Historic sights abound '“ just look around

Sadly this is the kind of negative comment that is widely thrown around by many people, a number of whom are Bognorians. That will start you talking! Why do so many people, like me, come here to live, work and retire? Bognor Regis has so much history and many old buildings still with us today that I thought we could take a look at some of our heritage. Initially we should remember that it was only in 1787 that Sir Richard Hotham laid the foundation stone of this seaside resort, recorded in the parish register at South Bersted Church, which celebrated its 600th anniversary in 2005. Initially Sir Richard Hotham built Spencer Terrace, Mordington, The Dome and St Michael's to bring people into his resort. When people sold these properties they were used for many years as educational centres. Now some of these buildings have been sold and converted into flats and apartments to attract more people to the area '“ as Sir Richard had planned. We, of course, still have a central park area, which was once the back garden of Sir Richard Hotham's home, now known to Bognor Regis residents as Hotham Park House. What else do we have? We have the Royal Norfolk Hotel from the 1820s, which still overlooks the seafront and, of course, we have the fishermen (not the original ones you understand!) There are a number of original fishermen's cottages around the West Street and Aldwick Road area. Our original shopping centre was West Street and, while we have new flats built there, there are quite a number of original constructions. Along the Esplanade, there is The Royal Hotel, which was known as the Manor House. Even the Beach Hotel, now a fish and chip restaurant, has its origins in the early days of our seaside resort. The Steyne and Waterloo Square were constructed around the 1820s and 30s and many of these buildings have remained unchanged since that time. What about the railway station construction of 1902 and the Arcade which was built during the boom of the early 20th century? Across the road, buildings were rising, such as the site on the corner of London Road, where originally Staley's moved in 1914 from the High Street and which is today the premises of Bon Marche. We can find many constructions around the town that have withstood the passage of time. The Church of St Thomas A' Becket in Pagham recently celebrated its 800th anniversary. What about Barton Manor in Pagham, which is reputed to be the oldest house in England and all the other cottages and houses that have been lovingly restored by their owners? In 1957, Gerard Young wrote in one of his weekly articles, 'I can remember hollyhock growing in Bognor High Street.' He continued much in the vein in which I am writing this week; however another comment was 'I can remember the Polly Anne Restaurant, where Pricerite is today. I suppose, when this building is pulled down, people will say, 'I can remember buying food there on a Friday night'. You still can, although today it is the Morrison's car park. In the 1960s, when the Queen Victoria drinking fountain was found in the council yard, a member of the council said we should leave it where it was and not look back, but forward to 2000. It was finally decided to preserve the fountain and we still have it today, standing now at the seaward end of Steyne Gardens. I know about the sand, the Kursaal and the Pavilion! I know that the arrival of Butlins in 1960 did not meet with approval '“ and so many people still do not acknowledge that Butlins arrival was really in the 1930s. Looking around the town there are so many old buildings. For instance what about the Picturedrome, which was built in 1886 as an assembly room before being converted into a cinema in 1919. What about Reynolds depository built in 1911. There is also the Bognor Club in Sudley Road, which was originally built in 1837 as one of our town halls. If we look at the area around the Royal Norfolk Hotel, we have a number of residences that date from the 1700s, now slightly hidden away from the main road, but well maintained and retaining some of their original features. In the High Street, we have Valhalla and Manora, one of the earliest constructions in the town as well as East View further along on the other side of the road towards Butlins. Towards the town centre on the High Street we have a range of original buildings. The William Hardwick, built in the 1820s as The New Inn, is still serving drinks to visitors today. Where we now have Kentucky Fried Chicken, was the original building of York House into the garden of which was built the Arcade in 1902. In the centre of the town, behind Hotham Park, on Church Path there is The Laurel's, once a school and recently updated into a property worthy of the 21st century, as are many of the old thatched cottages both in North Bersted and in Felpham. I am sure that you the reader are already saying she has not mentioned'¦'¦'¦'¦'¦. No I haven't because there are so many, so please look around you and see beyond the facades of buildings and find original constructions. They are certainly there, besides all the buildings that are being carefully renovated and cared for by their current owners. Once at a public meeting, which had been arranged to discuss the plans for a marina, a woman remarked that she had 'lived here all her life and didn't want it to change until she died.' Sadly we have to move on, young people require change, and we have to look to the future. The Duke of Richmond said in 1960: 'Bognor Regis is forward looking.' He was opening Fitzleet and the Queensway, which even today is not to everyone's taste, but it was supported in a positive manner when it was first constructed. In the 1980s, a councillor remarked that 'we should stop carping on about old photographs'. I think I was actually '“ by implication '“ included in their comment. We have to have a balance. We have to see where we have come from to see where we are going. As was experienced during the three Festivals of Local History, we do still have much heritage remaining in a town that was only commenced in 1787 '“ a mere 220 years ago. I wonder how we will be judged in 50 years' time?