Visitors tour 'Sir Richard's resort'

Visitors from the home town of the founder of Bognor Regis have enjoyed a guided tour of the resort.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2007, 17:04 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 17:45 BST

Sixteen members of the Merton Historical Society travelled to the town to view the buildings of MP and hatter Sir Richard Hotham.

Sir Richard's vision of turning a fishing village into a grand resort frequented by royalty led to the foundation of Hothamton in 1787. Some of his buildings '“ Hotham Park House and St Michael's on the University of Chichester campus '“ still survive.

He left Merton to create the seaside resort.

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The local historians enjoyed a guided walk with Sylvia Endacott and Shirley Lewis, their counterparts in Bognor, through Hotham Park.

They had lunch in the park at the cafe before they joined Janet Carter in St Michael's where they enjoyed a slide presentation of the history of the university buildings.

The visit concluded with a tour of Hothamton Crescent on the campus on Upper Bognor Road.