The Sussex Border Walk - Part Four: Marine Gardens, Beach Huts and the Tram House

I am working my way around the border of the county of Sussex, starting from Worthing and walking westwards. In this episode I am continuing from Marine Gardens, along the coast a little from Grand Avenue heading towards Goring-by-Sea. The rain and windy are hampering my filming, but I manage to find the beach huts and the place when a bungalow once had a tram car built around it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE SUPPORT THE BALD EXPLORER
My videos are funded by people like you. If you enjoy them, please help me make more:
Visit BaldExplorer.com to become a patron.
Or make a one off donation www.paypal.me/...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EQUIPMENT USED IN MY PRODUCTIONS
Canon D200 : amzn.to/2RZ9Nta
Zoom Field Recorder F1 : amzn.to/2RGQqpG
GoPro Hero 8: amzn.to/2KJtiAW
Zoom H4n: amzn.to/2vXZuu6

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

We think this is a great idea for a series of videos and we're really enjoying them so far! I can't understand people - sometimes it seems that no matter what you do, someone will be negative or criticise it, or tell you why you shouldn't be doing it. Sod 'em, Richard! You've come up with a good idea and you're getting out there and doing it (unlike the critical couch potatoes). Looking forward to the rest of the Sussex Border Walk!

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much Natasha. Yes, I cannot understand the negative comments and thumbs down, but then people are people and some never seem to be happy. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@leighlawson4854]

Loved the suitably atmospheric 'tea-dance' music for your Marine Gardens sequence. You had me waltzing round the kitchen!

[@RichardVobes]

That would have been fun to see, Leigh. :)

[@Caroline604]

Richard you seem to have your mojo back! This new 'SuBo' (Sussex border) jaunt has re-energised you after feeling a bit down when you did that industrial walk last week. The quality of your programmes is superb both in content and filming. Everyday I think "what's Richard going to show us today?" Thank you for all the effort and enthusiasm you put into this series.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much, Caroline. I have a new purpose to take my mind of the nutty restrictions and whatnot from the Government.

[@felicityjones451]

Thanks Richard for another great video. The music on the soundtrack is a lovely touch and works well.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much. I do my best and I am glad you enjoy it.

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

You're doing a great job. I look forward to each episode.

[@RichardVobes]

Thank you very much!

[@MrGreatplum]

What an enjoyable series this is turning out to be! One day, architects will realise that if you render the outside of new buildings that they always end up streaky and discoloured!

[@RichardVobes]

I am surprised they don't know that - I saw how stained they were when editing and thought, blimey they haven't weathered at all well.

[@caveweta]

Thanks Richard, For the shout-out. I recall there may have been swimming clubs in the evenings that met at the Heene Rd pools. Us kids lived in Lancing and went to Irene Ave primary school. Once a week we went on a bus to Heene Rd to learn to swim. I recall the water was warm and you always smelled of chlorine when you got back to school. Really enjoying these slices of life in England.

[@RichardVobes]

I really appreciate the extra information. Another hidden gem that has gone. Cheers, Cave.

[@dcarbs2979]

@@RichardVobes The flats that replaced it only opened last year. I walked past it on the way to a course just before disease hit, without knowledge of the previous building. Final touches of construction were happening.

[@delphinium5555]

I grew up in a now demolished house in Ariadne Road just near to the Heene Baths and also learned to swim there. I remember the two swimming pools within, one of which was mostly covered over for sports if i remember correctly? The changing cubicles were around the edge of the pool. We also attended the Swimming Club there. Somewhere I have a newspaper clip snapped as the Baths closed, I believe it was about 1967.

[@lindakane4717]

Lovely. I visited Marine Gardens with friends on a regular basis when lockdown 1 eased. So beautifully cared for now by a band of volunteers alongside Worthing Council gardens dept. The cafe was open for tea/coffee and home made cake . Sitting in the sun . I wonder how many people have done the same since the gardens were created in 1930?

[@RichardVobes]

Generations of people must have sat there in the sun watching the bowls eating copious slices of cake! Thanks, Linda.

[@denniskavanagh3075]

Thank you Richard for braving what looks like a wet, windy cold day to continue your walk. It was sad to see that the "pitch and put" was no longer in Marine Gardens, it was always very popular.

[@RichardVobes]

I used to love playing the pitch and put.

