SHOREHAM, NEW (St. Mary), a borough, market-town, sea-port, and parish, in the union of Steyning, hundred of Fishergate, rape of Bramber, W. division of Sussex, 23 miles (E.) from Chichester, and 56 (S. by W.) from London; the parish containing 1998 inhabitants. This place is indebted for its origin to the decay of Old Shoreham, formerly a town of importance; and is remarkable for having been built on the spot where Ælla the Saxon landed with supplies from Germany, in aid of his countrymen Hengist and Horsa. It is situated on the road between Brighton and Worthing, and about one mile from the English Channel, on the river Adur. Across this river is a suspension-bridge, at the western entrance into the town, built at the expense of the Duke of Norfolk, and by which the distance between Shoreham and Worthing has been reduced two miles. About six acres of land have been laid out by Mr. Balley as a public promenade, which is much frequented by visiters from Brighton and Worthing; a Swiss cottage has been erected, containing an assembly and concert room and a theatre, and in the grounds is a sheet of water, on which is a small steamer. Shoreham is noted for its ship-building, in which above 100 men are generally employed; and several vessels of more than 500 tons, remarkable for swiftness of sailing, have been launched here. The trade of the port has of late rapidly increased, and its revenue, within the last 20 years, has been quintupled. The harbour, which is very commodious, in spring tides has about nineteen feet of water, and in common ones about fourteen, with not more than three feet at ebb; it was constructed in 1816, by subscription on shares, and has proved a profitable undertaking. The river runs by the side of the town, parallel to the sea, with which it communicates on the east, thus forming the harbour. The imports consist principally of timber, deals, merchandise from France, wine, spirits, coal, cheese and butter from Holland, &c.: much oak-timber is exported. Shoreham has been approved as a warehousing port for West India, Mediterranean, and other produce, for the reception of which large warehouses have been built. The custom-house, erected in 1830, under the direction of Mr. Sydney Smirke, is an elegant building in the Grecian style, situated in the centre of the town. A branch of the London and Brighton railway to this place was completed at an expense of £150,000, and opened to the public in May, 1840. An extension to Worthing, Arundel, and Chichester was opened in June 1846; it passes over the streets of the town by four bridges, and over the river Adur by a viaduct 550 yards long. Cement manufactories have been established. A market for corn is held every fortnight, and a fair on July 25th.
Shoreham is a borough by prescription, and is governed by a high constable appointed by the lord of the manor. It has sent two members to parliament since the first of Edward I.; the right of election is in the inhabitants paying scot and lot, and the freeholders of the rape of Bramber, and the high constable is returning officer. At the election in 1791, a majority of the voters having formed themselves into a society called the Christian Club, the real object of which was to sell their votes to the best bidder, an act of parliament was passed disfranchising every member of the association, and extending the votes to the whole rape of Bramber. The living is a discharged vicarage, annexed to that of Old Shoreham, and valued in the king's books at £6. 1. 8. The church is an extremely interesting specimen of Norman architecture, with a tower rising from the intersection of the transepts and nave, and contains numerous ancient monuments, among which are some to the Hooper family; it was new pewed in 1829, when 589 additional sittings were obtained, of which 465 are free. The Independents and Wesleyans have each a place of worship. There were anciently a priory for Carmelites, or White friars, founded by Sir John Mowbray, Knt.; and an hospital dedicated to St. James.
