Park Crescent, Worthing

Park Crescent
Park Crescent looking east
General information
Architectural style	Georgian
Town or city	Worthing
Country	England
Construction started	1831
Completed	1833
Design and construction
Architect	Amon Henry Wilds

Park Crescent is an example of Georgian architecture in Worthing, England, designed in 1829 by Amon Henry Wilds, son of the architect Amon Wilds and constructed between 1831 and 1833. AH Wilds had previously worked on other large projects including the Kemp Town estate in nearby Brighton.

Arranged in a serpentine shape, the terrace overlooks thickly planted grounds of Amelia Park, in the manner of Bath. It is built on a slight ridge close to what was in the 1830s the edge of the town by the boundary with the neighbouring parish of Heene and would have overlooked fields, with views extending to the parish churches of Tarring and Goring. There are two cottages ornés, originally called north and south Swiss Cottages, and now a hotel. It is likely that Wilds intended the 'alpine-style' cottages to be a discovery on walks into the woods of Amelia Park.

Park Crescent comprises 14 houses, each originally having three floors together with servants' quarters in the basement.

Initially planned to be given the name Royal Park Crescent, the Royal was dropped, perhaps when UK-wide recession stopped building in the 1830s. It had originally been intended to extend the building further to the west to line up with the Swiss cottages and take the terrace to 22 houses.

Park Crescent has given its name to Crescent Road, which runs southwards to the sea. Richmond Road, which runs east-west close to Park Crescent, was formerly known as Park Lane or Park Crescent Lane until it was renamed after the 6th Duke of Richmond.

Close to Park Crescent lies the site of some Roman burials from the 4th century, identified by coins of Diocletian (reigned 284–305) and Constantine I (reigned 306–337) which were found with them.

The building was given grade II* listed building status in 1949.

Park Crescent is reached through a triumphal arch. The main archway, designed for carriages, contains the busts of four bearded men as atlantes. The two side arches, designed for pedestrians, each contain the busts of four young ladies as caryatids.