Midhurst Museum Midhurst West Sussex
Midhurst Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Midhurst West Sussex. Even if you know the area well we are here to help you and can offer advice to help you make the right decision. Simply visit our website.
Midhurst Museum - The smallest Museum in the World - Minnsta Minjasafn í heimi
Small Museum. The Midhurst antique Museum. Minjasafn í Englandi.
Rudwick brothers are proud to run probably one of the smallest museum in the World. They work hard to put on displays relating to Midhurst. These are drawn from the impressive collections of the current Rudwick Brothers, well known locally for their detailed talks about Midhurst and their efforts to preserve records of the area. See more:
In Knockhundred Row you will find the Midhurst Museum, an Aladdin's cave of documents and artefacts relating to life in Midhurst over the years. See more:
Founding member of the Midhurst Museum, Dave Rudwick, said: Once again we have come up with a display which will cause the 'I remember those' moments. In the past everyone had a family member who smoked, and although now looked on as anti-social, it formed a huge part of everyone's lives. Advertising sponsored all sorts of sports and events and children encouraged dad to smoke more so they could collect the cards that were in the packs. Some of the more unusual items include a cigarette packet used for a dolls' house and tins still sealed with tinfoil to be used at sea, so if the ship sank, contents would not be damaged. :
Midhurst is situated in the Wealden Greensand, which lies between the South Downs and the Low Weald. The town is located in the Rother Valley: the River Rother flows east-south-east to join the River Arun near Pulborough, from which point the river flows southwards to reach the sea at Littlehampton. The name Midhurst is likely to relate to the area and to predate any nucleated settlement. The Old English form means the place in the middle of the hyrst (i.e. wooded hill) or the place among hyrsts. Evidently pre-Conquest in origin, the name is first recorded in 1185. By 1524 Midhurst had become the eighth wealthiest town in Sussex (again, excluding the Cinque Ports), ranking above Steyning and Bramber combined, and Arundel. See more: file:///C:/Users/Linda/Downloads/Midhurst_EUS_report_and_maps.pdf
At the recent AGM, Peter Nightingale, Chairman of the Midhurst Museum Association, thanked the Museum's volunteers for their commitment, particularly Peter Upfield for offering to open the Museum all day on a Tuesday, and all the Museum's friends for their continued support. To be able to open five days a week, Tuesday to Saturday, is a fantastic achievement. If you would like to volunteer at the Museum please contact Peter Nightingale on 07528 648643 or email: info@midhurstmuseum.co.uk. See more:
David Rudwick - Gardens and Greenhouse at work - West Lavington. horticulture
Midhurst (1939)
Midhurst, Sussex.
Various shots of the Sussex countryside - hills, fields, pond, trees etc. Various shots of the town of Midhurst - lovely old houses, narrow streets, a lovely church etc.
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Midhurst - Cowdray Castle - Kastali í Englandi
Cowdray Ruins - Cowdray Castle - on Cawseway Midhurst.
Cowdray is a Historic Tudor House set in Midhurst, West Sussex. Cowdray is one of England's most important early Tudor houses. This visitor attraction, visited by Queen Elizabeth I and King Henry VIII, was partially destroyed by fire in 1793. Its magnificent ruins are set in the stunning landscape of Cowdray Park, in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Cowdray plays host to special events throughout the season, including outdoor theatre and period re-enactments. The Cowdray audio tour is recommended for visitors and we also have a popular special children's version of the audio tour.
Cowdray Castle:
The Walled Garden:
The original fortified manor house was built in 1284 by Sir John Bohun across the river from the town of Midhurst. He named it Coudreye, the Norman word for the nearby hazel woods. In 1592 the 1st Viscounts grandson Anthony-Maria Browne inherited Cowdray. During his ownership of Cowdray, Guy Fawkes was briefly employed as a footman and the 2nd Viscount was briefly imprisoned for complicity in the Gunpowder plot after staying away from Parliament on 5 November 1605 following a warning. During the English Civil War two thirds of the Cowdray estate were sequestered and the house was garrisoned by Parliamentary forces. There are marks on the walls of the main courtyard of the house thought to be from musketballs fired by soldiers during this time. On 24 September 1793, during restoration work, a fire started in the carpenters' work shop in the North Gallery where some smouldering charcoal was allowed to fall upon the sawdust and woodshavings strewn across the floor. During the restoration work the family's furniture and treasures had also been stored in the North Gallery to make re-decorating easier. From the collection only three paintings and a few small pieces of furniture were saved, the rest including artefacts from Battle Abbey being devoured by flames. During the early 19th century the house was left to ruin, it was quickly colonised by plants, most notably of ivy which hastened its decay. Small alterations were made to the surviving Kitchen Tower such as a floor being put in above the kitchens, however it was not inhabited.
