Stanford Cottage.
Stanford Cottage was built at the turn of the 18th century and was named after its owner Edward Stanford, a piano dealer and tailor, who was one of the original signatories to a petition for the building of a permanent theatre in Worthing.
In the holiday season the cottage was let out, with an attractive oval aspect, looking south to the sea and north across the fields to Broadwater church before the north side of Warwick street was built.
Stanford Cottage had a paved courtyard and a pair of double gates with a chestnut tree in the middle.
Jane Austin stayed there with her mother and sister in the autumn of 1805 and a Worthing Society Blue Plaque on the front of the building marks the event.
The property fell empty after 1906 and remained unused until eventually becoming a storehouse for Colin Moore furnishers at 20-24 Warwick street.
The Grade II listed building is now occupied by a pizza restaurant, and lies within the South St Conservation area.
David Pateman
www.worthingsociety.org.uk
