Hidden Westgate Histories: St Sepulchre Round Church

I am indebted to resident Anne Dare for drawing my attention to this rare image of St Sepulchre's

The current St Batholomew’s church in Mount Lane off Westgate is not the first church to have appeared on this site. The suburbs extra muros of St Pancras to the east and of St Sepulchre to the west date back to Roman times, both housing 3rd century cemeteries within their parishes, with the main one… Continue reading Hidden Westgate Histories: St Sepulchre Round Church

Hidden Westgate Histories: Five Good Sisters (updated)

This article first appeared on 30 July 2016 as part of an occasional series of historical items that relate to Westgate and have been somehow Hidden from History. We are grateful to Westgate resident Rachel Moriarty for a host of new material which has resulted in this much expanded version (May 2017). I doubt that many on… Continue reading Hidden Westgate Histories: Five Good Sisters (updated)

The Road we call Westgate (updated)

Westgate is so named as it is the road that left Chichester by the West Gate, an encumbrance to traffic which was demolished in 1773 except for the south pillar which is still standing, complete with hinge, to the left of the Indian Restaurant. This road has been the main road out to Winchester from Chichester… Continue reading The Road we call Westgate (updated)

Hidden Westgate Histories: The Westgate War Memorial (updated)

I doubt that many people living on/by Westgate, or walking up and down the street, know that we have our very own War Memorial commemorating the Fallen of the Parish of St Bartholomew. Between 2014 and 2018 the nation remembered the First World War and commemorated the sacrifice of so many young men’s lives. Several… Continue reading Hidden Westgate Histories: The Westgate War Memorial (updated)

The Suburb of St Bartholomew’s: the C19th population

This text is the last in our series about the Suburb of St Bartholomew, through which Westgate runs. It consists of edited data selected from the 19th century censuses for the historic suburb of St Bartholomew (1801 to 1891)  The 19th century population of the St Bartholomew’s Civil Parish was the same in 1891 as it was in… Continue reading The Suburb of St Bartholomew’s: the C19th population

Chichester & St Bart’s: Architecture of the City

This text is the fourth in a monthly series of five about the suburb of St Bartholomew’s Without in the wider context of the development of the City of Chichester. It is drawn from an edited extract of a 1935 publication (details below). As such it has kept a centuries-old way of talking about Chichester where… Continue reading Chichester & St Bart’s: Architecture of the City

Chichester & St Bart’s: Walls, Gates and a Ditch

The rebuilt St Bartholomew's Church (WSRO)

This text is about the suburb of St Bartholomew’s Without in the wider context of the development of the City of Chichester. It is drawn from an edited extract of a 1935 publication (details below). As such it has kept a centuries-old way of talking about Chichester where the city walls, gates, ditch and parishes defined… Continue reading Chichester & St Bart’s: Walls, Gates and a Ditch

The Rebuilding of St Bartholomew’s Church, 1824-32

The rebuilt St Bartholomew's Church (WSRO)

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

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

C19th seal of Chichester - Collection Ken Green

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

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