Kastalinn Cowdray í West Sussex, England:
Midhurst is the home of English polo and matches are played from May to September. The season's highlight is the Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup attracting international players and large crowds. The Cowdray Estate offers a host of outdoor pursuits including golf, cycling, fishing and clay shooting. See more:
Midhurst Common - Midhurst Railway - Gömul Lestarstöð - Ferðalag
Midhurst common in West Sussex -- Midhurst Railway - Woodland - The Midhurst White brick - old brick works factory. The site of Midhurst Brickworks, looking towards the former station site. Midhurst Whites. Steinaverksmiðjan - Gömul lestarstöð- Enskur skógur - Steinaverksmiðjan - Mjög gömul lestarstöð.
Midhurst Brickworks is a former brickworks situated to the south-west of Midhurst, West Sussex in England. The works were sited close to the (now closed) Midhurst Common railway station on the Midhurst to Petersfield. The company was soon highly profitable, generating a weekly profit in excess of £1,000] and the company was renamed as Midhurst Whites in 1938. At the same time, Benjamin Cloke decided on a flotation of the company's shares. This was not a success, but fortunately Cloke had retained a substantial holding of the company's shares, thus preventing the flotation from being a failure. Shortly after this, Cloke died from thrombosis. To handle the expanded production, new storage sheds were erected close to the railway station, with Southern Railway providing 150 special truck containers to transport the bricks without further handling. Production continued throughout World War II, with the company acquiring War Office contracts, including Thorney Island RAF Station. By 1945, the company had a stockpile of 8 million bricks. Following the closure of the railway in 1964, transport switched to the road. At the same time, the company expanded the works, crossing over the former railbed to open a new sand pit. The works had a network of three railway lines, built to a gauge of 762 mm (30 in). The system operated on three levels: the lower level, connecting the kilns to the storage sheds and railway station; the middle level, to the sand pits; and the upper level, which took waste back from the kiln to the disused pits. The Midhurst White brick suffered from excessive weathering especially in coastal areas, and as a result houses built with them needed to be rendered. The bricks did, however, have a much greater compressive strength than ordinary red bricks and could bear heavy loads without fracture. In 2012, the Midhurst Conservation Area draft plan described the bricks as not attractive, preferring traditional red bricks. The bricks were used in the light wells of Battersea Power Station, and at Broadcasting House and the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects. See more:
Midhurst is situated in the Wealden Greensand, which lies between the South Downs and the Low Weald. The town is located in the Rother Valley: the River Rother flows east-south-east to join the River Arun near Pulborough, from which point the river flows southwards to reach the sea at Littlehampton. The London and South Western Railway (LSWR) opened a single-tracked branch line from Petersfield to Midhurst in 1864, with a station c.800m from the town centre. In 1866, the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) extended the 1859 Horsham-Petworth branch line to the town, and in 1881 a line was built to connect Midhurst directly to Chichester. The Midhurst-Lavant section of the latter closed in 1935, the Petersfield-Midhurst branch closed in 1955, and the Petworth-Midhurst branch closed in 1964. See more:
Welcome to the South Downs National Park. Britain's newest National Park. This area is recognised as nationally important for its outstanding landscapes, diverse wildlife and rich cultural heritage. The South Downs is one of England's most popular destinations. Over 100 miles long, its ancient woodlands, open downland, heathlands, rivers and spectacular heritage coastline are interspersed with bustling market towns, and a multitude of captivating rural villages. The famous South Downs Way, loved by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, stretches the length of the National Park from Winchester to Eastbourne. Strolling along the top of this chalky ridge gives you the opportunity to see some of England's finest historical sites including the great Iron Age hill forts of Old Winchester Hill, Chanctonbury Ring and Devils Dyke. Covering an area of over 100 miles,
the South Downs are loved and protected for their beautiful and diverse landscapes of ancient woodlands, heathland and rivers, rolling chalk downlands and the Western Weald; which supports a network of unique and internationally important wildlife. See more:
Gistihúsið The Old Railway Station er í West Sussex, sem er við suðurströnd Englands. Ef fólk er á ferðinni þarna mæli ég með að fara út að borða á veitingastaðnum Exsurgo í Midhurst en það er um tíu kílómetra frá The Old Railway Station. Og að setjast inn á ekta breskt kaffihús og fá sér Cream Tea að hætti Sussexbúa er nauðsynlegt og alveg einstök upplifun. Lesa meira:
Spread Eagle Hotel And Spa, Midhurst, United Kingdom HD review
Set on its own picturesque grounds, this former coaching inn, with parts dating back to 1430, provides traditional accommodations and a luxurious spa in the historic Sussex market town of Midhurst.
