Worth Park
A unique Victorian Garden and Landscape
Information for Volunteers
Contents
Page No.
1. History of Worth Park
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2. What is the Worth Park Project?
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3. Volunteering at Worth Park
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4. Who’s who at Worth Park
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5. How to get here
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1. History of Worth Park
Worth Park was once part of the huge and ancient Worth Forest. It dates back to at
least 1326, but there is archaeological evidence of human activity here in Mesolithic
times 10,000 years ago. It was used for hunting deer but there was also a large iron
industry in this area, including both smelting and manufacturing. Cannon were made
nearby for Henry VIII.
Over the years the forest was divided up into smaller and smaller areas and enclosed
by fencing. The trees were gradually cleared to make way for farming, and by late
mediaeval times Park Farm had been established in the area where the flats now
stand.
The farm was purchased by wealthy London merchant Abraham Montefiore in 1816
and was enlarged and modernised as a family home and base for hunting. It burned
down in 1847 when his son Joseph owned the estate and a brick built mansion was
constructed in its place.
Worth Park Mansion circa 1875
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After the death of Joseph in 1880 the mansion was doubled in size by his wife
Henrietta and their son Francis, and it is this mansion which we usually see in old
photographs of the building. It was considered to be intensely luxurious, and even
the servants had their own ballroom, billiard room and theatre.
The family also employed famous Victorian garden designers James Pulham and
Son to construct the formal gardens and to landscape the parkland.
Pulham and Son specialised in making decorative garden features from terracotta.
These ranged from garden ornaments such as urns to large rock gardens, follies and
grottos. These were made from a very fine artificial stone known as Pulhamite.
It is from this era that the formal layout of the current Worth Park originates. Although
some of Pulham and Son’s work survives elsewhere (including the royal residences
of Sandringham and Buckingham Palace) Worth Park remains one of their most
complete and best preserved landscapes.
The fountain, rockery and lake islands are designated as Grade II Listed Buildings.
Pulhamite rock and lake islands
The park was a social hub for many decades and activities including balls and
suppers, flower shows, cricket, horse riding and cycling took place in the house and
grounds. It also saw some use by cavalry officers during World War One.
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However, on the death of Henrietta Montefiore in 1915 the estate was broken up and
the house and contents sold. The house and gardens were bought by a school, who
changed the name from Worth Park to that of their previous school premises Milton
Mount College.
During the second World War the house was commandeered by the War Office, the
school evacuated and the 2nd Artillery Regiment of Newfoundland, from Canada,
took up residence for the duration of the war.
In 1946, Milton Mount College returned to Worth Park but things were never quite the
same again. As a result of new building in the area and the rising costs of
maintenance the school closed in 1960 and the house and grounds were sold to
Crawley Urban District Council in 1963 for building development.
The council demolished the house in 1968 and built the current block of flats in its
place, designed to create homes for the elderly whilst preserving the view for its
residents. This protected the landscape of the park from any new building which
would otherwise have been inevitable.
The former stable block, originally built in 1882, had its name changed to Ridley’s
Court and residential accommodation was added on the upper floor. It is now a
Grade II listed building.
Ridleys Court 1886
Ridleys Court during restoration 2014
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In 2012 Crawley Borough Council was granted funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund
to restore the park to its former glory.
Much of the lower floor of Ridley’s Court is now a visitor centre including community
rooms, an office and interpretation galleries. The rooms have been named after the
Montefiore and Pulham families in recognition of their huge contribution to the
landscape we all enjoy today.
The Balustrade and Italian Terrace – December 2013
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2.
What is the Worth Park Project?
In 2011 Crawley Borough Council were awarded £2.42 million by the Heritage Lottery
Fund’s Big Lottery Fund to restore Worth Park in Crawley to its former Victorian
glory. Works have included restoring the stonework and lake, refurbishing Ridley’s
Court, improving the paths and new planting.
The Heritage Lottery Fund have also provided funds which will be used to help
volunteers to revitalise the park through organising a series of events and activities.
Volunteers have already played a highly significant role in the development of the
park.
With the completion of Ridley’s Court and other works we are now able to enter into
the next phase of our Heritage Lottery Fund project and support volunteers on a
number of new initiatives.
Hedgerow Planting April 2014
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3.
Volunteering at Worth Park
Worth Park Needs You!
Are you fascinated by history and heritage, do you love gardening, or are good at
organising? Do you have a few hours to spare occasionally? If so, Worth Park
needs your skills to help regenerate the park and transform it into a vibrant centre for
leisure, wildlife, learning and heritage.
Worth Park Visitor Centre, based at Ridley's Court, is now complete and will provide
comfortable rooms for both interpretation and general use by the community,
including a kitchen.
There are also new toilets, ample storage and an office where both the Participation
Officer and a new gardening team for the park including a Head Gardener and an
apprentice will be based.
The park itself, originally laid out by celebrated Victorian garden designers Pulham
and Son, is being fully refurbished and improvements include better paths and
access, the restoration of stonework and the restoration of the lake.
It is a park to be proud of.
Can you help?
There are three volunteering areas:

