Editing Lancing, West Sussex

{{Short description|Village and parish in West Sussex, England}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Lancing
| country = England
| region = South East England
| static_image_name = Lancing_College_Chapel,_April_2015.jpg
| static_image_caption = Lancing College Chapel
| area_footnotes = <ref name="WSCC2001">{{cite web |url= http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/communityandliving/census2001/pop_parish_summary.pdf |title=2001 Census: West Sussex – Population by Parish |publisher=West Sussex County Council |access-date=22 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110608075926/http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/communityandliving/census2001/pop_parish_summary.pdf |archive-date= 8 June 2011 }}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 14.14
| population = 18,810
| population_ref = (Civil Parish 2011)<ref name=ONS>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Key Statistics; Quick Statistics: Population Density] {{Webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ |date=11 February 2003 }} [[United Kingdom Census 2011]] ''[[Office for National Statistics]]'' Retrieved 21 November 2013</ref>
| label_position = bottom
| os_grid_reference = TQ184049
| coordinates = {{coord|50.832|-0.319|display=inline,title}}
| post_town = LANCING
| postcode_area = BN
| postcode_district = BN15
| dial_code = 01903
| constituency_westminster = [[East Worthing and Shoreham (UK Parliament constituency)|East Worthing and Shoreham]]
| london_distance = {{convert|47|mi}} [[Boxing the compass|N]]
| shire_district = [[Adur (district)|Adur]]
| shire_county = [[West Sussex]]
| website = [https://lancingparishcouncil.gov.uk/ Parish Council]
}}
'''Lancing''' is a large coastal [[village]] and [[civil parish]] in the [[Adur (district)|Adur]] district of [[West Sussex]], England, on the western edge of the Adur Valley. It occupies part of the narrow central section of the Sussex coastal plain between smaller [[Sompting]] to the west, larger [[Shoreham-by-Sea]] to the east, and the parish of [[Coombes]] to the north. Excluding definitive suburbs it may have the largest undivided [[nucleated village|village cluster in Britain]]. However, its economy is commonly analysed as integral to the [[Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton]] conurbation. Its settled area beneath the [[South Downs National Park]] covers {{convert|3.65|sqmi|km2 acre|abbr=off}}, the majority of its land.

The Lancing area is characterised by mid-rise coastal urban homes,  farmland, and wildlife reserves of the northern [[chalk]] [[downland|downs]] and [[River Adur]] estuary. There are non-religious structures that date back to the early 16th century. The population in 2002 was approximately 19,000. In the 2011 [[2011 United Kingdom census|census]] the population for Lancing and [[Coombes]] was recorded as 18,810.

The village was a popular seaside resort in the mid-19th century. Summer tourist hallmarks are the traditional guesthouses on the [[A259 road|A259]] coast road (Brighton Road), as well as a caravan/campsite in Old Salts Farm Road, and beach chair hire and ice cream businesses.

==Location==
There is a [[Pebble|shingle]] beach with good stretches of clean sand at low water. Part of the coast road does not directly adjoin the sea but instead the long and narrow Widewater, a rare [[brackish water|brackish]] [[lagoon]], and the only known location of the probably extinct [[Ivell's sea anemone]]. Immediately north of the developed area is Lancing Ring, a [[Nature Reserve]] in the [[South Downs National Park]]. To the north of that is farmed agricultural downland connected to [[Lancing College]] Farm. On its eastern side is [[Shoreham Airport]], the world's oldest continually operated airport, which was an [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] base in [[World War II]].

