Directory section details

Directory: 1791 Universal British Directory.

Pages: 601 - 609.

Name: Chichester.

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Chichester

Is situated on a healthy and pleasant plain, distant 61 miles from London, 10 from Arundel, 11 from Midhurst, 9 from Havant, 18 from Portsmouth and 36 from Winchester. The scite of Chichester is a gentle elevation, of which the cross is nearly in the centre. The Lavant, forming here a semi-circle, encompasses it on part of the East side, the whole of the South, and the greatest part of the West. From the cross process four street at right angles, whose direction is towards the four cardinal points of the compass, from which each of them is named. The city is surrounded by a stone wall, in which, formerly, were four gates opening into the principal streets: but three of these gates were taken down near twenty years ago, in order both to enlarge the prospect, and the circulation of air: the other, the East gate, was not pulled down till A.D. 1783, because it supported the city-gaol, which is now built on the South side of the street, where the gate formerly stood. The streets are handsome, broad, airy, and well paved. We have been informed that formerly a person might have stood at the cross and had a perfect view of the four gates; but, several buildings having been since erected in the North-street, that uniformity is now lost: the South, East, and West, streets, are still to be seen from thence, but the North cannot. The guildhall is a spacious ancient building, but by no means magnificent, and, being situated in an obscure part of the city, does not attract the attention of a traveller. The council-chamber is over the market-house: it stands upon pillars of the Tuscan order, and is a very neat, elegant, building. Here the gentlemen of the corporation meet to transact their public business. Adjoining the council-chamber is the assembly-room, built by subscription, and is a very elegant, spacious, well-pitched, room. The assembly is held every fortnight during the winter season, and is honoured by the attendance of persons of the first rank.

There are within the walls six parish-churches: St. Peter the Great, (which is within the cathedral) St. Peter the less, St Olave's, St Martin's, St Andrew's, and All Saints. Without the East gate is a church dedicated to St Pancrass; and without the West gate is the parish of St. Bartholomew, which has only a burying-ground, the church having been entirely demolished together with that of St. Pancrass, without East gate, in 1642, when the city was besieged and taken by Sir William Waller. There is also a chapel in St. Martin's lance, dedicated to the virgin Mary. This was formerly a nunnery, founded by William, dean of Chichester, in the reign of Henry II. It is now converted into an hospital, under the patronage of the dean and chapter, having several valuable estates held under it. It contains six poor women and two poor men; of whom five have a maintenance of two shillings a week, a cord of wood yearly, house-room, and a share of the rent of the garden belonging to the hospital. It has a very neat chapel in it, where the morning and evening prayers of the church are read every day, Sundays and holidays excepted.

Just without the North gate stands the workhouse of the city; the parishes of which were united by an act of parliament, A.D. 1753; since which time the poor are maintained here under the management of thirty guardians, who are incorporated by the said act, and chosen annually at Easter by the respective parishes. Some years ago Mr. Hardham, a tobacconist in London, a native of Chichester, by his will left twenty thousand pounds to certain trustees, the interest whereof is to be paid annually for ever to the corporation of guardians for the time bine, for the support of the poor.

The theatre stands at the lower end of the South-street. It is a neat and spacious building, lately erected; and the company which performs here is superior to what is usually seen in the country.

The custom-house was St. Martin's-square. There the duties on goods imported into the ports of Chichester were paid; but from some misconduct in the present collector the custom-house has lately been removed to the West-street.

The bishop's palace is a large, and not inelegant building. The gardens are spacious, laid out with great taste and judgement. In them is a fine bowling-green, where, by the permission of the bishop, the gentlemen of the city resort during the summer season. The palace was rebuilt A.D. 1727, when several coins were found by the workmen, together with a curious pavement; from this it appears plainly to have been a Roman station. The revenues of the bishop are perhaps not so great as they were formerly, though still considerable.

