Hidden Westgate Histories 9: Demolished properties Northside

As detailed in Hidden Histories no 8, properties 2-10 were demolished in 1963

No.8. James JEFFERIES was a private, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers. 29th Division when he was killed in action on 15.7.17. In 1911, he was living with his wife Sarah at no. 52 (old number, became 8, then demolished 1963) Westgate and employed as a Hopman at the Brewery. He is buried in the Bard Cottage Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium but memorialised on his wife Sarah’s gravestone, plot 15 in the churchyard of St James’ Church in Birdham. His name is on St Bartholomew’s war memorial. 

Hidden Westgate Histories 1: St Sepulchre Round Church

The current St Batholomew’s church in Mount Lane off Westgate is not the first church to have appeared on this site. The suburbs extra muros of St Pancras to the east and of St Sepulchre to the west date back to Roman times, both housing 3rd century cemeteries within their parishes, with the main one to the east (the Litton) in part where the modern Litten Gardens is on New Park Road. The remainder is under the New Park development and car park on the opposite (west) side of the road.

Hidden Westgate Histories 2: The Shippam Stables

By an amazing coincidence, the very week that the dray horses came back to the Brewery Field, if only for an afternoon, a resident was clearing the vegetation back in her garden when she discovered several items hanging on the wall.

The first one was this strange item:

Continue reading Hidden Westgate Histories 2: The Shippam Stables

Hidden Westgate Histories 3: Five Good Sisters (updated)

This article first appeared on 30 July 2016 as part of an occasional series of historical items that relate to Westgate and have been somehow Hidden from History. We are grateful to Westgate resident Rachel Moriarty for a host of new material which has resulted in this much expanded version (May 2017). Recently the church has been sold to a private owner who has respected the graves but removed the crosses and the trees (2024).

Continue reading Hidden Westgate Histories 3: Five Good Sisters (updated)

Hidden Westgate Histories 4: The Westgate Lavant

Most residents are familiar with our winterbourne, the River Lavant. Winterbourne because it is a seasonal stream that comes down from the Downs, filtered out of the chalk after the Winter rains.

Continue reading Hidden Westgate Histories 4: The Westgate Lavant

Hidden Westgate Histories 5: The Westgate Cannon (updated)

As many residents will know, Westgate, along with St Pancras, was part of the Parliamentary encampment during the brief siege of Chichester by Colonel William Waller at Christmastide in December 1642, the first year of the Civil War. Christmas 2022 marked the 380th anniversary of this event.

Continue reading Hidden Westgate Histories 5: The Westgate Cannon (updated)

Hidden Westgate Histories 6: The Powell & Moya Bungalows

The eastern end of Westgate seems such a perfect Georgian enclave, yet who would have thought standing in the street today, that Mount Lane has contained iconic 20th century buildings and still has an interior by Eric Gill’s brother?

Powell & Moya architects

Continue reading Hidden Westgate Histories 6: The Powell & Moya Bungalows

Hidden Westgate Histories 7: The Westgate War Memorial (updated)

I doubt that many people living on/by Westgate, or walking up and down the street, know that we have our very own War Memorial commemorating the Fallen of the Parish of St Bartholomew.

Continue reading Hidden Westgate Histories 7: The Westgate War Memorial (updated)

Hidden Westgate Histories 8: Demolished properties of 1963

The quoted setions are extracts from The Building of Georgian Chichester by local historian Alan Green (Phillimore 2007), here reproduced with his permission.

Continue reading Hidden Westgate Histories 8: Demolished properties of 1963

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