Westgate Fields

To the south of Westgate were fields and meadows, until the construction of Chichester College in the 1960s. Much of the land belonged to the Dean, and in the 12th century, when he desired to open “a way from his garden to his land and orchards between the wall and the river Lavant”, he had to obtain a licence from the king to make a postern gate. This gate, which can be dated between 1178–1180, is clearly recognisable in the Deanery Garden.

Beyond the river was the Dean’s Farm. 

Gardner and Jekyll map (1769) of Westgate between the West Gate and the “Burying Ground” by “Church Lane” (now Mount Lane). Scuttery Lane (now Orchard Street) goes to the north. The brewery has not yet been built. The dark line is the river Lavant. This clearly shows the pathway between nos. 4 and 5 (old numbers) leading “to the Dean’s Farm”. And the Dean’s Garden between the river and the wall. 

The river Lavant had been diverted around the walls and through the fields in the 9th Century and the new cut parallel to Westgate made in 1810, across Westgate Fields is shown on the 1846 map. 

Tithe map 1846

Army camp in Westgate Fields 1905 (Bygone Chichester)

Panorama of Westgate Fields about 1959 from Chichester Station looking towards Westgate – Later building in boxes 

In 1888 there was a plan to build a road across the fields to the station from Mount Lane, and a house on Westgate was demolished, but the road was never built. Westgate Fields road was eventually built in 1963 on a different route. It was later renamed Avenue de Chartres.

Westgate Fields from Chichester Station about 1959 WSRO WDC/PL1/35/12

For more information on the Westgate Fields, see the article on numbers 79-83 Westgate

Richard Brownfield 2025