The village's boundary with Sompting to the west has historically been along Boundstone Lane, named after the boundstone or [[boundary stone]] that marked the boundary. The stone is now kept at Boundstone Nursery School, Upper Boundstone Lane, having previously been kept at [[Boundstone Community College]], which has now been closed and transformed into [[The Sir Robert Woodard Academy]]. Much of Lancing's northern boundary with the village of [[Coombes]] runs along the Ladywell Stream, a tributary of the [[River Adur]] which runs from the South Downs near to [[Lancing College]]. The source of the Ladywell Stream, the Ladywell Spring, is believed to be an ancient [[holy well]] or sacred stream with pre-Christian significance.<ref>{{cite web |author=The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map |url= http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=10642 |title=Our Lady's Well (Lancing) Ladywell Spring&#93; Holy Well or Sacred Spring : The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map: |publisher=Megalithic.co.uk |access-date=18 October 2010 |archive-date=10 June 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110610094308/http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=10642 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
In 1828, remains of what may be an [[Iron Age]] [[shrine]] and to its west a later [[Romano-British]] temple were found just west of Lancing Ring.<ref>{{cite web |author=Andy Horton |url= http://www.glaucus.org.uk/LancRing.htm |title=Lancing Ring |publisher=Glaucus.org.uk |access-date=18 October 2010 |archive-date=24 November 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101124200529/http://glaucus.org.uk/LancRing.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The Romano-British temple was located within an oval [[temenos]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.romansinsussex.co.uk/level3/search/site_detail.asp?sitenumber=81 |title=Level 3 Search - Home Page |publisher=Romans in Sussex |access-date=18 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20010426072045/http://www.romansinsussex.co.uk/level3/search/site_detail.asp?sitenumber=81 |archive-date=26 April 2001 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and seems to have been built in the 1st century AD.<ref>{{cite web |author=Togodumnus (Kevan White) |url= http://www.roman-britain.org/places/lancing_down.htm |title=Lancing Down Temple |publisher=Roman-britain.org |access-date=18 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101017193802/http://www.roman-britain.org/places/lancing_down.htm |archive-date=17 October 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> A track has existed since [[Celts|Celtic]] [[Britons (historic)|British]] times which ran from [[Chanctonbury Ring]] via [[Cissbury Ring]] to Lancing Ring and from then on to a probable [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] across the [[River Adur]] by the modern Sussex Pad, close to the Old Tollbridge at [[Shoreham-by-Sea|Old Shoreham]]. Among this lowest lying farmland to the east of the village proper are remains of medieval salt workings. The Roman road from ''[[Noviomagus Reginorum]]'' ([[Chichester]])  to ''Novus Portus'' (probably [[Portslade]] near [[Brighton]]) also ran through modern North Lancing (along the Street) down to the ford.

===1800–1945===
Much of the land which is residential was formerly taken up by family-run [[market gardening]] businesses growing fruit or flowers for the [[Brighton]] Market or [[Covent Garden]] in London. The largest businesses were ''Sparks'' who grew fruit such as tomatoes and ''Young's'' which produced carnations. Chrysanthemums were grown by Frank Lisher on land south of The Finches, in a house that he had built. ''Nash's'' fruit growers produced grapes under huge glass [[wiktionary:cloches|cloches]] that could be rolled into place on a rail track.

[[Lancing railway station]] opened with what is now known as the [[West Coastway Line]] in 1849. Between 1908 and 1912 the [[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway]] developed its [[Lancing Carriage Works|railway wagon and carriage works]] in the area that is now the Lancing Business Park, closed in 1965 as part of British Rail's [[Beeching Axe|Beeching Plan of 1963]]. The land on which the works were sited was predominantly turned over to this park, which is also known as the [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] Industrial Estate.

Few buildings pre-dating 1820 are here, however one example is a central former farmhouse, which is now a home named Monks Farm Presbytery on North Road.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1353734|desc=Monks Farm Presbytery|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref>

===Since 1945===
Following [[World War II]] market gardening gave way to housing as diets became more exotic and more difficult to ripen fruits such as grapes began to be imported in greater numbers; this growth was most rapid between 1945 and 1970, with more muted housing growth following on in most years. The village has a large business park, and many smaller local business establishments. In economics and transport, the suburb forms part of the linear and diverse [[Brighton and Hove built-up area|Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation]].

==Etymology==
Lancing probably means ''the people of Wlanc'' or ''people of Hlanc''. Like many places throughout this part of Sussex, Lancing has an ''-ing'' ending, meaning ''people of''. ''Wlanc'' seems to mean proud or imperious, while ''Hlanc'' seems to mean lank or lean.<ref>{{cite web |author=Andy Horton |url= http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Shoreh10.htm |title=Shoreham: Toponymy |publisher=Glaucus.org.uk |date=11 January 1998 |access-date=18 October 2010 |archive-date=11 October 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101011170642/http://glaucus.org.uk/Shoreh10.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The suggestion<ref>{{cite web |author=Andy Horton |url= http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Lancing.htm |title=Lancing, West Sussex, England |publisher=Glaucus.org.uk |access-date=18 October 2010 |archive-date=11 October 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101011153646/http://glaucus.org.uk/Lancing.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> that Lancing takes its name from the Wlencing or Wlenca, the son of the [[South Saxon]] king [[Ælle of Sussex|Ælle]], has been discounted.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk">{{cite web |url= http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18216 |title=Lancing &#124; British History Online |publisher=British-history.ac.uk |access-date=18 October 2010 |archive-date=14 May 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110514002054/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18216 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Landmarks==
[[Shoreham Tollbridge]] is a [[Grade II* listed building]] which was the last toll bridge in use in Sussex. The bridge was in use for motorised traffic until the opening of the A27 flyover over the [[River Adur|Adur]] in 1970. The bridge is in the east of the parish, crossing the Adur into Shoreham.