Having been fully refurnished to provide all the comforts of a luxurious modern hotel, the Spread Eagle Hotel still retains many of its original features, including sloping floors, inglenook fireplaces and oak beams. The restaurant also features a beautiful stained glass window.
In contrast to the historic aspects of the hotel, the Spread Eagle offers a modern spa, complete with an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room and gym. Alternatively you can indulge with a personalized beauty treatment.
Walk through Midhurst - Cowdray Castle - Lítið þorp í Englandi - Ferðalag
Midhurst is a small market town in West Sussex - England. 11 oct 2015. I walked from Cowdray Castle through the village - and you can see how small it is. There is sometimes heavy traffic through the village, North Street but its always nice to see motorbikes and sports cars on the streets. And the old houses are so beautiful. All houses with yellow windows and yellow doors are the property of Lord Cowdray - Þetta er aðalgatan í Midhurst og má ganga gegnum þorpið á 10-15 mín - mikið um gamlar byggingar og öll hús með gulum gluggum eða gulum hurðum eru eign greifans í Cowdray kastalanum sem á líka flesta skóga kringum Midhurst, Pólóvöllinn og margar verslanir býr ekki í kastalanum heldur á herragarði eða óðalssetri í korteris göngu frá kastalanum - eða í skóginum fyrir aftan kastalann.
Midhurst nestles at the centre of the South Downs National Park and makes the perfect base to get out and explore this beautiful landscape: unique heathland with wide horizons, rare birds, open chalkland and wild flowers galore. See more:
Welcome to Midhurst.org, the site that brings you comprehensive and impartial information about the small but perfectly formed town of Midhurst, one of the jewels of the lovely county of West Sussex. See more:
The name Midhurst was first recorded in 1186 as Middeherst, meaning Middle wooded hill, or (place) among the wooded hills. It derives from the Old English words midd (adjective) or mid (preposition), meaning in the middle, plus hyrst, a wooded hill.
The town is home to the Norman St. Ann's Castle, which dates from the about 1120, although the foundations are all that can now be seen. The castle, the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Denis, together with South Pond (the former fish-pond for the castle) are the only three structures left from this early period. The parish church is the oldest building in Midhurst. Just across the River Rother, in the parish of Easebourne, is the ruin of the Tudor Cowdray House. The South Downs National Park, established in 2011, stretches for two hundred miles between Winchester in the West to Eastbourne and Beachy Head in the East. It encompasses the whole of the South Downs, together with a significant area of the western Weald to the north of the Downs, as far north as Alice Holt near Farnham. The Park's landscapes cover 1,600km2. The headquarters of the National Park Authority, the South Downs Centre in Capron House, Midhurst is a community hub, an exhibition about the National Park and a green conference centre. It also includes the Midhurst Tourist Information Centre. The Grange Leisure Centre was opened on 3 March 2014, replacing a nearby earlier building dating from the 1960s. It is owned by West Sussex County Council and operated by Westgate Leisure. The centre provides a number of services under one roof. It is a meeting-place for a range of clubs, including bridge, badminton, gymnastics, toddlers, line-dancing, yoga and many others. It includes: a multi-purpose four-court sports hall; a fitness room with state of the art Technogym equipment; two squash courts and a squash viewing area; a dance studio with mirrors that is also be used for fitness and community activities; a health suite, including a sauna, steam room and a spa pool; a multi-purpose community hall and community rooms; and a bar and café with Wi-Fi access. The facility overlooks South Pond, with an outdoor seating area. See more:
Midhurst in a Minute.wmv
Midhurst summed up, note the very G tractor at the end...production value!
