Good morning from Midhurst in West Sussex, this time we're visiting
this lovely market town and the ruins of Cowdray behind me, so let's go and explore!
Midhurst is a market town about 12 miles north of the city of Chichester in West Sussex
and a treasure trove of architectural interest. There is no train station so unless you have a car
you'll need to arrive by bus. You can travel from London by train to nearby stations at Hazlemere,
Petersfield or Chichester and then transfer on bus service. The main thoroughfare is on the
very busy A286 north street which acts as the high street. A mix of cafes and local independent shops
for visitors to browse we'll come back to the high street later because we first want to show you the
wonderful older part of town with its mix of Tudor Georgian and Victorian buildings. In the middle of
North Street is a side street called knockhundred row. The origins of the name have been lost.
Here you'll see some 17th-century buildings and the Midhurst museum
and tea rooms, open Tuesday to Saturday.
As we turn the corner onto Church Hill we pass the old library. Once this consisted
of five cottages dating from the 1500s. It became Midhurst library which must have been one of the
oldest public library buildings in England. Now it's home to the Midhurst town council.
The origins of the town are tied to the norman conquest in 1066 when the area became part of
estates owned by Roger Montgomery. Montgomery was commissioned by William the Conqueror
to erect a series of castles in towns and strategic positions. The castle he built in
Midhurst no longer remains although you can see foundation stones if you head to St. Ann's Hill.
The war memorial to commemorate those lost in the First World War was dedicated at a service
held on the 6th of May 1923. A World War II plaque was added in 1960
and more recently one for local Royal Marine Dennis O'Connor lost in the Afghanistan conflict.
The church was previously a small chapel in the grounds of Midhurst castle and dedicated to Mary
Magdalene. Later developed it became St Mary Magdalene and St. Deynes Church. The base of
the tower dates from the 13th century but most of the rest is 16th century.
This Tudor cottage called Elizabeth House is one of three cottages that used to stand here.
The other two were demolished in the 1920s to make way for the war memorial.
It's now a residential property but at the turn of the 20th century, it was a bicycle repair shop.
The Swan Inn dates back to 1460 and was a coaching house. Much of its charm is still
visible inside. As well as being a pub you can also stay the night to this day. We are now at
the junction of South and West Street. This charming timber building was the market hall
and would have been open on the lower floors for traders to sell dairy products.
The opening would have been where the white render and windows are now.
Its use today is as an annexe of the Spread Eagle Hotel, and we'll see that shortly.
Market Square is where you find the old Town Hall which had multiple uses. Now a coffee house,
it once housed the fire brigade. You can still see the bells on the front of the building.
It was also a prison, inside are two cells.
To the side, you can see the town stocks and pillory.
Originally they would have been positioned in the square for offenders to be locked up by the legs
or wrists for public ridicule. Pelted with rotten fruit and veg as a punishment for their crimes.
Behind the town hall on Edinburgh Square and at the entrance to St. Ann's Hill
is a block of buildings painted with yellow doors and frames. This was in 1890 the first national
school for infants and could accommodate 120 pupils. Later it was Granville College and now
it's an Ann's Hall. Walking up this lane will take you to the foundations of the old castle.
The distinctive yellow paint called "gold cup" is seen all over the area
and denotes the property is part of the Cowdray Estate. The colour was
picked by the First Viscount Cowdray due to a connection with the Liberal party.
Running behind the church and parallel to Church Hill is
Sheep Lane here you will find some of the finest Georgian townhouses.
This area was badly damaged in World War II and the properties have been wonderfully restored.
St. Ann's House is the largest Georgian house in Midhurst, built by Major Richard Newland
of the Dragoon Guards as was his neighbour at St Anns, built by Captain John Quantock.
Down on South Street is the Spread Eagle Hotel. The two main portions
are two separate buildings brought together, the third is the annexe of the market hall.
It dates back as far as 1430 and has some notable history being owned by Sir William Fitzwilliam,
Henry VIII Lord High Admiral in 1533 and visited by Admiral Lord Nelson in the late 1700s.
You can see the lounge bar of the hotel as we move into West Street.
Passing the Crafty Pint with artisan beers that, we just had to take a look at,
we arrive at a very interesting building dating from 1660. This timber property has a house above
and two shops below. Butchers and wine merchants in the past and now interior decor stores.
Moving on to Wool Lane, we passed the 17th-century Bricklayer's Arms. I just love the period brewery
sign. The 17th century theme continues up most of this lane with some delightful properties.
At the top we arrive at the Wheatsheaf, which connects us with North Street again.
It dates back to 1621 and apparently retains many original features inside like the solid oak beams,
wooden and slate floors and a roaring fire. It's a shame it wasn't open at the time we passed by.
Before we head down North Street, we wanted to move right to the other end of town
and start a walk from the town car park, along a path
that'll take us across the River Rother to visit the Ruins of Cowdray.
We mentioned earlier Roger Montague who was commissioned to add a castle on St. Ann's
Hill in 1066. This castle stood until the 13th century when it was abandoned by the then owners,
the de Bohun family. In 1273 Sir John de Bohun, tired of being on St. Ann's Hill
decided to build a new grand house here, on this land. That building was superseded in the 15th
century by what we see today. Sir David Owen began that work in the 1520s, having married
one of the du Bohun daughters. A splendid manor house that drew the attention of King Henry VIII
who visited three times and later so did Queen Elizabeth the first. In 1529 the property was
sold to Sir William Fitzwilliam a member of Henry VIII's court. Fitzwilliam didn't live long and his
half-brother Anthony Browne took control in 1548 becoming ennobled to the First Viscount Montague.
Guy Fawkes, famous for his failed gunpowder plot on parliament was known to have worked
in the house briefly, which caused a great deal of suspicion that the second Viscount
might have been involved. By the 1790s their house was in need of restoration
and on the 24th of September 1793 a fire started in the north gallery. This
ripped through the property leaving it gutted and in the ruined state that we can see today.
Cowdray Heritage Trust preserves and maintains the ruins. They have run tours in the past
but the grounds are currently sealed by metal fencing. Maybe one day they'll open it again.
Back on North Street, we see the old grammar school once attended for evening classes by
H.G. Wells, the famous novelist. He was an apprentice at the chemist on Church
Hill you can just see the plaque here, and we didn't know that at the time of filming.
Walking up the street the red pillar box has been given a knitted hat
in preparation for Remembrance Sunday. You will find most of the independent shops
and cafes on this street but also some historic properties to view.
This is the Angel Inn, a 17th-century coaching house interestingly on the
left-hand side you can still see the carriage archway for travelling arrivals to disembark.
So thanks for joining us here in Midhurst, we really had an enjoyable tour around. A
great mix of Edwardian Victorian and Tudor properties to view and of course the Ruins
of Cowdray as well. We've got more like this on our channel, so do subscribe,
give us a like and maybe comment on a post. We'll see you again real soon. Thanks very much.