In 1936 the lease owned by the Church Commissioners for the buildings at the top of Westgate – which included the Coach House and stable yard as well as what is now no. 5 – were let to the Chichester Theological College. This whole block, renamed Marriot House, was used for accommodation with eighteen students and 2 members of staff. There were 20 bedrooms, 4 WCs and 4 bathrooms. The main building for the College was No. 52 Westgate.
During the 1939-45 war the College was evacuated to Cambridge and the buildings used by the RAF.
Marriott House, plus a wing in the Bishop’s Palace, was used to house the re-opened college from 21st October 1946. It was described as having ‘giant rooms’ used as a common room, dining room, bar with accommodation for 18 students and a member of staff. In 1948 a claim against the War Department was finally settled for dilapidations to the building, the gardens and playing fields during the use by the military during the war. The College was however responsible for repair and redecoration of the exterior of the building, which were completed in 1949 at a cost of £334..
In 1954 major work was done at Marriott House to improve the kitchen and Dining Room.
1954 Planning application Block Plan (CC/24/54)
This plan shows No. 9 (now no. 5) before the dining room extension was built, and includes the line of the river Lavant culvert, which Mr Farr found when digging in his garden at No. 1 The Courtyard.
Negotiations were commenced with the Ecclesiastical Commission from whom the building was leased by Chichester Theology College Ltd. and eventually the ownership passed to the College in 1961.
In 1985 the Theological College moved out to its new building, Gillett House which had been built on the playing fields, and no 3-9 were sold to the Abbey Building Association Ltd.