FYI it was done on my phone so don't expect HD...
Midhurst Common - Old brick factory - Midhurst Whites - Railway - Lestarstöð - Ferðalag
Midhurst common in West Sussex -- Woodland - The Midhurst White brick - Quarry area - an very old brick works factory. The site of Midhurst Brickworks, looking towards the former station site. Midhurst Whites. Steinaverksmiðjan - Gömul steinaverksmiðja - Enskur skógur - Gömul tré og runnar - Gorse - Ulex europaeus - Girðir - Hvinviður - Gul blóm - af baunaætt.
Midhurst Brickworks is a former brickworks situated to the south-west of Midhurst, West Sussex in England. The works were sited close to the (now closed) Midhurst Common railway station on the Midhurst to Petersfield. The company was soon highly profitable, generating a weekly profit in excess of £1,000[3] and the company was renamed as Midhurst Whites in 1938. At the same time, Benjamin Cloke decided on a flotation of the company's shares. This was not a success, but fortunately Cloke had retained a substantial holding of the company's shares, thus preventing the flotation from being a failure. Shortly after this, Cloke died from thrombosis. To handle the expanded production, new storage sheds were erected close to the railway station, with Southern Railway providing 150 special truck containers to transport the bricks without further handling. Production continued throughout World War II, with the company acquiring War Office contracts, including Thorney Island RAF Station. By 1945, the company had a stockpile of 8 million bricks. Following the closure of the railway in 1964, transport switched to the road. At the same time, the company expanded the works, crossing over the former railbed to open a new sand pit. The works had a network of three railway lines, built to a gauge of 762 mm (30 in). The system operated on three levels: the lower level, connecting the kilns to the storage sheds and railway station; the middle level, to the sand pits; and the upper level, which took waste back from the kiln to the disused pits. The Midhurst White brick suffered from excessive weathering especially in coastal areas, and as a result houses built with them needed to be rendered. The bricks did, however, have a much greater compressive strength than ordinary red bricks and could bear heavy loads without fracture. In 2012, the Midhurst Conservation Area draft plan described the bricks as not attractive, preferring traditional red bricks. The bricks were used in the light wells of Battersea Power Station, and at Broadcasting House and the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects. See more:
Midhurst is situated in the Wealden Greensand, which lies between the South Downs and the Low Weald. The town is located in the Rother Valley: the River Rother flows east-south-east to join the River Arun near Pulborough, from which point the river flows southwards to reach the sea at Littlehampton. The London and South Western Railway (LSWR) opened a single-tracked branch line from Petersfield to Midhurst in 1864, with a station c.800m from the town centre. In 1866, the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) extended the 1859 Horsham-Petworth branch line to the town, and in 1881 a line was built to connect Midhurst directly to Chichester. The Midhurst-Lavant section of the latter closed in 1935, the Petersfield-Midhurst branch closed in 1955, and the Petworth-Midhurst branch closed in 1964. See more:
Welcome to the South Downs National Park. Britain's newest National Park. This area is recognised as nationally important for its outstanding landscapes, diverse wildlife and rich cultural heritage. The South Downs is one of England's most popular destinations. Over 100 miles long, its ancient woodlands, open downland, heathlands, rivers and spectacular heritage coastline are interspersed with bustling market towns, and a multitude of captivating rural villages. The famous South Downs Way, loved by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, stretches the length of the National Park from Winchester to Eastbourne. Strolling along the top of this chalky ridge gives you the opportunity to see some of England's finest historical sites including the great Iron Age hill forts of Old Winchester Hill, Chanctonbury Ring and Devils Dyke. Covering an area of over 100 miles,
the South Downs are loved and protected for their beautiful and diverse landscapes of ancient woodlands, heathland and rivers, rolling chalk downlands and the Western Weald; which supports a network of unique and internationally important wildlife. See more:
Midhurst Portas Bid 2012
Geoff Alnutt - J E Allnutt & Son Ltd Jeweller, West Street
Gordon McAra -- District Councillor, Chichester District Council & Midhurst Town Council Member
John Quilter -- Vice President Midhurst Town Council and Midhurst Town Team Chairman
Ruth Hicks -- Proprietor, Truffle Shoe Shop, West Street Midhurst
Carolyn Bishop Proprietor, Black Sheep Clothing and Crafts, West Street Midhurst
Ted James -- General Manager The Spread Eagle Hotel
Mark Purves -- Chairman Midhurst Tourism Partnership and Midhurst Town Council Member
Natasha Young, Midhurst Resident and Mother
Photographs kindly donated by Michael Chevis of
Film written and recorded by
midhurst in snow.mpg
snow in midhurst
Midhurst.... Towns in Two Minutes
A very quick look at the sights and sounds of Midhurst, a town in the South Downs National Park in West Sussex
St. Ann's Hill - Midhurst Castle - Kastalarústir - Kastaníutré
Castanea trees - í Þessum gömlu kastalarústum er að finna risastór og forn Kastaníutré alsett hnetum.