The cathedral church, which is built in the form of a cross, on the scite where the church of St. Peter the Great stood before the see was removed from Selsea, is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and though not a large is a very elegant Gothic structure. The spire is a very curious piece of workmanship, something more than three hundred feet in height. About eighty years ago it was struck by lightning, when several large stones were driven from it with great force; particularly one which weighed nearly three quarters of an hundred weight was thrown over the houses in West-street, and fell on the premises of a Mr. Garrick, now in the possession of Mr. Joseph Baker, surgeon, without doing any damage. It was imagined the spire must have fallen, the consequence of which would have been the destruction of the whole church, but, on being further surveyed, it appeared that, although a considerable breach was made in the spire, about forty feet from the top, yet the remainder of the building was found firm and compact, and was soon repaired in the most substantial manner. The choir is extremely neat, having been lately repaired and beautified at a considerable expence. In the East end of the church is an elegant library, furnished with a considerable collection of valuable books: under this is a spacious vault belonging to the family of Richmond; to the North of which, and adjoining, is another vault, the dormitory of the respectable family of Miller, of Lavant, baronets; and on the East is another of the Waddington family, which family we believe is now extinct. In the great South aisle of the church is the history of its foundation painted on the West side, and under it the kings from William the Conqueror down to Edward VI, and continued in the chapter-house and library to George II, a fine whole length: on the Eastern side, are the bishops from the foundation of the see in Selsea, and continued down to bishop Shurborne. They were done at the charge of Robert Shurborne, bishop of Chichester in 1508: they were cleaned and re-touched about forty years ago, but done in a slovenly manner. The great tower to the N.W. of the church, was built by Robert Raymond, at what time we cannot ascertain. Mr. Camden calls him R. Riman, and says, that "he built it with the very same stones he had provided to build him a castle at Appledram, hard by where he lived." It is a strong Gothic structure, and contains a musical ring of eight bells. Ralph Nevile (lord chancellor of England) was a very great benefactor to this church. He gave his noble palace, which at that time stood where Lincoln's-inn now stands, to his successors, the bishops of Chichester, for ever; where some them lived when they repaired to London: he also gave to them the estate called Chichester-rents, in Chancery-lane, being the only part now remaining of that great benefaction. During the civil wars in this kingdom, in the unhappy reign of king Charles the First, the church of Chichester did not escape that defolating fury of the puritans, which fell so heavy on all the cathedral churches in England, and disgraced the annals of this country. The present chapter consists of the dean, and four prebendaries called to residence, and therefore called canons resident. Formerly the bishop, the dean, the chanter, the chancellor, the treasurer, and two archdeacons (of Chichester and Lewes) dignitaries and the thirty-two prebendaries, composed the chapter. The service of the choir is performed by four minor-canons, called vicars choral. The church, as it now stands, was rebuilt by Seffrid, (the second of that name and the seventh bishop of Chichester,) together with the palace, the cloisters, and the common houses; and finished the whole within the space of 14 years. On the 13th September, 1199, he consecrated the church with great splendour and magnificence, being assisted by six other bishops. He gave the patronage of Seaford, and other valuable benefactions, to the church. After having filled this see about 19 years, and been a great example of generosity and piety, he died the 17th of March, 1204. His figure, cut in marble, and in tolerable preservation, is in a niche near the Easter door of St. Peter the Great within the cathedral.

Though it is certain that Chichester is an opulent, populous and flourishing, city, yet it is undeniable that there has been no manufactory in it till very lately, and that trade of it is but small: its situation, upwards of two miles from the quay, being unfavourable to extensive trade. About the beginning of the reign of king James the First, an act of Parliament was obtained to remedy this inconvenience by making the Lavant navigable up to the city, but was never put in execution; why, we cannot tell. A manufactory of baize, blankets, and coarse cloths, has lately been established at this place by Mr. J. Newland, mercer. There was a considerable manufactory of needles here, which were very much esteemed, but is now dwindled almost to nothing. At what time this manufactory was first established we cannot determine; but imagine it to have been of very long standing. In this city, which is distinguished for the multiplicity of its charities, is an excellent dispensary for the relief of the sick poor. It is supported by general subscription, and owes its institution to Dr. Sanden, the attendant physician.

