Residents will probably know by now that the Field behind the County Record Office in Orchard Street has been taken over by Chichester City Council on a 25-year lease from the County Council for the use and enjoyment of all. It is very unusual these days to be able to organise the birth and activities of a new park in a City, particularly one in a conservation area and so close to the City Centre.
The Field is the old Brewery Field where Henty and Constable kept the dray horses. The Lavant which provided the water for the brewing process still runs through it, albeit in a culvert these days.
The Field was officially opened by the Mayor of Chichester and the Leader of the County Council at midday on Sunday 19th June 2016. A raffle of prizes for local shops and restaurants and community groups took place, 25p a ticket or £1 for a strip of five. There were stalls by community groups and residents brought their own food and drink and a seat as the Field had no amenities at the time.
The raffle was held after lunch at 2pm and the event will finish at 4pm. Free parking was provided in the WSCC Staff Car Park behind the County Record Office.
This event was organised by the Friends of the Brewery Field, a volunteer group of residents for the Orchard/Old Somerstown, Parklands and Westgate Residents’ Associations. It was everyone’s intention to keep the field as a field and not to turn it into a manicured park. It is ideal for play, exercise and dog walking. Eventually a bin, a goalpost and a few seats were installed. Transition Chichester took over the running of the annual fete, organising events and educational materials for children, as there are many mature trees and a lot of insects and birds in the undergrowth.