SCP - History

Brief History of Southwater
Country Park

'From farm to brickyard to country park'

1880	Site of Andrews Farm.
1890	Seasonal brickyard started up to provide bricks for local builder.
1899	Sold to another Horsham builder forming the Southwater Brick, Tile, Terracotta Pipe and Clay Company.
1907	Linked up with Sussex Brick and Estates Company who developed Southwater Engineering Brick. Heyday of production in 20's and 30's when brick used extensively in London's sewers.
1957	Taken over by Redland Group.
1981	After a total of 1 billion bricks produced, limited clay resources led to closure of works.
1983	Ownership and management of clay pit passed to Horsham District Council as part of brickyards development into Southwater Business Park.
1985	Opening of Country Park after substantial landscaping which involved movement of 80,000 cubic metres of soil.
1989	Opening of Visitor Centre.
2004	Horsham District Council took over management of The Quarry as part of a housing development agreement. The lake was formally the first clay pit to be extracted and this are is to be managed for wildlife primarily and informal recreation.