The branch or arm of the sea, near which the city is situated, is spacious, well sheltered, and capable of receiving ships of great burthen. Many of its banks are steep; where wharfs and warehouses migh be erected at a small expence. The entrance lies near a place called Cock Buth, near West Wittering, (where it is supposed that Ella first landed,) and a small island on the opposite side called Heyling. The channel is not difficult; but there are sand-banks off the mouth of the harbour, which render it impossible for ships of heavy burthen to come in unless at spring tides. Merchant vessels are frequently built and repaired here, and sometimes ships of war.

The present flourishing state of the city is owing to several causes; the principal of which is its situation, being in the midst of a fruitful and opulent country for many miles round; whose wealth, if it does not finally center here, at least circulates through it, and by a constant and regular influx, feeds and invigorates the trade which without such a supply would soon droop and decay. Another great advantage it derives from the salubrity of its air; being sheltered from the North by a long ridge of adjoining hills, and refreshed from the South by the breezes from the sea; and standing on something of an elevation, it is free from fogs and damps. Being therefore justly esteemed an healthy situation, it is frequented by many people of independent fortunes; several of who choose to fix their residence here, and disseminate the anual produce of those fortunes which have been acquired in other climates. In 1180, almost the whole city was burnt, together with the church and houses of the clergy.

This city was many years under the dictation of the duke of Richmond, whose political interference was submitted to with much reluctance by the electors. Upon the death of the general Keppel, in 1782, an attempt was made by a considerable body of the electors, headed by Mr. John Tupper, to oppose the duke's nomination of the hon. Percy Wyndham, brother to the earl of Egremenont, but without success. Mr. Bryan Edwards, who was the candidate in opposition to Mr. Wyndham, lost his election, by being in a minority of only eight votes. At the ensuing general election of 1784, the independent electors triumphed in the choice of George White Thomas, esq. one of the present representatives; and, at the last dissolution of parliament in 1790, they became powerful enough to carry both the members. Mr. Steele, the representative of the duke of Richmond's interest, attempted to divide the phalanx of uninfluenced electors, by canvassing upon his own interest, without the appearance of aristocratical support; but this was found to be too insignificant even to countenance the manoeuvre. The friends of Mr. Thomas, who were now become a decisive majority of the inhabitants, for the sake of preserving the peace and harmony of the city, and to avoid those ruinous expences which generally attend a contest with influence and power, made a voluntary offer of admitting the duke of Richmond to recommend one of the members, if he would engage to leave the other to their own choice. The offer was accepted by his grace: and Mr. Steele published a letter, disclaiming all pretensions to the honour he aspired to upon the foundation of his own merits, and modestly acknowledged his gratitude to those of a superior source. The corporation are all in the interest of the duke of Richmond, who is high steward; and his brother, lord George Henry Lenox, is one of the aldermen. This city, which is a county of itself, sent to parliament anno 23 Edward I. By charter of king James II. it is governed by a major, recorder, and thirty-eight common-councilmen. The right of election is in the inhabitants paying scot and lot. There are about 450 electors, besides several honorary freemen, who do not pay scot and lot; whose votes were notwithstanding declared to be valid by a decision in the court of King's Bench. The whole number of voters is 620. The mayor is the returning officer. The mayor is chosen annually from among the aldermen and common-council; in which however considerable deference is paid to the recommendation of the high-steward of the city. The mayor has a court of request for the recovery of small debts. In his public capacity he is attended by four sergeants at mace, with a crier, &c. In the city of Chichester there are four justices of the peace, chosen out of the aldermen.

There are five annual fairs held in this city and its suburbs, viz. St. George's-day, Whit-Monday, St. James's-day, Michaelmas-fair, at that term, and Sloe-fair, which is ten clear days after. The weekly markets are on Wednesday and Saturday, which are plentifully supplied from the country for many miles round, with all kinds of provisions, especially fish of various kinds. During the season, abundance of exceeding good oysters are brought to the fish-shambles; and lobsters, not inferior to any in England, from the neighbouring coast; from Arundel, mullets, which are justly reckoned the best in the kingdom. Adjoining to the fish-shambles, in the South-street, is a large reservoir, and a neat conduit of exceeding good water, an over it a fine figure of an ancient Druid, The Saturday's market is now, and was formerly much more, noted for corn. Fuller says, 30,000 quarters were sold here annually on an average. Every Wednesday fortnight there is here by far the largest market for sheep and black cattle of any in this or the neighbouring counties; supplying not only the city, but the country around, with butcher's meat; and is resorted to constantly by the butchers from Portsmouth, and very often by those of London, &c.

