Beach House Park, Worthing

Beach House, a Grade II*-listed Regency-style villa, was built in about 1820 by John Rebecca. It faced the beach on the English Channel coast, and its grounds extended northwards as far as the east–west Lyndhurst Road. In December 1922, Worthing Borough Council bought a section of these grounds (covering between Brighton Road to the south and Lyndhurst Road to the north) for the benefit of the public. Formal gardens were laid out, and the park opened in early 1924. The south (Brighton Road) end of the park is planted with shrubs, flowers and trees, while the northern section is given over to bowling greens, tennis courts and associated buildings. Trees run down the eastern and western boundaries, and surround the war pigeon memorial in the centre. The London Plane tree (Platanus × hispanica) is the predominant species; many were planted in 1992. There are also Cappadocian Maples (Acer cappadocicum). Three tennis courts, toilets, a park attendant's office, changing rooms and extra-large outdoor chessboards are also available. but reopened—only to be destroyed by another fire three months later. ==Bowls==

's former headquarters face Lyndhurst Road. Worthing Bowling Club was established in 1907 and was originally based at Homefield Park—the site of the town's only bowling green. In 1924, when Beach House Park's first two greens opened, the club moved there. By 1938, eight clubs had been founded in the park, and a pavilion had been built. All five greens have automatic irrigation facilities. , four clubs are based at the park. ==Pigeon memorial==

In the centre of the formal gardens, there is a memorial to war pigeons: birds used during World War II to carry messages, explosives and other items, in some cases on secret missions. Described as "splendidly conceived and charming", The "Warrior Birds" memorial was promoted and commissioned by actress Nancy Price and members of the People's Theatre in London. Local sculptor Leslie Sharp started work on the memorial in 1949, and it was unveiled on 27 July 1951 by the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton. A metal panel next to the entrance gate in the fence repeats most of the details from the first stone. The stones, which were quarried in the Forest of Dean, were refurbished and repainted in 1999, and Worthing Borough Council continues to maintain the memorial. ==References==