Midhurst Castle was originally an Norman earth and timber ringwork fortress. In the 12th century, it was probably the Bohuns who founded the stone fortified manor house, encased by an oval curtain wall. The castle was probably occupied until 1280 and abandoned by the early 14th century, for a new manor house called la Coudraye. The foundations of a residential tower, a hall house, a chapel and a range of buildings remain and a small break in the curtain wall may indicate the site of the gateway. Midhurst Castle is located in the village centre, on St Ann's Hill. 12 miles north of Chichester, on the A286. The site is owned by Chichester District Council and is freely accessible in daylight hours. See more:
St Ann’s Hill is a scheduled Ancient Monument lying to the east of Midhurst's Market Square. Human activity there probably dates back at least two millennia, even before the Romans came to Britain. In the Dark Ages, pre-Christianity, local people worshipped the sun god on the hill. The Norman conquerors of England in 1066 constructed a timber and earthwork castle there and a medieval lord of Midhurst built a house, the outlines of which can be seen today. St. Ann's Hill takes its name from the dedication of a tiny chapel that perhaps was the first Christian place of worship in Midhurst. Walk to it along the riverbank from Cowdray or via a lane from the Old Town. See more:
The castle is situated upon the end of a spur, overlooking steep slopes above the River Rother to the E and N and a tributary of it to the S. Westwards, the site is cut off by a weak ditch across the ridge. See more:
St Ann's Hill was the site of Midhurst's Castle from Norman times until the middle ages. The Castle was built overlooking the River Rother and a short walk up the hill gives the opportunity to see what's left of the castle earthworks and imagine what Midhurst might have been like a thousand years ago as a small military town. - See more:
St Ann's Hill Ruins - Midhurst - Kastalarústir í Englandi
St Ann's Hill Ruins in Midhurst
The ruins are reduced to a low lying 'wall' circumscribing the top of the hill. It is all grass and a wonderful place to have a picnic. :
A gate at the foot of St Ann's Hill will lead you into the heart of historic Midhurst, :
In 1316 the old St. Ann's Hill house was vandalised. In an attempted law suit the new owner, Sir John's grandson, claimed that the main building, Geldwin's hall, was worth £50 and the furnishings of its two principal rooms were valued at £62 and £12. A separate kitchen was put at £6 13s 4d and a granary contained corn worth £2 8s 4d. Both the domestic chapel and the one on Court Green were by now disused; the empty structures were rated at £5 each. The damage was never paid for and no-one accepted responsibility. The Bohuns may have exaggerated the extent of the destruction and, judging from the finds of 14th century pottery, the hall continued in use, not by them but leased out, perhaps to their steward. The site was abandoned by the 15th century and all traces gradually disappeared. THE RUINS For centuries no-one knew about the structures on the hill. In 1913 they were investigated, together with other historic buildings that formed part of the estates purchased by the first Lord Cowdray. His expert, Sir William St. John Hope, examined the Cowdray Ruins, Easebourne Priory and St. Ann's Hill, interpreting the sites and putting them into context. The deserted hill was hastily dug over by an unskilled workforce and it was decided to build-up above ground level the wall lines that were discovered. This is what we see today. In 1994 a series of key-hole archaeological searches found further evidence which, unlike that of 1913, was fully reported. See more :
A castle on St. Anns Hill, at the southern edge of Midhurst, was built soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Built by the de Bohun family, they later moved down to a moated mansion close to the site of todays Cowdray ruins. Foundations show a tower to the right of the gateway, with a chapel next. Then the main hall with probably a kitchen, or outbuildings further. It is also likely that other buildings constructed of timber, stables etc, stood within the walls, of which no evidence now remains. Around 1300 the castle, now empty, was dismantled by the Bishop of Durham, except for the chapel which was recorded as still standing in 1367. See more :
