This field was part of the Westgate Brewery which produced beer for many inns and pubs across Sussex and East Hampshire from 1751 until it closed in 1954. It was originally part of Squittery Fields until a part was purchased by Humphrey in the very early days of Brewing on Westgate, as space to build his Maltings.
The 1812 map by Loader shows the Brewery Field north of the brewery with occasional large trees much as it is today. The river Lavant forms the southeast boundary.
The tithe map of 1846 describes the land as pasture. The hops used at the brewery were brought from the east of Sussex/Kent by carts, whose dray horses were put out to pasture on this field before making the return journey. Horses for deliveries were also put out here. Steam powered wagons began to be used in 1912 in the Constable Littlehampton Brewery.
Since the field ceased to belong to the brewery it has been owned by the West Sussex County Council. Part of it is a sports field for the Central school and the remaining 2.7 acres was leased to the Chichester City Council “for public enjoyment” for 25 years, from 2015.
As part of the 2017 activities residents saw the reintroduction of dray horses into the field for one day. Three hours of rides to raise money for future Field activities. The two horses from Fullers Brewery were Pride and Griffin driven by John Medhurst who has looked after them for 28 years on his farm at Odiham.
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