The MIDHURST Guide WEST SUSSEX Midhurst, West Lavington and the surrounding areas. A virtual guide for Midhurst residents and visitors. Part of the Gravelroots Rother Valley Guide

Midhurst parish council - website
Mrs Joan Hursthouse
Clerk of Midhurst Town Council
Capron House, North Street, GU29 9BT
phone - 01730 816953
Opening Hours-
10am to 12 noon - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday

click here for a complete list of area parish clerks
 
Local Authorities
Chichester District Council
West Sussex County Council

Coordinates: 50.9861° N 0.7405° W
Latitude: 50:59:52N [50.9977]
Longitude: 0:43:59W [-0.7331]
OS grid reference SU8821
STD code is 01730 - postcode is GU29
Grid ref: SU885215
Nearest Railway Stations - Liphook 6½ miles & Haslemere
Nearest Motorway Junction - A3[M] Jnct 2 20.1 km [12½ miles]
Nearest Airport - Gatwick approx.30 mls
48 miles from London - 12 miles from Chichester - see map
 
Midhurst is twinned with
Baiersbronn in Germany & Eure-et-Loir, France.

see also Ontario, Canada & Taranaki, New Zealand

A brief Introduction
A market town in West Sussex with a population of around 5,000. An ancient and picturesque town on the River Rother which Country Life Magazine rated the second best place in England to live. Although steeped in history Midhurst is home to a thriving business community with many pubs & restaurants, shopping, services and 2 large hotels, within the town boundary, plus a multitude of services, businesses and attractions in the vicinity.

Midhurst is a 'crossroads' for the 'east-west' A272 running from East Sussex to Hampshire and the 'north-south' A286 bringing traffic from Guildford and London down to Chichester and the coast. Both these roads merge into one on North Street before splitting back into their respective routes.

There are over 100 listed buildings in Midhurst with many in the older areas around Red Lion street, West street and Duck Lane, which later expanded towards North street, built on 15th and 16th century wooden frames.

The Angel hotel on North Street was the main posting inn for mail coaches arriving in the town. Here the seaward bound pilgrim fathers stopped in Midhurst, prior to their epic journey.
At the far end of North Street is the largest school, up until January 2009, The Midhurst Grammar, founded in 1672. Although referred to as a Grammar School, it had, for many years, served as a modern comprehensive for the area.
HG Wells attended the school, both as a student and tutor living and working in the town which is the backdrop to many of his stories.
Amid much controversy, the school has now become the Midhurst Rother College and welcomed students on Wednesday 7th January 2009 for the first day of term. The college has united the Grammar, Midhurst Intermediate and Herbert Shiner Schools.

Opposite the Grammar, along a causeway, is the Cowdray ruins. Built around 1520 and destroyed by fire in 1793. This area recently underwent large scale restoration.

Midhurst hosts the "Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup" - a major polo competition. This is held on the Cowdray estate, with Prince Charles and other members of the Royal Family often seen playing.

28 October 2009   Lucky escape for young woman in Bepton Road as car overturns   click for info

November 2009
Death of Lynda Harvey
A well known and respected Midhurst businesswoman, Lynda Harvey, has died, aged 62, after a long brave battle against a disabling illness.
Her working career, starting as a ballet dancer in Germany, and ending as the owner of the Posy Bowl on Knockhundred Row, involved over 30 years of business in the town. She opened the Posy Bowl flower shop in 1976 which she ran until her retirement 4 years ago.
Miss Harvey had shared a house near Elsted with her mother for many years, until they moved to Midhurst.

Midhurst Camera Club Gets Lottery Funding John Harrison, President and Karen Bennett, Chairman, with the Lottery Funding cheque - September 2008 more on the Camera Club here