St Ann's Hill was the site of Midhurst's Castle from Norman times until the middle ages. - See more :
Midhurst Castle was originally an Norman earth and timber ringwork fortress. In the 12th century, it was probably the Bohuns who founded the stone fortified manor house, encased by an oval curtain wall. The castle was probably occupied until 1280 and abandoned by the early 14th century, for a new manor house called la Coudraye. The foundations of a residential tower, a hall house, a chapel and a range of buildings remain and a small break in the curtain wall may indicate the site of the gateway. :
St Ann's Hill, which includes a Scheduled Monument, is thickly wooded on three sides with fine mature trees located around its highest part. It rises above and to the east of the historic core and can be seen from many vantage points, making it a green landmark and an essential contributor to the town's character. Several footpaths cross the wooded slopes and could form part of a 'Heritage Walk' for the town. There are excellent views over the town's varied roofscape and the surrounding country. :
Midhurst is the home of English polo and matches are played from May to September. The season's highlight is the Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup attracting international players and large crowds. The Cowdray Estate offers a host of outdoor pursuits including golf, cycling, fishing and clay shooting. See more:
Midhurst is situated in the Wealden Greensand, which lies between the South Downs and the Low Weald. The town is located in the Rother Valley: the River Rother flows east-south-east to join the River Arun near Pulborough, from which point the river flows southwards to reach the sea at Littlehampton. See more: file:///C:/Users/Linda/Downloads/Midhurst_EUS_report_and_maps.pdf
Midhurst Trail Ride 2019
Incredible ride and weekend! Jon, Carl and I got to Barrie KOA Saturday afternoon, where we setup camp. We had a sweet camp fire, and got to bed fairly early. Sunday morning we had plenty of time to get our gear and bikes ready, and we rode to RJ's for the start of the ride. The ride was awesome, with trail conditions being perfect! Lunch was sweet, and the afternoon ride was sweeter! We finished 85% of the course, and only cut the last single track section. Back to the camp site for Sunday night, with another camp fire and good rest! Monday we traveled back to London. I looked forward to this weekend every year, and third time definitely didn't disappoint!
Midhurst Grammar School Strike 1962
In 1962 forty Midhurst Grammar School sixth formers took part in a protest over the situation in Cuba.
This clip from the 1982 BBC programme The Time of Your Life shows children's television presenter and former MGS pupil Mick Robertson talking to Noel Edmonds about his part in the strike.
The Wheatsheaf Midhurst West Sussex
The Wheatsheaf is one of the most popular attractions in Midhurst West Sussex. Even if you know the area well we are here to help you and can offer advice to help you make the right decision. Simply visit our website.
The Serpent Trail: A285, Heath End to Midhurst 16 August 2014
A further section of the Serpent Trail walked in good weather on Saturday 16 August 2014. This was approximately 9.5 miles of the Serpent Trail plus a mile or so along paths and roads into Midhurst town centre. There were the usual route finding problems- I managed to take the wrong bridlepath across Graffham Common. The absence of Serpent Trail waymarks should have alerted me to the fact that I was on the wrong path, but then again there have been no waymarks on other sections of the path that are the route of the Serpent Trail. This was quite a tough walk across all the heathland commons. But, despite all the problems, I hope you enjoy the video of the walk.
