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Midhurst
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Midhurst | |
|
  |
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| Population | 4,889 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Chichester |
| Shire county | West Sussex |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Midhurst |
| Postcode district | GU29 |
| Dial code | 01730 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| List of places: UK • England • West Sussex | |
Midhurst is a market town in the English county of West Sussex, with a population of approximately 5000. The town is situated on the River Rother and is home to the magnificent ruin of the Tudor Cowdray House and the stately Victorian Cowdray House. Country Life magazine rated Midhurst the second best town in England.
In the 2001 census the parish covered 333 hectares and had 2,327 households with a total population of 4,889. 2,258 residents were economically active.
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Formerly standing within the ground of Midhurst Castle, the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Denys was mentioned in 1291 and later in 1367 as standing, "in a place called Courtgene". The interior of the church has undergone much restoration and change and little evidence exists of its Medieval heritage. Consisting of chancel and nave flanked by aisles on both sides, the church was largely rebuilt in the Perpendicular style in 1422, towards the end of Henry V's reign.
In 1605 the owner of Cowdray House, Anthony-Maria Browne, 2nd Viscount Montagu, was briefly arrested in connection with the Gunpowder Plot. He was suspected as a plotter because he briefly employed Guy Fawkes as a footman and stayed away from Parliament on 5 November following a warning from Robert Catesby. He is buried in Midhurst Church.
It would appear that the castle was dismantled by the Bishop of Durham sometime between 1284 and 1311. The earlier owners being the de Bohum family who abandoned the castle in favour of Cowdray in 1280.
Each year the town hosts the "Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup" which is a major polo competition. This is held on the estate of Lord Cowdray, with the final played outside the ruins. Prince Charles and other members of the Royal Family are often seen playing here.
This same spot was the venue for a charity concert featuring Pink Floyd (minus Waters) in 1993.
Midhurst Deanery is a Deanery of the Church of England comprising 22 churches in the Rother valley between Midhurst and Petersfield.
The main school is Midhurst Grammar School which was founded in 1672. The school's most famous alumnus is HG Wells. Although still called a Grammar School, it has been a modern comprehensive for many years. It is comprised of a lower school containing years 9 to 11, and a separate sixth form college which approximately 45% of students continue on to. Although currently in Special Measures the school has recently received a very good report from HMI. There is also a comprehensive middle school for pupils aged 10 to 13 at Midhurst Intermediate School.
The town was first represented in the Parliament of 1301 and was consistently represented from 1382 onwards. Initially the town had two Members of Parliament. The electors were the owners of certain properties, which were marked by "burgage stones", one of these stones remains and can be seen in a building next to the public library. In 1831 there were only 41 eligible voters and Midhurst was considered a rotten borough. In the Great Reform Act of 1832 Midhurst was reduced to one Member of Parliament and the constituency was expanded to include most of the surrounding villages. In 1883 Midhurst lost its status as a Borough and its right to elect a Member of Parliament.
Members who represented Midhurst include:
- Michael Bageley or Bagley (elected 1399) brother of Thomas Bagley, a Lollard burnt in 1421
- Johannes Ives (elected 1415)
- Johannes Sewale (elected 1415 and 1425)
- ? Westlond (elected 1425)
- Walter Lucas (elected 1426)
- Thomas Bowyer (elected 1614)
- William Cawley (elected 1640) who was one of the Regicides of Charles I
- Robert Long (elected 1640)
- Gregory Norton (elected 1645) who was one of the Regicides of Charles I
- Laurence Alcock (elected 1710)
- John Pratt (elected 1710)
- William Hamilton (elected 1761) was the husband of Emma Hamilton
- John Burgoyne (elected 1761)
- Charles James Fox (elected 1768) who was only 19 when first elected
- Henry Fox (elected 1768) who was a cousin of Charles James Fox
- William Plunket, 1st Baron Plunket (3 months in 1807)
- James Abercromby, 1st Baron Dunfermline (1807-1812)
- Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer (1837-1841)
- Spencer Horatio Walpole (1846-1856) who served three times as Home Secretary, once while member for Midhurst.
- Samuel Warren (1856-1859)
- William Townley Mitford (elected 1874)
- See also: Midhurst Railways
Midhurst was linked by three lines, one from Pulborough in the 1866, one from Petersfield in 1855 and one from Chichester in 1881.
There where two stations, London Brighton and South Coast Railway's and the London and South Western Railway' the last train ran in 1964.
The A272 runs through the town.
Midhurst is an hour's drive from Gatwick.
Midhurst is served by these emergency sevices:
- Sussex Police.
- South East Coast Ambulance Service as of 1 July 2006. The Sussex Ambulance Service, Surrey, and Kent Ambulance services have all merged, and have now ceased to exist.
- West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.