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The MIDHURST Guide
WEST SUSSEX
including West Lavington, Bepton and surrounding area.
A virtual guide for residents and visitors.
Part of Gravelroots Rother Valley Guide
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Midhurst is an old market town in the South Downs Park 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 Midhurst boundary, plus a multitude of services, businesses and attractions in the vicinity. English Heritage described Midhurst as a hidden jewel.
Surrounded by such diverse countryside as downland, woodland, wetland and heath, it is perfect for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders all within this beautiful part of The South Downs National Park which also has its main administrative offices in the town. The near-by South Downs Way is one of Englands best Trails, with views covering over 40 miles.
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 Police helicopter over my house
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Town 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 7 miles -
Petersfield 9 miles -
Pulborough 10 miles -
Midhurst Bus timetables & Taxis
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
The town is twinned with
Baiersbronn in Germany & Eure-et-Loir, France.
see also Ontario, Canada & Taranaki, New Zealand
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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 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 Midhurst. Here the seaward bound pilgrim fathers stopped, prior to their epic journey to America.
At the far end of North Street is the largest school, up until January 2009, The Midhurst Grammar School, 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.
It also 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.
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| Midhurst parking shortage 27 September 2012
 Town councillor appalled with overzealous traffic wardens....Read full article here
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| The unique gingerbread house December 2011
 A gingerbread house like no other has been created for a Christmas shop window display in North Street is being sold to the highest bidder for charity.
Laura & Milos Jandac own the Upholsterer business.....Read full article here
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November 2009
Death of Lynda Harvey
A well known and respected local 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.
Before moving into Midhurst Miss Harvey had shared a house near Elsted with her mother for many years.
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| 28 October 2009
Lucky escape for young woman in Bepton Road
as car overturns
click for info
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 Midhurst Constable c.1890s
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Midhurst populations
1831 - 1,478
1841 - 1,536
1851 - 1,481
1871 - 1,465
1881 - 1,615
1891 - 1,674
1901 - 1,650
1911 - 1,894
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1921 - 1,890
1931 - 1,812
1951 - 1,895
1961 - 1,880
1971 - 2,166
1991 - 4,680
2001 - 4,889
1851 - 280 homes
2001 - 2,327 homes
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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 |
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25 October 2011
Midhurst man gets ASBO not allowing him to drink alcohol in any public place within the local area.
Matthew Kemp, 32, of Bepton Road, was given the three-year ASBO at Chichester Magistrates' Court today...more
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Dec.2008
Midhurst and Petworth Observer changes offices
The newspapers offices have now moved from Lamberts Lane to new premises in Capron House, North Street.
29 April 2010
First mend all those potholes then I'll do as you say
click for details
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MIDHURST INDEX
Photo Galleries
Vintage photos
Descriptions of the town
Easebourne
Town Map
Adrian Brown
Almshouses, North St.
Barrott, Jon, Jonathan
Boots, Chemists
Breast Cancer appeal
Business directory
Camera Club
Carnival, photos 5 May 2008
Carron Lane, Cemetery
Carron Lane, photo 1909
Cinema, North Street - 1960s
Cowdray Court
Cowdray Estate site
Cowdray Park Polo Club
Cowdray ruins photos
Cowdray yellow paintwork
Detour records
Detour Scooter Club
Business & services Directory
Directory - 1851
Doctors Hicks & Robinson, Old Surgery
Duck Lane
Easebourne index
Fagg, John
FC - Midhurst and Easebourne
Fire & Rescue Service
Fire Brigade
Giant Redwood, North Street
Grange Centre
Grange to go..
Half Moon 1915 - 20
Hicks, Doctor, Old Surgery
John Fagg
Jonathan Barrott
Kate Dudman
Knockhundred Row - photos
Knockhundred Row
Knockhundred Shuttles
Last train from Chichester - crashed
Library
locomotive named after town
Lynda Harvey
Map, Town Centre
Marrows, Blair
Medical Centre
Methodist Church
Michael Stacey
Midhurst, Canada
Midhurst Milers
Midhurst, New Zealand
Midhurst Players
Midhurst RFC
Midhurst Whites - Dec. 1964
Midhurst Whites Labels 1959
Northmill, photos 1904 - 49
Northmill, photos 2007 - 08
North Street photos - 1990s - 2009
North Street photos - 1870 - 1980s
Noticeboard - Free to anyone
Old photos, local & Sussex
Old Surgery, North Street
Parish Church
Patricia Przepiorka
Photograph galleries
Pink - Breast Cancer appeal
Police
Populations, dated
Post Office
Precious Williams
Pubs
Queen Elizabeth Oak
Railway station & Railways past
Richard Cobden
Roll of Honour
Rother Raft Race
Rugby Club
Ships named after town
St. Anns photos
St Mary Magdalene & St Denys
Sketches of the town & area 1920
South Pond
Vintage photos
War memorial
Weather station
West Lavington church to close - Aug 07
West Lavington School to close - Jan 08
Wharf, canal cut bridge - photos
Workhouse
WSFRS
not found it? - check Main Index
Search the whole Gravelroots site
VIDEOS
Inside Midhurst fire engine callsign 1912 going through town
16 January 2007
Cowdray ruins from the top of the tower
April 2008
The Midhurst Igloo 07 January 2010
Knockhundred Shuttles, Petersfield July 2010
British Pathe News 1953
This short old film from 1953 shows former Lord Cowdrays wedding in London.
click here for film
British Pathe News 1939
A short travelogue style film of Midhurst, listen out for the "River Rowter". Includes Benbow, Market Square, Church and Wool Lane.
click here for film
Miscellaneous articles: -
reported accidents & incidents
TWO ARRESTED AFTER MIDHURST FIGHT
Midhurst man dies in Rother accident
Witnesses needed after assault 9am North Street, Friday 23 March 2012
Jewellery & laptop theft The Fairway, February 2012
Conservation in Architecture North Street Fish Restaurant
Ships named after Midhurst
| Costa Coffee opens Oct. 2011
 manager, Russell Hopwood, with Ollie Puttick and Katie Strange.... Read full article here
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