Cowdray Castle - Kastalann í Midhurst - Ferðalag
Hreggviður Loki skoðar rústir af Cowdray kastalanum 4.7.2013
Cowdray Ruins - Cowdray castle, West Sussex, England
Cowdray is a Historic Tudor House set in Midhurst, West Sussex. Cowdray is one of England's most important early Tudor houses. This visitor attraction, visited by Queen Elizabeth I and King Henry VIII, was partially destroyed by fire in 1793. Its magnificent ruins are set in the stunning landscape of Cowdray Park, in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Cowdray plays host to special events throughout the season, including outdoor theatre and period re-enactments. The Cowdray audio tour is recommended for visitors and we also have a popular special children's version of the audio tour.
Cowdray Castle:
The Walled Garden:
The original fortified manor house was built in 1284 by Sir John Bohun across the river from the town of Midhurst. He named it Coudreye, the Norman word for the nearby hazel woods. In 1592 the 1st Viscounts grandson Anthony-Maria Browne inherited Cowdray. During his ownership of Cowdray, Guy Fawkes was briefly employed as a footman and the 2nd Viscount was briefly imprisoned for complicity in the Gunpowder plot after staying away from Parliament on 5 November 1605 following a warning. During the English Civil War two thirds of the Cowdray estate were sequestered and the house was garrisoned by Parliamentary forces. There are marks on the walls of the main courtyard of the house thought to be from musketballs fired by soldiers during this time. On 24 September 1793, during restoration work, a fire started in the carpenters' work shop in the North Gallery where some smouldering charcoal was allowed to fall upon the sawdust and woodshavings strewn across the floor. During the restoration work the family's furniture and treasures had also been stored in the North Gallery to make re-decorating easier. From the collection only three paintings and a few small pieces of furniture were saved, the rest including artefacts from Battle Abbey being devoured by flames. During the early 19th century the house was left to ruin, it was quickly colonised by plants, most notably of ivy which hastened its decay. Small alterations were made to the surviving Kitchen Tower such as a floor being put in above the kitchens, however it was not inhabited.
Kastalinn Cowdray í West Sussex, England:
Castle - Kastali
The Queen Elizabeth I Oak - Midhurst - Drottningareik - Risastórt Eikartré
Sessile oak - Quercus petraea - Queen Elizabeth Oak, Cowdray Park. Midhurst. Elísarbetu I Eik. Drottningareik. Risastór fornaldareik í Englandi. Old Cowdray Oak - Girth 12.60 m @ 1.50 m Height 8.00 m.
Following a visit last weekend we can confirm this is the third biggest Sessile Oak ever recorded. The true girth currently appears to be 12.50m-12.80m depending upon how level the tape is and which bumps and burrs are avoided or not! The Pontfadog Oak in Wales is 12.85m and the Marton Oak in Cheshire is 13.38m although this tree is now fragmented. All three trees are currently recorded as champion sessile oak by the Tree Register. The QE Oak is the only one with good public access and although it is only visible from the public footpath Lord Cowdray allows the tree to be visited. Photographs from c.1900 show the QE Oak has changed considerably within the past 100 years. See more:
The Queen Elizabeth I Oak is a huge hollow Sessile Oak estimated to be 850- 1000 years old, with a girth of 12.6 metres making it the second largest tree of its kind in Europe! Queen Elizabeth I reportedly sheltered under this tree on a visit to Midhurst in 1591. It was formerly subject to pollarding which explains the very low crown shape. :
Monumental trees in Cowdray Park in Midhurst. Here 8 trees are described in Cowdray Park in Midhurst (county of West Sussex). Cowdray is a vast area that was a deer kamp during medieval times, and a lot of large, ancient trees can be found there. Concerning the many trees in Cowdray Park, the native trees that have been growing there for centuries are without doubt the most impressive. Many old oaks and a few huge Sweet Chestnut trees are growing in Cowdray Park, like the Queen Elisabeth Oak and the Cowdray Colossos Sweet Chestnut. See more:
Here you get the view of the Queen Elizabeth Oak in the picture. This tree is over 1000 years old - it still has a crown full of leaves - and accommodates fourteen people within its empty trunk. An amazing tree. Queen Elizabeth reputedly stood beneath its branches when she visited Cowdray Castle in 1591. This secret valley in Cowdray Park gets visited by few people inspite of its proximity to the popular Benbow Pond only a half a mile away. Tree-lovers should note this valley has many old specimens worth serious study. See more: