Heene
Encyclopedia
Heene is a neighbourhood of the Borough
of Worthing
in West Sussex
, England
. It lies on the A259 road 0.6 miles (1 km) west of the town centre.
Heene comes from the word Hīun or Hīwun meaning family or household.
Once part of the parish of West Tarring, Heene was a civil parish
in its own right from the 16th century up until 1890 when it became part of the Borough
of Worthing
. Its borders are defined by the Teville Stream
and Tarring Road to the north and Elm Grove and Wallace Avenue (once known as Sea Lane) to the west.
During the English Civil War
in January 1644, the Spanish warship the Santiago (St James), was beached at Heene. The ship had several Royalist
officers on board, as well as 24 brass guns, 2,000 arms and 100 barrels of gunpowder and a large cargo of linen. The ship had set sail from the port of Dunkirk, at the time part of the Spanish Empire
, having been pursued by Dutch men of war and to avoid capture seems to have tried to head for either Shoreham
or Arundel. The ship was seized by the Parliamentarian
William Waller
and its contents taken to be securely stored at Arundel Castle
.
In the 1670s, three streets in Heene are mentioned - East Street, West Street and High Street (today's Heene Road).
As with other parts of Worthing, the coastline of Heene has changed changed greatly in recent centuries. The sea is thought to have encroached some 55 yards (50 m) in the century up to 1875. In the early 19th century, the area along the coast known as Heene Common was made up of rough pasture intersected by watercourses and covered with gorse.
In the early 19th century settlement was in Heene village and in an area known as Little Heene in Brunswick Road. The area had a reputation for wildness and lawlessness at the time. Edward Ogle (known locally as 'King' Ogle) and other Commissioners in the new town of Worthing to the east erected a wall at the Heene-Worthing boundary to keep the 'lawless' of Heene out of the civilised east.
In 1863 William Westbrooke Richardson, who owned most of the manor of Heene, sold his land to the Heene Estate Land Company, which in turn sold the southern part of its land to the West Worthing Investment Company in 1864. In 1865 the property of the two companies became the new town of West Worthing, which was intended to be an upmarket resort and residential area in its own right. In 1873, West Worthing was extended westwards up to the boundary with the parish of Goring at George V Avenue. The term West Worthing is still in use today.
In 1873 a new St Botolph's Church
was opened on the site of the ruined chapel with the same dedication. In 1882 and again in 1895 there were plans for a pier at the bottom of Grand Avenue, which never came to fruition. West Worthing railway station
opened in 1889 to serve the new town of West Worthing. The following year, West Worthing merged into the new borough of Worthing
. In 1894, West Worthing was described as being chiefly a good class residential area with much the same relation to Worthing as Hove
to Brighton
.
The 1968 film version of Harold Pinter
's play The Birthday Party
was filmed opposite the Grade II listed Heene Terrace on the seafront.
In the early 21st century, the formerly wild part of Worthing once known as Little Heene is now known as Worthing's West End. Its shops and restaurants have a Bohemian
feel.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It lies on the A259 road 0.6 miles (1 km) west of the town centre.
Heene comes from the word Hīun or Hīwun meaning family or household.
Once part of the parish of West Tarring, Heene was a civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in its own right from the 16th century up until 1890 when it became part of the Borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
. Its borders are defined by the Teville Stream
Teville Stream
The Teville Stream is a stream which flows through the town of Worthing in West Sussex. Once significantly wider than the current stream, it is now culverted for much of its length.-Watercourse:...
and Tarring Road to the north and Elm Grove and Wallace Avenue (once known as Sea Lane) to the west.
During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
in January 1644, the Spanish warship the Santiago (St James), was beached at Heene. The ship had several Royalist
Royalist
A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of government, but not necessarily a particular monarch...
officers on board, as well as 24 brass guns, 2,000 arms and 100 barrels of gunpowder and a large cargo of linen. The ship had set sail from the port of Dunkirk, at the time part of the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
, having been pursued by Dutch men of war and to avoid capture seems to have tried to head for either Shoreham
Shoreham
Shoreham is the name of several different places:* Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK** Shoreham 1974–1997** New Shoreham 1295–1885* Shoreham, Kent, UK* Shoreham, Michigan, USA...
or Arundel. The ship was seized by the Parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
William Waller
William Waller
Sir William Waller was an English soldier during the English Civil War. He received his education at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and served in the Venetian army and in the Thirty Years' War...
and its contents taken to be securely stored at Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England is a restored medieval castle. It was founded by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067. Roger became the first to hold the earldom of Arundel by the graces of William the Conqueror...
.
In the 1670s, three streets in Heene are mentioned - East Street, West Street and High Street (today's Heene Road).
As with other parts of Worthing, the coastline of Heene has changed changed greatly in recent centuries. The sea is thought to have encroached some 55 yards (50 m) in the century up to 1875. In the early 19th century, the area along the coast known as Heene Common was made up of rough pasture intersected by watercourses and covered with gorse.
In the early 19th century settlement was in Heene village and in an area known as Little Heene in Brunswick Road. The area had a reputation for wildness and lawlessness at the time. Edward Ogle (known locally as 'King' Ogle) and other Commissioners in the new town of Worthing to the east erected a wall at the Heene-Worthing boundary to keep the 'lawless' of Heene out of the civilised east.
In 1863 William Westbrooke Richardson, who owned most of the manor of Heene, sold his land to the Heene Estate Land Company, which in turn sold the southern part of its land to the West Worthing Investment Company in 1864. In 1865 the property of the two companies became the new town of West Worthing, which was intended to be an upmarket resort and residential area in its own right. In 1873, West Worthing was extended westwards up to the boundary with the parish of Goring at George V Avenue. The term West Worthing is still in use today.
In 1873 a new St Botolph's Church
St Botolph's Church, Heene
St Botolph's Church is an Anglican church in the Heene area of the borough of Worthing, one of seven local government districts in the English county of West Sussex. It had 11th-century origins as a chapelry within the parish of West Tarring, but declined and fell into disuse by the 18th century...
was opened on the site of the ruined chapel with the same dedication. In 1882 and again in 1895 there were plans for a pier at the bottom of Grand Avenue, which never came to fruition. West Worthing railway station
West Worthing railway station
West Worthing railway station is in Worthing in the county of West Sussex, England. The station is operated by Southern. Note that on the West Coastway Line faster trains do not stop here....
opened in 1889 to serve the new town of West Worthing. The following year, West Worthing merged into the new borough of Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
. In 1894, West Worthing was described as being chiefly a good class residential area with much the same relation to Worthing as Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
to Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
.
The 1968 film version of Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter, CH, CBE was a Nobel Prize–winning English playwright and screenwriter. One of the most influential modern British dramatists, his writing career spanned more than 50 years. His best-known plays include The Birthday Party , The Homecoming , and Betrayal , each of which he adapted to...
's play The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (play)
The Birthday Party is the first full-length play by Harold Pinter and one of Pinter's best-known and most-frequently performed plays...
was filmed opposite the Grade II listed Heene Terrace on the seafront.
In the early 21st century, the formerly wild part of Worthing once known as Little Heene is now known as Worthing's West End. Its shops and restaurants have a Bohemian
Bohemian
A Bohemian is a resident of the former Kingdom of Bohemia, either in a narrow sense as the region of Bohemia proper or in a wider meaning as the whole country, now known as the Czech Republic. The word "Bohemian" was used to denote the Czech people as well as the Czech language before the word...
feel.