The general post comes in every day about ten o'clock in the forenoon except Mondays, and goes out every day at four o'clock in the afternoon except Saturdays. The cross-post to Bristol, and all the West of England, goes out and comes in at the same time. The cross-post to Lewes, Brighthelmstone, and the Eastward, comes in every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at one o'clock in the afternoon, and goes out at three o'clock the same day. THe mail-coach and diligence go to and from Portsmouth every day. And one goes thrice in the week to Brighthelmstone, through Arundel and Shoreham. The London stage coach sets out every morning at six o'clock, and arrives at the Golden-cross, Charing-cross, early the same evening; and returns every morning from the same inn. - Quennel's waggons set out from Chichester every Tuesday and Friday morning, and arrive at the White Hart in, in the Borough, every Wednesday and Saturday, and set out on return the day following. By these conveyances large quantities of wool, for which this neighbourhood is remarkable, are sent to London, and thence into Yorkshire, and other wool manufacturing counties in England. Mansfield's waggon, through Petworth, arrives in Chichester every Saturday morning, and returns the same day to Petworth, from whence it goes to the Talbot inn, in the Borough.

The bankers in Chichester are, Messrs. Francis and John Diggens and Co. who draw on Moffatt, Kensingtons, and Co. No. 20, Lombard-street, London; and Messrs. Griffiths, Chaldecott, and Drew, who draw on Fry, Robinson, and Co. Mildred's-court, Poultry, London.

The following is a list of the corporation and principal inhabitants:.

Corporation

John Crawford, Bailiff.

Richard Halsey Esq., Alderman & justice.

Mr Edward Johnson, Town clerk.

William Johnson Esq., Alderman.

Colonel Thomas Jones, Alderman.

Right Hon. Lord George Henry Lenox, Alderman.

Robert Quennell Esq., Mayor.

William Smith Esq., Alderman & justice.

Robert Steele Esq., Recorder.

Richard Wilmott Esq., Deputy recorder.

Gentry, &c.

Mrs - Alms.

Mrs - Aspinwall.

Mrs - Baker.

Mrs - Blagden.

Captain - Briton, Royal navy.

Mrs - Bull.

John Clemments Esq.

Mrs - Duer.

Mrs - Farhill.

Mrs - Frankland.

John Gardener Esq.

Mrs - Goddard.

Joseph Godman Esq.

Miss - Hall.

Mrs - Hemmings.

Samuel Hemmings Esq.

Lady - Kers.

James Lloyd Esq.

Mrs - Luxford.

John Marsh Esq.

Edward Maxwell Esq.

Mrs - Milton.

Mrs - Mullens.

Mrs - Otway.

Mrs - Page.

John Peachey Esq., Justice of the peace.

John Quamtock Esq.

Mrs - Raper.

Mrs - St. eloy.

Mrs - Steele.

Lady - Trot.

Mrs - Trusler.

Mrs - Walter.

Mrs - Wapintosh.

John Williams Esq.

Clergy

Rev. Charles Ashburnham, Clergyman.

Rev. Sir William Ashburnham, Lord bishop of the diocese.

Rev. John Buckner, Clergyman.

Rev. James Baden Carpenter, Clergyman.

Rev. John Courtail, Archdeacon of lewes.

Rev. George Guy, Clergyman.

Rev. Nicholas Heath, Clergyman.

Rev. John Heayr, Clergyman.

Rev. Mr. - Metcalf, Clergyman.

Rev. Bartholo Middleton, Sub-dean.

Rev. Coombe Miller, Dean of chichester.

Rev. John Moore, Clergyman.