[[Shoreham Airport]], the oldest licensed airfield in the UK, opened in 1911, is in the parish.

Lancing College, see below, has a predominantly 19th Century chapel that is the largest school chapel in the world with the largest stained-glass rose window in England (completed in 1977).

==Education==
The local senior school, [[The Sir Robert Woodard Academy]], is located just inside the contiguous village of [[Sompting]]. It is a mixed comprehensive of around 1,400 students from ages 11–18. The site was formerly occupied by [[Boundstone Community College]].

In the north-east of the parish on the Downs lies [[Lancing College]], an independent school and major landmark.

There are also three primary schools. Seaside Primary (formerly Freshbrook First School and Thornberry Middle School) is on Freshbrook Road and The Globe Primary (formerly The Willows First School and Oakfield Middle School) is on Irene Avenue. These two schools were formed in 2008-9 when each of the previous middle schools joined with the nearest of the first schools in Lancing. North Lancing Primary School has always been a first and middle school.

==Literary connections==
Lancing was visited by [[Oscar Wilde]] in the 1890s when he stayed at nearby [[Worthing]]. The working title for his masterpiece ''[[The Importance of Being Earnest]]'' was ''[[Lady Lancing]]''. Wilde's friend and lover, the poet [[Lord Alfred Douglas]] lived in nearby [[Brighton]] and died while staying at Monk's Farmhouse mentioned above.<ref name="british-history.ac.uk"/> Lancing was also visited by another poet, [[Algernon Charles Swinburne]], who stayed at The Terrace in the 1880s.

==Sport==
===Football===
Premier League club [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] have their training facilities at Mash Barn Lane, Lancing. Some of Albion's fixtures in the Premier League Under 21 competition are played here. Nearby are situated semi-professional [[Worthing F.C.|Worthing]] who play in the [[National League South]].

Teams in the village cover all ages of adult and junior games:

[[Lancing F.C.]] is based at the Culver Road 3G Ground, owned by Sussex County FA, and also Monks Recreation Ground. Lancing F.C. is the village's main club, formed in 1941, and is currently playing in the Isthmian League South East Division.

Lancing United FC are the second largest adult male football club in the local area and they play their matches at Croshaw Recreation Ground, Boundstone Lane. Their home pavilion was a project led by two local hero’s Glenn Souter and Joby Pannell it is currently sponsored by Middleton Estates.

Lancing F.C., Lancing United Colts F.C. and Lancing Rangers F.C. are the three local youth football clubs supporting football for all male and females aged from U6 - 18, playing their matches at a number of different football pitches found within Lancing and Sompting.

The Sussex County Football Association is based at Culver Road in the village and they share ownership of the newly built 3G pitch at Culver Road with Lancing F.C.

===Cricket===
Two clubs play, Lancing Lads Official and Lancing Manor Cricket Club who play at the ground near the junction of the A27 and Manor Road.

==People==
The writer [[Ted Walker]] was born in Lancing in 1934 and grew up at 186, Brighton Road, by the Widewater. His autobiographical work, ''The High Path'' takes its name from the footpath that ran between Brighton road and the Widewater, and which was formerly a public right of way.

As a child, heavyweight boxer Sir [[Henry Cooper (boxer)|Henry Cooper]] was evacuated from [[London]] to Lancing, along with identical twin brother George.

Many well-known figures attended [[Lancing College]], including novelists [[Tom Sharpe]], [[Evelyn Waugh]], lyricist [[Tim Rice]], and singer [[Peter Pears]].

==Twin towns==
Lancing, (along with the other urban districts of [[Adur (district)|Adur]]) is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
* [[Żywiec]], Poland
*  [[Riom]], France

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lancing, West Sussex}}
* [http://www.lancingparishcouncil.gov.uk/ Lancing Parish Council]
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18216 British History Online]
* [https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/ Lancing comes under Adur & Worthing Council]
* [https://keeplancinglovely.weebly.com/ Keep Lancing Lovely], local clean-up volunteers

{{Adur}}
{{West Sussex}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Civil parishes in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Villages in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Adur District]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Beaches of West Sussex]]