Following the destruction of the “Round Church of St Bartholomew” by William Waller’s Parliamentarian troops in December 1642, the congregation were without a church for 190 years. Only the burial ground was left but the parish still existed, its vicar and churchwardens remaining in office and the tithes still being collected. Until 13 March 1824,… Continue reading The Rebuilding of St Bartholomew’s Church, 1824-32
Category: History
The Organ of St Bartholomew’s Church
A chance encounter with Alan Thurlow, retired organist of Chichester Cathedral, has enabled us to do some more research into the pipe organ which may still be seen inside St Bartholomew’s church (once we can get access!). Details of the St Bartholomew’s organ can be found under Survey E00701 on the National Pipe Organ Register… Continue reading The Organ of St Bartholomew’s Church
Chichester & St Bart’s: the Municipal Area
Prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066 the municipal area of Chichester is not known. From the late 9th century, Alfred had founded his network of Saxon burhs. These lay at the centre of Alfred’s reformed military defence system and were distributed at strategic points throughout the kingdom. Many were former Roman towns, the largest of which was… Continue reading Chichester & St Bart’s: the Municipal Area
Old Maps of Westgate and Chichester 1
Since the launch of the website we have sought to develop our historical archive. Here is a collection of old maps upon which figures Westgate and its surrounding streets in one form or another. 2007 – I know, we are starting with a recent map, but there are no printed Roman maps in existence of… Continue reading Old Maps of Westgate and Chichester 1
The Westgate Brewery part 1
From time to time we bring in a guest writer to add to the content of our website. We are grateful to local historian Alan H. J. Green for his permission to reprint this article which originally appeared, entitled “The Westgate Brewery”, in the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society Newsletter 137 of January 2008. And also to… Continue reading The Westgate Brewery part 1
Westgate in the 17th to 19th Centuries
Did you know that eighteen non-designated post medieval assets and 47 Grade II listed buildings are situated within 500m of Westgate? The Civil War A key event in the post-medieval development of the city was the Civil War siege of 1642. The city had declared itself loyal to the Royalist cause in August 1642, and by… Continue reading Westgate in the 17th to 19th Centuries
Chichester & St Bart’s: The Early Settlement
The extent of Chichester has altered at various times. The settlement was first established as a winter fort for the Second Augustan Legion under Vespasian (the future emperor) shortly after the Roman invasion in AD 43. Like all Roman walled towns, Noviomagus Reginorum was divided into four quarters by two main roads or streets crossing… Continue reading Chichester & St Bart’s: The Early Settlement
Medieval Westgate
Image courtesy of Chichester Web. This article forms part of a series on the archaeology of Westgate and is adapted with their permission from an archaeological desk-based assessment prepared by SLR Consulting Ltd on behalf of Chichester College in 2013. The numbers on the map refer to objects mentioned in the text below that have been found and registered… Continue reading Medieval Westgate
The Gates
Some controversy rages about what Chichester’s West Gate actually looked like. It was our view initially that this was the gate itself, taken from an 18th century watercolour, but this is disputed by the team at the West Sussex county archives who, in spite of the title at the bottom, believe it must be of… Continue reading The Gates
The Romans and Westgate
This article forms part of a series on the archaeology of Westgate and is adapted with their permission from an archaeological desk-based assessment prepared by SLR Consulting Ltd on behalf of Chichester College in 2013. The numbers on the map refer to objects mentioned in the text below that have been found and registered in the Historic Environment Record… Continue reading The Romans and Westgate