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History of Muntham Court

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crematorium@worthing.gov.uk

A Brief History of Muntham Court and Worthing Crematorium

"Within Here is Grace and Peace" - was a quote on a plaque originally above the north entrance to the house.

It is believed that the first house was built on the site in 1371, by Thomas De Muntham and it passed through various families until 1743 when it was sold to Anthony Browne, Viscount Montague. It is understood that he commissioned Joseph Merlott to build a new house, in red brick, as a hunting lodge. The Viscount was also responsible for the great plantations and improved water supply.

In 1765 the house was acquired by William Frankland, a retired East India Merchant. He enlarged the house and on completion it consisted of two storeys, with eleven bays and a parapet flanked by higher wings.

Frankland specialised in the invention of mechanical devices, and at the time of his death in 1805 the house contained the most delicate and complicated contrivances for turning medals of hardwood and executing heads and figurines upon them. Musical instruments played by machinery, together with optical and electrical appliances. All these were sold following his demise, but Muntham remained in the Frankland family until the death of Captain Frankland in 1826.

The estate was probably at its greatest during the 1800's, and in 1835 it covered 1860 acres. It stretched on both sides of the London Road (now the A24) from Findon to Washington. Within the boundaries of the estate at this time was the house with its Gothic entrance lodges, stables, lighthouse, ice house and pleasure grounds with formal and crown gardens, and long Yew walks. To the north was a dovecote, and to the west a noble obelisk, windmill and wellhouse. The house was surrounded by a beautiful undulating timer park containing many other walks, a Dower House and the farms of Cobden, Muntham, North and North End.

In 1850 the house and grounds were purchased by Harriet Thynne, Dowager Marchioness of Bath. She made significant changes, and Henry Woodyer was commissioned to completely re-design the house in the Elizabethan or Jacobean style. The estate remained in the family until the death of Colonel Thynne in 1957. Early in the 1960's the house was demolished and plans were put in hand to build a crematorium on the site. However, this was not possible and it was eventually erected where the tennis courts once stood. The building was finally opened in 1968.

Since then the crematorium has extended its services, and the grounds are gradually being deveIoped into a wildlife sanctuary as a lasting memorial to those whose services have taken place over the years.

All that now remains of this magnificent house is the terrace with its monogrammed waIl and cobbled approach to the main entrance, together with the ice house, wellhouse and family burial ground. The north lodge and pigeon house also still exist, both now converted into private dwellings.

A sad reminder of the former beauty of Muntham Court is the Judas Tree reputed to be the both the oldest and largest in Europe - which stands forlorn and neglected at the northern approach to this once great house. Despite the neglect the tree still blooms each year displaying an abundance of pink flowers.

The foregoing information is taken from a book entitled: "The Muntham Court Estate and Worthing Crematorium". Copies of the book are available from Worthing Crematorium.

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