Worthing Town Hall including Assembly Hall and Worthing Room

Worthing Town Hall, together with its Assembly Hall and the Worthing Room, is a civic and cultural complex in the centre of Worthing, a seaside town in West Sussex, England. It combines the working town hall with a theatre and concert hall, and it is one of the best-known 1930s public buildings on this part of the south coast.

What is Worthing Town Hall?

The building is the seat of local civic life in Worthing. It was designed in a restrained neo-Georgian style, with a symmetrical front and a central Ionic portico. Across the portico runs the Latin motto "Ex terra copiam e mari salutem", which roughly translates as plenty from the land and health from the sea, a fitting phrase for a town that grew up as a coastal resort. The complex is Grade II listed, which means its architecture is officially protected as of special interest.

Who designed it and when was it built?

In March 1930 the council invited architects to submit designs for a new town hall. Forty-eight entries came in, and the winner was Charles Cowles-Voysey, a London architect who also worked on town halls elsewhere in England, including Watford and Bromley. Building work began on 1 October 1931 and finished in March 1933. Prince George opened the new town hall on 22 May 1933. It replaced the earlier town hall in South Street, which no longer matched the needs of a growing borough. The listing entry also credits J. Brandon-Jones with some of the detailing.

What is the Assembly Hall?

Behind the main building stands the Assembly Hall, a theatre and concert hall that gives the complex its cultural side. According to the Theatres Trust database, it was given to Worthing under a covenant in 1934 by Alderman James Gurney Denton, who was mayor of the town. Other sources date its construction to 1935, so the exact completion year is stated differently depending on the source. It was also designed by Cowles-Voysey, so the hall and the town hall share one architectural idea instead of looking like separate additions.

What is the Worthing Room?

The Worthing Room is part of the same listed complex and appears in the official listing title alongside the Assembly Hall. It belongs to the civic part of the building and has long been used for council and ceremonial occasions.

Why visit?

• Architecture: a good example of interwar civic design in England, easy to appreciate from the street.
• Location: it stands in the town centre, a short walk from the shops, and the seafront is not far away.
• Performances: the Assembly Hall is a venue for concerts and stage events, so a visit can be combined with an evening out.
• History: the building reflects the way Worthing presented itself in the 1930s, as a confident and modern seaside town.

Practical tips

Check the programme of the Assembly Hall before you go if you want to see the inside, since access to the halls depends on events. The portico and the front elevation can be seen at any time from outside. The town centre has several car parks, and Worthing railway station is within walking distance, so the visit is easy without a car.

Frequently asked questions

When was Worthing Town Hall opened? On 22 May 1933, by Prince George.

Who was the architect? Charles Cowles-Voysey, who won a design competition with 48 entries.

Is the building listed? Yes, it is Grade II listed, including the Assembly Hall and the Worthing Room.

What does the motto on the portico mean? It is Latin for plenty from the land and health from the sea.

Can I go inside? Parts of the complex, such as the Assembly Hall, are open during events. Check the current schedule before you go.