Rev. John Newman, Clergyman.

Rev. Thomas Rurnford, Clergyman.

Rev. Moses Toyhill, Clergyman.

Rev. William Walker, Clergyman.

Rev. Tho. Watson, Dissenting minister.

Physic

John Bayley M.D., Physician.

James Cockburn, Surgeon & apothecary.

- Gruggen, Apothecary & druggist.

Wm. Guy, Surgeon & apothecary.

John Mitchel, Chymist.

W Nauper, Surgeon & apothecary.

R Newland, Surgeon & apothecary.

Ar. Pesket, Surgeon & apothecary.

Robert Phillipson, Chymist & druggist.

Thomas Sanden M. D., Physician.

James Street, Surgeon & apothecary.

- Wittman, Apothecary & druggist.

Law

F Dear, Attorney & notary public.

William Fowler, Attorney & notary public.

Thomas Gawne, Attorney.

Edward Johnson, Attorney.

Ishmael Kilwick, Register to the dean and chapter.

Thomas Rhoades, Attorney.

Richard Wilmot, Attorney.

Traders, &c.

Thomas Andrews, Surveyor, timber and coal-merchant.

James Ayles, Corn-merchant and proprietor of the salt-works.

J Bartlett, Cabinet-maker & auctioneer.

William Batman, Arundel carrier.

William Bayley, Patten-maker.

James Biffin, Cooper.

- Blagden, Mercer, draper and woolstapler.

T Bull, Mercer, draper, & c.

W Bull, Mercer, draper, & c.

W Burcher, Carpenter & broker.

W Carlton, Chinaman & post-master.

- Chaldecot, Banker.

T Chaldecott, Silversmith & cutler.

B Charge, Sadler & harness-maker.

S Cobby, Collector of the customs.

John Cooper, Grocer & cheesemonger.

John Coote, Corn-merchant of Ashling.

W Cousens, Grocer & cheesemonger.

J Creswell, Corn-merchant of Rotham.

- Dally, Draper & salesman.

(son) Dally, Draper & salesman.

(son) Dawes, Ironmonger.

Ann Dawes, Ironmonger.

John Dearling, Wine-merchant, brewer, and agent to the royal exchange assurance fire office.

Cha. Dendy, Fellmonger & glover.

G Denham, Sadler & harness-maker.

Fr. Diggens, Merchant.

Fran. Diggens, Banker.

John Diggens, Banker.

John Diggens, Merchant.

- Drew, Banker.

William Duke, Grocer, linen-draper, and salesman, itchenor.

Tho. Farenden, Brazier and tinman.

J Fathers, Land surveyor of the customs.

Richard Fosbrook, Grocer, chandler, and soap-boiler.

Thomas Foster, Grocer, chandler, and soap-boiler.

- Fuller, Mercer, draper and woolstapler.

Ja. Gates, Carpenter and builder.

Joseph Godman, Tanner.

Thomas Gollick, Portsmouth carrier.

- Griffiths, Banker.

John Guy, Innkeeper and cornfactor.

James Hack, Patten-maker.

James Harvey, Wine-merchant.

Rich. Heath, Carpenter & broker.

- Heather, Mercer & draper.

- Hide, Grocer & tea-dealer.

- Hobbs, Grocer & tea-dealer.

John Hobby, Brazier & tinplate-worker.

R Holt, Currier & leather-cutter.

Geo. Hounsom, Timber-merchant.

Wm. Howard, Salesman & draper.

P Humphrey, Bookseller & stationer.

William Humphry, Brewer.

Charles Jaques, Watch-maker, silversmith, bookseller, & stationer.

John Jardin, Mercer and haberdasher.

John Kemp, Innkeeper of Swan.

J Kerwood, Miller & corn-merchant.

James Kerwood, Wine-cooper.

Mich. Kingsford, Corn-merchant.

Kem. Knight, Plumber & glazier.

John Legge, Brewer.

John Macfarland, Mercher, draper, & haberdasher.

M Manners, Sadler and harness-maker.

W Mitchell, Whitesmith & engine-maker.

- Murray, Mercer and draper.

