Did You Know?

Worthing is the 29th biggest town in the UK with follow Sussex town Eastbourne directly above us in 28th place. It's around 60 miles south of London and just 11 miles or so along the coast from Brighton.

The area around Worthing contains Britain’s greatest concentration of Stone Age flint mines. The oldest of these mines is Church Hill.

It started out life as a small mackerel fishing hamlet. You can still buy fresh fish from fishermen at some of the town’s beaches.

Off the coast lies one of Europe’s best underwater chalk reefs - known as Worthing Lumps. These underwater chalk cliff faces are up to three metres high and home to some rare fish.

Several world records have been set in Worthing including the heaviest fig grown (295g), the longest football marathon and the most consecutive rounds of kick boxing.

Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie was born in Worthing in 1978. She portrayed Brienne of Tarth. She also played Captain Phasma in Star Wars, The Force Awakens.

Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde and Harold Pinter have all stayed in the town and written some of their work whilst here.

The hills around Worthing were home to some of Britain's earliest and most extensive flint-mining operations, which saw some of the hardest flint available mined for thousands of years and exported across much of Britain.

It is the 29th biggest town in the UK with follow Sussex town Eastbourne directly above us in 28th place and Sutton Coldfield below in 30th position. Topping the table is Reading.

It started out life as a small mackerel fishing hamlet. You can still buy fresh fish from fishermen at some of the town’s beaches.

Several world records have been set here including the heaviest fig grown (295g), the longest football marathon and the most consecutive rounds of kickboxing.

The Pier has survived several disasters. In 1913 strong gales caused the decking between the pier and shore to be washed away. In 1933 a fire destroyed the South Pavilion. In 1940, during World War II a hole was blown in the pier’s decking to stop it being used as a landing point for an enemy attack. Each time it has been lovingly repaired.

The Pier became famous among indie fans in the 90s when it featured on the front cover of indie band Gene’s album To See the Lights.

Another village with a similar name can be found near Emmen in the Northeastern part of the Netherlands. The village is called Weerdinge.

Oscar Wilde holidayed in the town in 1893 and 1894, writing the "Importance of Being Earnest" during his second visit.