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ASK someone to name a listed building in Crawley and they will probably think of somewhere like Ifield Water Mill or St Nicholas Church. Listed status can be given to buildings which are considered to be of historic importance to protect them from demolition or alteration. But it isn’t just really well known old buildings that are listed. To prove the point, reporter RACHEL BARR takes us through ten of the more unlikely buildings and structures in Crawley to have been given listed status.
1: Two telephone kiosks – High Street
Due to the fact that virtually everyone in the world now has a mobile, phone boxes are almost redundant.
But these two, which have been around for 80 years, are here to stay.
Installed in 1935, the red phone boxes are one of those things every town should have, so it is perhaps no surprise they have been given listed status.
2: Squires Garden Centre – Horsham Road
Even if you visit the garden centre regularly for all your gardening essentials you might not realise that it is built around a 16th century farmhouse.
Original features which remain include a chimney stack made in 1600 and an inglenook fireplace.
We doubt, though, that any of the plants have been around that long.
3: The bridge at Ewhurst Place – Ifield Drive
Thought to have been built in 1739, the bridge takes you over the moat at Ewhurst Place (which is also a listed building).
The bridge does have a date on the arch but this is covered by creepers so English Heritage has been unable to confirm the exact year it was built.
Ewhurst Place itself, which is a beautiful old building, is now a family home.
4: Mounting Block – Langley Lane
This three-step block was built in the 18th century to help people get onto a horse more easily.
We doubt that many people now use it for its original purpose.
Made from bricks it is hollow inside.
5: Garden wall and entrance to Worth Business Centre – Balcombe Road
The wall which surrounds the business centre (which is also listed) was made in the late 18th century.
It is about 6ft high and on the part of the wall that is in Turners Hill Road a pedestrian entrance has been added.
6: Toll House – Church Road
As its name suggests this building was used as a toll house when it was built in the early 19th century.
Nobody now has to pay a toll to travel along the road but it is still a house.
The beautiful building was put up for sale earlier this year for £675,000.
7: Railway signal box – Springfield Road
On the corner of Brighton Road, this signal box – now something of a landmark in Crawley, was built in about 1860.
The two-storey building was restored by the Crawley Signal Box Preservation Society last year.
After £8,000 was spent on the project it was reopened by the mayor of Crawley at the time, Councillor Brenda Smith.
8: Pulhamite rock islet – Worth Park
This artificial island was constructed by James Pulham Son as part of the garden for Sir Francis Abraham Monefiore at Worth Park.
It is an irregularly shaped artificial rock in the east part of the lake, about 3m across with 3m visible above the water.
Worth Park has recently been undergoing a major revamp to restore it to how it looked in its Victorian heyday.
9: A table tomb at St Margaret’s Church – Ifield Street
Dating from about 1800, this large tomb at the western end of the churchyard, contains the remains of George and Mary Hutchinson.
The structure includes a two-step plinth, with various inscriptions on the sides.
10: Ridleys Court – Milton Mount Avenue, Pound Hill
This building, which is now divided into flats, was originally stables for the Worth Park estate.
The mansion that once stood in the park has long since been demolished.
Its gardens are now Worth Park and Ridleys Court is the only building which was part of the estate that remains.