# Offington

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**Offington** is a neighbourhood of [Worthing](/source/Worthing), and a [ward](/source/Ward_(electoral_subdivision)) in the borough of [Worthing](/source/Worthing_(district)) in [West Sussex](/source/West_Sussex), England. It lies on the A2031 road 1.6 miles (2.5 km) northwest of the town centre.

Today, the area is a residential suburb of Worthing. Offington was part of the parish of [Broadwater](/source/Broadwater,_West_Sussex) and became part of the borough of Worthing in 1902. It is possibly best known for its large manor house, which survived from medieval times to the 1960s

## Etymology

Offington means Offa's farmstead.[1] Offington's name is of [Old English](/source/Old_English) origin. The name 'Offa' would have been relatively common in the Saxon era and there is no evidence to suggest that the name is derived from [King Offa](/source/King_Offa) of Mercia, although it is possible that Offa took control over the [Kingdom of Sussex](/source/Kingdom_of_Sussex) in the eighth century. In 1086, the [Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book) the settlement was recorded as *Ofintune* in the ancient [hundred](/source/Hundred_(county_division)) of [Steyning](/source/Steyning) in the Rape of [Bramber](/source/Rape_of_Bramber).[2]

## History

In the mid-eleventh century, Offington was held by [Godwin, Earl of Wessex](/source/Godwin,_Earl_of_Wessex).[3] Following the successful Norman invasion of 1066, Offington, along with neighbouring settlements continued as part of the [rape of Bramber](/source/Rape_of_Bramber).[2]

Offington Manor House was apparently recorded in 1357.[4] By the mid 15th century there was a large complex of buildings including at least one courtyard, a chapel, a guest-house, and a gate-house. Offington was home to [Thomas West, 8th Baron De La Warr](/source/Thomas_West,_8th_Baron_De_La_Warr) and his son [Thomas West, 9th Baron De La Warr](/source/Thomas_West,_9th_Baron_De_La_Warr). The 8th Baron West was also buried in [Broadwater's Parish Church](/source/Broadwater_Church). In the 1850s, Thomas Gaisford extended the house further, including a new library and a chapel. The chapel became Worthing's chief place of [Roman Catholic](/source/Roman_Catholic) worship until the building of Worthing first Catholic church, [St Mary of the Angels](/source/St_Mary_of_the_Angels,_Worthing).[5]

There is a local legend that a tunnel containing buried treasure led from Offington House to the ancient hill fort of [Cissbury](/source/Cissbury) to the north and was protected by a serpent.[6]

The former outbuilding of Offington Manor, the Old Brewhouse in Hall Close is grade II listed.[7] Said to date from 1150, the present structure is probably mainly 16th-17th century. Also the 18th century former stables of Offington Hall remain and are grade II listed.[7] They were known as Offington Hall Riding School in Hall Avenue but have now been converted into living accommodation and are owned by the Offington Park Club.

## References

1. Glover, Judith (1997), Sussex Place-Names: Their Origins and Meanings Countryside Books ISBN 978-1-85306-484-5

1. [Open Domesday Online: Offington](http://opendomesday.org/place/TQ1305/offington/)

1. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18219](http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18219) Date accessed: 24 May 2009

1. [A History of the Castles, Mansions, and Manors of Western Sussex](https://books.google.com/books?id=CQMIAAAAQAAJ&dq=History+of+Parliament+Andrew+Peverel&pg=PA52), by Dudley George Cary Elwes, pub. 1876, p. 52.

1. ["Broadwater | British History Online"](http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18219)

1. Simpson, Jacqueline, "Folklore of Sussex" (2002) Tempus ISBN 978-0-7524-2469-9

1. ["Worthing Borough Council - Listed Building Register"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101004005927/http://www.worthing.gov.uk/worthings%2Dservices/planningandbuildingcontrol/planningpolicy/conservationareasandlistedbuildingregister/listedbuildingregister/). Archived from [the original](http://www.worthing.gov.uk/worthings-services/planningandbuildingcontrol/planningpolicy/conservationareasandlistedbuildingregister/listedbuildingregister/) on October 4, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2009.

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