[@philjones6025]

@@RichardVobes The 18 hole putting green was open all this year. The green is a concession and was unfortunately closed last year due to ill health. its never been a "pitch" just a putt! it will be open again CV19 permitting easter time!

[@CharlieCooper3101]

How lovely the gardens look and lovely colourful flowers too Richard, I like the beach huts too, whenever I goto Portsmouth and see the beach huts, I've always wanted one, so I can sit in them and enjoy the sea views while relaxing. Some lovely old photos from other viewers aswell. Some lovely buildings too. I really like the music in this too. Very good Richard.

[@RichardVobes]

It's bursting with flowers int he spring.

[@YamDrumGun]

keep up the great work Richard , i really enjoy watching your videos

[@martinkavanagh196]

I love the beach huts too - a trysting place from many years distant on a different shore. Good to see the "Vobe-trotter" is getting plenty of comforting use eh.

[@RichardVobes]

Loving the van - especially for escaping the rain!

[@jackielowe7377]

I'm going to say a word for the new development. I can see that it is styled as the prows of two ocean liners pointing out to sea which is quite cool and at the back the styling seems to borrow from the beach huts with the coloured cladding. In the centre is a communal courtyard which should help with community. Of course I don't know what was there before, and I couldn't afford to live in them, but many obviously do and I hope are delighted with their homes.

[@RichardVobes]

It's just a shame they are weathering so badly, Jackie. I do understand that we cannot hold on to the past for ever.

[@ramibu239]

Marine Gardens looked a lovely place. So nice that you would/could take your Dad there!😊 Too bad about the baths - what a gorgeous building it was!!!😕 Btw....lovely to still see the Ostpeospernuns (African Daisy), Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker), & Roses still blooming!!!! All of mine have already froze & died back for the year!🌼🌹🌸

[@RichardVobes]

I have some red hot pokers, but they go well before June!

[@ramibu239]

@@RichardVobes really?! Wow! Mine bloom usually up until at least September. Once we get our 1st hard freeze (which ours came around the 1st of Oct this year) the leaves start looking pretty gucky & I'll cut them back for the year. I guess because of that early hard freeze, we did end up w/ quite a few rose hips this year (as we still had a lot of roses in bloom then). So I am hesitant about pruning up the roses just so it'll give us some Winter interest w/ the little red & orange seed pods (+ they're good for the birds!). Usually I'll trim them up a little just to take some extra weight off branches to prevent possible ice damage. Then I give them a 2nd hard prune in late Winter/early Spring like one should.

[@philjones6025]

We have planted many thousands of bulbs over that last 2 months ready for next year in MG!! They are coming up already!! (Friend of marine Gardens volunteer)

[@shirleylynch4420]

Loved the gardens. The pavilion was beautiful and stood out in its surroundings. Great music . Thank you so much. You are the hi-light of my mornings.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks Shirley. Very kind of you to say so.

[@NootkaSeaGlass]

Thoroughly enjoying your channel!

[@RichardVobes]

Awesome, thank you!

[@ducktack1]

The small road where you stopped and spoke about 'Baloos' was indeed there as a lovely little tea room and before that it was Sea Place Stores' which was a small general grocery shop for sweets, inflatables and other bits and pieces with Richard the owner employing some of the prettiest girls around. Behind the aforementioned chandlers (owned by a lovely guy called Dave) just behind the wall (which was actually rebuilt but with most of the original stones) was the massive boat park which land was also rented and shared by Sussex Windsurfing and had the largest number of windsurfers in the country at the time with an absolutely thriving membership all of a like mind and enjoying time on the water followed by many beers in the George pub (now the Toby Carvery). Many trips to Lanzarote were had with numbers often exceeding 20. Where the toilet now stands on it's own (and has never actually been open as far as I know) is where the original yacht club was until it was moved a few hundred feet to the west, but sadly lacks soul, unlike the old one which used to host Dart (catamaran) National events over weekends where they would erect massive marques towards the sea with live bands etc and a few hundred people would attend. We'd all get completely drunk and even then sleep in our cars or camp in the boatyard with many 'naughty things' ensuing. Great times, sadly gone forever with Goring becoming progressively overdeveloped and the building now erected on that land already looks very old and stained after only 8 years and unfortunately has a few (undesirables) due to Gov policy but at least we still have the Greensward.............at the moment! Keep up the good work, it's always lovely to learn the history of where we live and what things were like in a more easy going time.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much Gary for sharing the local information and your youthful fun. I agree the new builds are weathering badly. I am sure someone could have told them that at the time, but these architects and planners don't seem to listen.