John Murray, Grocer and distributor of stamps for the western division of sussex.

George Napper, Mercer and draper.

- Newland, Mercer and draper.

Charles Newland, Master of the customhouse cutter.

John Parsons, Innkeeper of Dolphin.

Edward Pasco, Upholder and auctioneer.

Sam Peat, Cabinet-maker & upholder.

Tho. Peerman, Grocer & chandler.

Joseph Philpot, Coach-maker.

Richard Philpot, Collar-maker & agent to the phoenix fire office.

Richard Pinnix, Mercer & draper.

- Pope, Mercer & draper.

- Pope, Mercer & draper.

J Powell, Land surveyor of the customs.

Robert Quennell, Proprietor of the waggons to london and emsworth.

Joseph Redman, Plumber & glazier.

Wm. Redman, Mercer & draper.

John Reed, Plumber & glazier.

J Reeves, Miller & corn-merchant.

- Richardson, Ladies boarding-school.

William Ridge, Brewer and brandy-merchant.

Joseph Robins, Painter.

Phil. Russell, Ladies boarding-school.

James Sayres, Cabinet-maker.

Joseph Seagrave, Printer.

Henry Silverlock, Shoemaker.

- Smart, Ladies boarding-school.

George Smith, Turner.

John Spershot, Grocer.

- Taylor, Grocer and tea-dealer.

Ja. Thomas, Breeches-maker & glover.

Francis Tier, Cutler and silversmith.

- Trew, Coal-merchant and brewer.

John Tupper, Coal & timber-merchant.

George Watts, Hatter.

(son) Weller, Upholders, auctioneers, and cabinet-manufacturers.

T Weller, Upholders, auctioneers, and cabinet-manufacturers.

Henry Wells, Grocer and turner.

John White, Upholder and auctioneer.

Alexander Williams, Wine-merchant and agent to the sun fire office.

Wm. Williams, Plumber, painter, &c.

Wm. Wills, Grocer and cheesemonger.

C Wilson, Whitesmith & ironmonger.

John Woods, Merchant.

Mary Woods, Hatter.

Wm. Woods, Merchant.

- Wooldridge, Brewer & maltster.

J Wropson, Watch-maker & silversmith.

Other People Mentioned

William , Dean of chichester in reign of henry ii.

James Archer, Hotelier.

Mr Joseph Baker, Surgeon.

Mr - Camden.

- Chaldecott, Banker.

Francis Diggens, Banker.

John Diggens, Banker.

- Drew, Banker.

Mr Bryan Edwards, Candidate in election.

Mr - Garrick, Premises hit by stones from cathedral spire.

- Griffiths, Banker.

Mr - Hardham, Tobacconist.

Sir Richard Hotham.

General - Keppel, Died 1782.

Sir William Morley, Former owner of mansion of Halnaker.

Ralph Nevile, Lord chancellor of england, benefactor of the cathedral.

J Newland, Mercer.

Robert Raymond, Builder of great tower at nw of cathedral.

Dr - Sanden, Attendant physician.

Robert Shurborne, Bishop of chichester in 1508.

Mr - Steele, Representative of the duke of richmond.

George White Thomas Esq., Successful candidate in 1784 election.

Mr John Tupper.

Sir William Waller, Besieger and taker of the city, 1642.

Hon. Percy Wyndham, Brother fo the earl of egremont.

