Horsham, Market town in West Sussex, England
Horsham is a market town in West Sussex, located roughly 31 miles (50 km) south of London, that grew along routes between the coast and the interior. Brick houses from the 1700s and 1800s stand beside shops and pubs around the central square, while housing estates and fields begin at the edges.
The first inhabitants settled here during the Iron Age, and in 1086 the place appeared in the Domesday Book as a small village. During the late medieval period it became a market center for wool and grain, and later craftsmen and cloth traders arrived, establishing its role in regional trade.
The center takes its name from the Carfax, a small square where main streets meet and a market cross once stood. On Thursdays, this square becomes a meeting point for locals who walk between stalls offering food from different countries and chat as they shop.
The town sits on the main railway line between London and the south coast, with regular trains running in both directions. Pedestrians move easily around the center, where most shops and services lie within walking distance, and buses connect surrounding villages to the main square.
In the early 20th century, the famous Christ's Hospital School moved here from London and brought its pupils, who still wear blue coats and yellow knee socks as their school uniform. The tradition of this clothing dates from the 16th century and stands out immediately when pupils walk through the town center on weekends.
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