[@delphinium5555]

I remember the buildings there too.

[@bullettube9863]

What a nice looking garden surrounding the Tea Room! My flowers have all died and are covered with snow now. I've heard that the climate in the south of England is mild, but palm trees? They look like palmetto palms like they have in South Carolina. But there is also a palm called Fan palm, a Mediterranean variety so maybe that is what they are. I love the houses and apartments with their balconies and big windows looking out over the water. The area looks like a nice place to visit and live all year round.

[@RichardVobes]

I never understood why they put palm trees on the front. I think it is to make the plant look exotic!

[@bullettube9863]

@@RichardVobes Yes definitely! I just watched a video about lost railroads of the south and it stated that the company emphasized the exotic nature of the southern coast. They planted palm trees to reinforce the view that Cornwall was the Monte Carlo of England! Then there is the fact that Cornwall and England's southern coast has the Gulf Stream brushing the coast making the climate a lot milder then it would be otherwise. I never knew that southern England is a higher latitude then New York city! I got this imfo from the "Lost In The Pond" channel.

[@tay7366]

Come back to the south west this summer. You must visit Horner woods near porlock it’s so beautiful with waterfalls and rivers

[@RichardVobes]

I will , have no fear!

[@juneprince-iles8390]

Your comment brought back happy memories of holidays at Burrowhayes Farm near Porlock, and visits to Watersmeet & Linton & Lynmouth ! Wonderful places to explore on Exmoor.

[@clivewaterfall7732]

Happy memories as a child of days by the sea side in the late 1960’s picnicking and playing games on the greensward at Goring, chasing rats 😳 in the bushes between the sward and the road and walking along past the sailing club to the little shop that Gary Churchill mentioned to buy ice creams. Hadn’t realised that the shop had gone 😢

[@RichardVobes]

So many changes

[@jeanmann6985]

Enjoying these videos and looking forward to seeing how this series progresses. I do think Sussex is a very underrated county although I know East Sussex best, Camber Sands round to Eastbourne. I might be waiting a while for you to circumnavigate Sussex in a clockwise direction and get that far. 😂👍

[@RichardVobes]

I do hope I won't be too long to get to your part of the world.

[@jeanblemings5352]

Charming soundtrack to the section in the public gardens. I guess as you get to more open areas your progress may speed up but unlikely to happen anytime soon on south coast as its one massive conurbarion stuffed full of history and interest around every corner!

[@RichardVobes]

Yes, it is going to be a long journey, but I am in no hurry.

[@acerone10]

Love these walks. IF. I was to come to England, This would be a good place to start. Happy Holidays from Ohio.

[@RichardVobes]

Happy holidays!

[@tensils]

Excellent !

[@stuartchatfield7470]

Mary’s lovely teal jumper really goes really well with your tweed jacket - wouldn’t mind one to go with mine! You two need to team up to add to the BE merchandise!

[@RichardVobes]

Ah yes, good plan. Will have to come up with a designer label! :)

[@robertbray8590]

You doing good job. Can see why you get a bit up set when the pull down the old and put up stack and rack in the place. Guess in a 100 hour or less there be a another person filming that get up set when the pull them down and put up there time of a stack and rack.

[@RichardVobes]

Yes indeed. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.

[@john07973]

At 11 mins are you the other side of the road from the yard (or Sailing Club ) where dinghies are ? I think on the flat side there used to be public toilets and a shop selling ice creams etc. As a kid from early 60's we used to go to further west and park in the then gravel car park down a slope (with cold water tap) from the promenade. I think today the fishermen sell their catch nearby and it's the cordoned off area for jet skis. Happy memories

[@alanhodges5942]

Until the 1980s or thereabouts, there was on the foreshore near here a notice which said "This space is appointed for the delivery of sermons. Thos. Foorde, Town Clerk". I wonder if any of your viewers recall being preached to here.

[@delphinium5555]

I seem to remember that!

[@Stringtrees]

I love the beach huts though I have never experienced what it is like to have one. I wonder if they exists in other European countries. That modern-ish block at the end didn't look too bad to begin with with a kind of Art Deco look but there are signs of weathering and I wonder what it will look like in the future. I bet the flats cost a fortune. A nice spot to live in though as it is always nice to stare out to sea and daydream. My idea of a perfect waste of time.