Green Team

History and Heritage Team

Events Team
Date for the diary: Saturday 10 January – Happy New Year Worth Park
Orientation and planning day
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Worth Park Green Team
The Worth Park Green Team is for everyone interested in gardening and
conservation. Building on the things our volunteers have supported in the past, the
Green Team activities may include:

Improving wildlife habitats

Helping with gardening and flowerbed maintenance

Supporting or leading tours of the lake and other areas
Bulb planting November 2013
Dates for your diary now:

Thursday 30 October from 10:00 til 12:00: Family bulb planting morning

Monday 1 December from 10:00 til 12:00 Hedge planting

Saturday 10 January 2015 – Happy New Year Worth Park: orientation and
planning day
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Worth Park History and Heritage Team
The History and Heritage Team is for anyone interested in delving into the
undiscovered and fascinating history of Worth Park. It is also for you if you would
like to share knowledge about the park with others, perhaps working occasionally in
the Visitor Centre in our interpretation rooms.
History and Heritage Team activities may include:

Planning displays in the gallery and informing visitors about the park

Organising heritage tours and trails

Carrying out research
Worth Park Archaeology Day – July 2014
Dates for your diary now:

Worth Park exhibition open days November

U3A talk Friday 9 January 2015

Saturday 10 January 2015 – Happy New Year Worth Park: orientation and
planning day
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Worth Park Events Team
If you love working with people of all ages or have particular skills you would like to
share then the Events Team could be for you. Activities could include:

Helping plan events and trails

Working at events to share your skills and help visitors enjoy themselves

Helping support education visits
“Spring Tweet” bird box making Feb 2014
Dates for your diary now:

Big Draw – Sunday 26 October

Worth Park Winter Event - Sunday 7 December

Saturday 10 January 2015 – Happy New Year Worth Park: orientation and
planning day

Dance, drama and music event summer 2015
Can I volunteer for more than one team?
Yes, we would be delighted.
How do I find out more? Please complete a volunteer application form or contact
Edwina on 01293 438 027 or [email protected]. You can also call in
to the Garden Office here at the Visitor Centre during opening hours.
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How else can I volunteer in Worth Park?
There are other groups operating in the park who would welcome your support.

Worth Park Friends is a friendly group which meets once a month for talks
and outings. Members often support activities in the park. For details see
their website on www.worthparkfriends.org

Crawley Croquet Club is a sports club but its members regularly help
enliven the park with courses and fun days. For details see their website
www.crawleycroquetclub.org.uk
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4.
Who’s Who at Worth Park?
Worth Park is owned and managed by Crawley Borough Council. Here are some of
the CBC staff you may meet around the park.
Christine Aldous
Parks and Conservation Manager
[email protected]
01293 438419
Christine is responsible for the strategic development and
day to day management of the park.
Edwina Livesey
Participation Officer
[email protected]
01293 438027
Edwina is responsible for ensuring volunteers and others in
the community play a full role in the development of the
park.
Please contact Edwina in the first instance regarding any aspect of volunteering in
Worth Park.
Sam Worsey
Head Gardener
[email protected]
07884267278
Sam is responsible for the planting and maintenance of the
park, and for supporting volunteers in gardening activities
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Ruth Growney
Let’s FACE it Co-ordinator
[email protected]
01293 438926
www.crawley.gov.uk/FACE
Ruth coordinates the council’s environmental volunteering
initiative across the town.
Christian Threader
Team Leader – High Quality Horticulture
[email protected]
07787556407
Christian leads a team of gardeners who work across
Crawley to manage our high profile parks and green spaces.
Janet Rose
Conservation Officer
[email protected]
007971026961
Janet is responsible for raising awareness of and protecting
wildlife and the natural environment across Crawley
George Frame and Greg Sweeney (pictured)
Arboricultural Officers
[email protected]
[email protected]
01293 438774 (Contact Centre at Crawley Borough Council)
Greg and George care for and protect the town’s trees
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5.
How to get to Worth Park
Worth Park is situated in the neighbourhood of Pound Hill in Crawley. The formal
gardens and the visitor centre at Ridleys Court are at the top of Milton Mount Avenue
with the lake and woodland adjacent to Somerville Drive.
Lake and
Woodland
Formal
Gardens
Visitor
Centre
Worth Park can be reached on public transport by Metrobus no. 4 or 5 – for timetable
and stopping points visit www.metrobus.co.uk . There is ample cycle and car
parking. The main car park is at the end of Milton Mount Avenue, the post code for
SatNav is RH10 3DU.
An access guide to Worth Park is available online at:
www.disabledgo.com/access-guide/crawley-borough-council/worth-park-gardens
This is a Heritage Lottery Funded project and access is important to us. If you are
keen to volunteer but would have difficulty getting to the park for any reason, please
contact the Participation Officer – we may be able to help.
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