Villages, seats, &c. in the neighbourhood. -On the Broil, near the city, is a Roman camp in the form of an oblong square, being about half a mile in length, and half as much in breadth. It is surrounded by a strong rampire inward, and a single graff outward; which, considering the nature of the soil, being a very hard gravel, must have been a work of much labour. As it is well known that Vespasian resided long among the Belgian Britons in the reign of Claudius, antiquarians are of opinion that it was he who raised this camp for the security of his forces, as the country was then in a very unsettled condition. - About two miles North of Chichester is the pleasant village of Lavant, and near it the family seat of the Millers, baronets. - Adjoining to Lavant is St. Roche's-hill; on which was formerly a chapel dedicate to St. Roche, the patron of popish pilgrims; and not far from hence are the remains of a camp, built in a circular form, supposed to have been built by the Danes, when they invaded and plundered this country. - About four miles North of Chichester (a little inclining towards the East) is Goodwood, the seat of the Duke of Richmond. It is very agreeably situated in a spacious park, and commands an extensive and delightful prospect. Goodwood formerly belonged to the noble family of Percy; but, being purchased by the present duke's grand-father, he pulled down the old Gothic structure, and erected the present mansion on the same scite. The stabling is a very fine building, inferior to few, if any, in England. The gardens, which are at some distance from the house, are extensive, and laid out with great judgement; adjoining to which is a most magnificent tennis-court. The late Duke of Richmond built some offices, which were to have corresponded with a mansion-house designed by Colin Campbell, and published by him in his Vitruvius Britannicus; but, a little before his death, he altered his design, and built a noble apartment on the South side of the house, cased with Portland stone, which was to have been one of the wings to the house his grace proposed to erect, had he lived some time longer. His present grace, without adhering strictly to the plan, has added some other improvements under the direction of the late Mr. Wyatt, which reder it a very noble and magnificent seat. His grace had a noble menagerie, where he kept a great variety of foreign animals and birds. The park was small, but planted with clumps of several forts of oaks, to the West and North of the house; but on the East and South side are different forts of pines and firs, and a variety of exotics, under the management of his present grace; it has been considerably enlarged by the addition of Halnaker-park, and immense plantations of trees, traversed throughout with a variety of roads, and cuts, which afford the most delightful rides, a fine air, and lovely prospects, and the whole is enclosed with a stone wall. It has an easy descent to the East, South, and South West, with a view of a rich and beautiful landscape, bounded by the sea, for thirty miles in length. The Isle of Wight terminates the South-west prospect, and St. Roche's-hill covers it from the North. His late grace erected a room on a rising ground, at the upper part of the park, called Carney-seat, from whence is a view of the country for many miles, and a noble prospect of the sea, from the harbour of Portsmouth quite round by the Isle of Wight, many leagues out to sea. In this room the duke frequently entertained company at dinner, there being a good kitchen built near it, with many other conveniences; and adjacent to it is his grace's pheasantry, formed in a very romantic taste out of an old chalk-pit, and finely adorned with shrubberies and walks. At the very bottom of it stands an elegant summer-room highly finished, the front opening to a distant and very pleasing view; and behind rises its chimney to a great height, in the form of a regular column, which beheld from a distance adds greatly to the beauty of the park and grounds. At a small distance Eastward from Goodwood, is Halnaker, the mansion of the late Countess of Derby, who was daughter and sole heiress of Sir Wm. Morley, to which family this mansion and estate formerly belonged. They are now both the property of the Duke of Richmond. The house is going to decay. It is the remains of an ancient castle, built quadrangularly, with a court-yard in the centre, but has otherwise nothing remarkable about it; nor is the situation at all well chosen, though, at the distance of about 100 yards from it, is a spot which commands one of the finest prospects imaginable. In the disposition of his new and enlarged park, his grace seems intent on uniting the pleasurable with the profitable; a great part being allotted to agriculture, which introduces an elegant variety into the landscape. Contiguous to the old park are very extensive fruit and flower gardens, which, through a force upon nature, the soil being a course gravel, and perfectly sterile,, it now by art and the introduction of good mould, made productive of fruit and vegetables in the highest state of perfection. - Near Halnaker is the pleasant village of Boxgrove, where a monastery, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was founded by Robert de Haye, in the reign of Henry the First, for monks of the Benedictine order: but, being an alien priory, it was dissolved in the reign of Henry the Sixth. The tithes of the parish (part of the endowment of the priory) belonged first to the Delaware family, then to the family of Arundel: afterwards the ancient family of Lumley enjoyed them; from who they came to the Morley family, and were given for ever for the endowment of the poor vicarage, by the late pious and worth Countess of Derby. Part of the priory is now converted into the parish-church.

Transcription details

The text for this section was transcribed by: Mark Collins.

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