[@RichardVobes]

The strains on the buildings did surprise me as I filmed them. Nothing new seems to last the way the old builders used to build.

[@scotthadley8049]

Is it really warm enough for palms there I knew the coast to be mild compared to the rest of the loudmouth but still I did not expect palms no way I could that be done where I live

[@johnbyrne2756]

BEACH HUT BLUES (verse 1 of 6) Coloured bright the little homes that beaches do adorn Wait patiently all winter long neglected and forlorn Old rusting padlock holds the fort till springtime's warmth is born And they return with brush and paint to breathe life into beach huts quaint JB20

[@RichardVobes]

And so true! :)

[@johnbyrne2756]

Richard allow me to do a little advert for 'our' stretch which you will reach shortly -- Selsey to West Wittering. Selsey has brand new lifeboat stn which replaced the famous off shore one along steel walkway. Also once home to Sir Patrick Moore whose Blue Plaque now adorns ex-residence in West Street. Bracklesham Bay is home to famous wrecksite of the Hazardous 1720 ish. East Wittering stretcth was used for D Day landing practice 75 years ago and finally the beautiful sands at West Wittering. There's much more but no room here... Good luck. J

[@joannajones4841]

Has anyone visited or have any information on the ancient fig gardens on South street Tarring?

[@RichardVobes]

There is this from History Online: Figs are said to have been introduced to West Tarring by St. Richard of Chichester when he was living at the rectory in the mid 13th century; (fn. 163) another version of the story mentions St. Thomas Becket, (fn. 164) who, however, cannot be proved to have visited Tarring at all. (fn. 165) A fig orchard of ¾ a. south of the Old Palace was planted in 1745 with cuttings from the palace garden, and by 1830 contained 100 trees which produced 2,000 dozen figs annually. (fn. 166) It was laid out with walks, (fn. 167) and by 1874 was much visited from Worthing, teas being provided by 1895. (fn. 168) In 1953 there were still c. 200 trees fit to bear fruit, (fn. 169) and many survived in 1978. In 1855 there was apparently one other market-gardener in the parish and in 1862 there were two. (fn. 170) A nursery at Salvington in 1869 included pleasure grounds, (fn. 171) and in 1875 there were two large market-gardens there. (fn. 172) By 1882 6 market-gardens, besides the fig orchard, were listed at West Tarring. (fn. 173) The West Tarring, Salvington, and Durrington Cottagers' and Gardeners' Horticultural Society held shows at Tarring in the 1890s. (fn. 174) Market-gardens and glass-houses continued to be a principal land use in West Tarring and Salvington well into the 20th century.

[@joannajones4841]

@@RichardVobes Fascinating, Thank you, as you say in your videos...more disappearing history.

[@philjones6025]

Great video Richard. Following all the planting we have been doing in Marine Gardens, you will have to revisit when they and in full bloom (and it's not raining). Follow Friends of marine gardens on Facebook facebook.com/FOMGW

[@paulakehurstsr4623]

Thanks for a another interesting video. Just love the music can’t place it. Could you tell me what it is? I’ll be following you on your daily border walks. From Cuckfield originally and unfortunately that’s a little to far afield for you during this time. Or is it?

[@RichardVobes]

All the music I use is production music written for the video industry. I do mean to make a video around Cuckfield - at some point!

[@thisandthat849]

Happy American Thanksgiving, Richard! Join us in spirit as we celebrate the first daring pilgrims who left England to seek better weather here in the New World! Oh, wait...maybe it was more to do with religious persecution or something like that. Anyway, the weather here in Arizona is amazing! We'll send some sunny weather in spirit!

[@RichardVobes]

It's been grim here recently - could do with some nice weather. Happy Holidays

[@Mithilesh_R]

Richard sir... were you playing cricket when you were kid..? Hope you know the rules of cricket.

[@RichardVobes]

Never played Cricket.

[@MrNas42]

I very much dislike swimming and I was forced to try and learn to swim in those old Heene Baths - it didn't work. They were demolished and replaced first by an insurance building (later Southern Water's HQ) and then the site redeveloped again into retirement flats. I've spent many an hour on the crazy golf course in Marine Gardens. The old café/tearoom/shop at the southern end of Sea Place was only demolished with the past 10 years. Such an iconic part of Goring and the source of endless buckets and spades!

[@RichardVobes]

It was a shame to demolish the local seaside shop. It seems like the story of the little man being flatted by the giants again.