of Shoreham can be found on our West Sussex Past Pictures website.
Go to 'Advanced Search: Catalogue' and search for 'Worthing' in 'Any Text'.
Newspapers
The Shoreham Herald has now merged with the Worthing Herald and is available to view at Shoreham and Southwick libraries. Paper copies are kept for one year at Shoreham and one month at Southwick.
Back issues of the Shoreham Herald 1938-2016 are available on microfilm at Worthing Library. The newspaper was known as the Adur Herald 1977-1981. Back issues of the Shoreham Herald from 2017 plus the years 1914-1925 and 1939-1945 are available to view on the public computers in all West Sussex Libraries, as searchable digital copies.
West Sussex Gazette is available to library members from home via Press Reader.
The Keep holds microfilm copies of the Argus from its start in 1880-2015. Microfilms of 1985 to 2005 (incomplete) are available on request at Worthing Library.
Further coverage of Shoreham can be found on the Shoreham Herald website and Inside Shoreham magazine.
The Times Digital Archive includes some coverage of events in Shoreham and West Sussex from 1785-2019 and is available to all library members from home. The British Newspaper Archive has digitised copies of Shoreham Herlad 1986-1991, 1993-2004 and the West Sussex Gazette for 1853-1891, 1897, 1910, 1912-1958, 1967-1968, 1995-2004 . You can access the British Newspaper Archive for free through the public computers in any West Sussex Library.
For any enquiries about newspapers, please use our Ask a Librarian form.
Maps
A current map of Shoreham can be found on the Ordnance Survey website.
Historic maps of Shoreham are also available on the National Library of Scotland Maps Database.
Directories
Some Kellys Sussex Directories can be found on Ancestry - available free in all West Sussex Libraries. Some directories are available as digitised copies on the public computers in all libraries - see our Digitised Directories Helpsheet. You can search the library catalogue to see which directories are available on microfiche. For any queries, please use our Ask a Librarian form.
House History
If you are researching the history of your house, the National Archives House Research Guide is a good place to start.
West Sussex Record Office also have many sources to help with your investigations.
Online Resources
History Portal housing an extensive collection of research articles and photographs relating to the history of Shoreham-by-Sea.
Includes Shorehams Radar Station: the Story of RAF Truleigh Hill by Roy Taylor
Victoria County History - Shoreham
Founded in 1899 and originally dedicated to Queen Victoria, the Victoria County History (VCH) is an encyclopaedic record of England's places and people from earliest times to the present day. Please note: British History Online is the online version of the Victoria County History.
Further information can also be found here and also about Kingston by Sea/Kingston Buci
Brighton City Airport Heritage Assessment (Shoreham Airport)
History, description and images of Shoreham churches:
St Mary de Haura, New Shoreham
Genuki genealogy information and links
Free database including billions of indexed records from around the world including UK parish registers and census. You will need to sign up for a free account. Records for Shorham include:
British Marine Life Study Society
Based in Shoreham, with some local as well as national information.
Places of Interest
Shoreham Airport Visitor Centre (Brighton City Airport)
Shoreham Lighthouse (Kingston Buci)
Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Station
Local Walks
South Downs Walks - Shoreham by Sea
River Adur - Coastal Link and Sculpture Trail
Local Information
Run by the charity 'Shoreham Community Trust'. Home to: Adur District Council Customer Service Team (including the Electoral Roll), Citizens Advice, 4Sight, Skyway Gallery, Wednesday Market & the Pond Cafe.
Local Organisations
Shoreham Beach Residents Association
More Help and Information
For further information and help with any of these resources, please fill in an Ask a Librarian form and the Enquiries Team will be happy to help.