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Midhurst
Midhurst (/ˈmɪdhɜːrst/) is a market town and civil parish in the Chichester District in West Sussex, England. It lies on the River Rother, 20 miles (30 km) inland from the English Channel and 12 miles (19 km) north of Chichester.
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 Norman St. Ann's Castle dates from 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 former parliamentary constituency of Midhurst is now an electoral ward [clarification needed] of the parliamentary constituency of Arundel and South Downs, and was previously part of the Parliamentary Constituency of Chichester represented in the House of Commons from 2017 to 2024 by Conservative MP Gillian Keegan. Since the 2024 elections, it is now represented by Conservative MP Andrew Griffith.
Midhurst is part of the Chichester District of West Sussex County, governed by the Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council respectively. Midhurst is represented by two councillors on the Chichester District Council, both of them Liberal Democrats, Jess Brown-Fuller and Hannah Burton.
The Midhurst Town Council meets monthly and comprises 15 directly elected members. The May 2015 election was uncontested as there were 13 nominations for the 15 seats, and therefore 2 vacancies. Four of these were women (31%). Various changes have occurred since the election. The council is led by a chairperson nominated by the councillors from among themselves. The council is supported by a staff of two: the Town Clerk (and Responsible Finance Officer) and an Assistant Town Clerk. There are three Council Committees: Finance, Asset and Policy (meets monthly), Community and Environment (meets monthly) and Planning and Infrastructure, which has an advisory function only to the principal planning authorities (Chichester District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority) (meets fortnightly). The times and dates of meetings, the minutes of meetings and other information is available on the Town Council website.
The Midhurst Town Council organises a community street party every December on the first Friday of December, a Summer Street Party on the last Saturday of August, various events for families throughout the year and regular 'Big Cleans'. The council is responsible for the town recreation ground and the town cemetery, and provides grants to various local clubs and organisations.
In 2014 the Town Council moved from its former offices in Capron House on North Street to the Old Library building on Knockhundred Row. The building is leased from the West Sussex County Council, with a view to its eventual purchase by the Town Council.
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Midhurst
Midhurst (/ˈmɪdhɜːrst/) is a market town and civil parish in the Chichester District in West Sussex, England. It lies on the River Rother, 20 miles (30 km) inland from the English Channel and 12 miles (19 km) north of Chichester.
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 Norman St. Ann's Castle dates from 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 former parliamentary constituency of Midhurst is now an electoral ward [clarification needed] of the parliamentary constituency of Arundel and South Downs, and was previously part of the Parliamentary Constituency of Chichester represented in the House of Commons from 2017 to 2024 by Conservative MP Gillian Keegan. Since the 2024 elections, it is now represented by Conservative MP Andrew Griffith.
Midhurst is part of the Chichester District of West Sussex County, governed by the Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council respectively. Midhurst is represented by two councillors on the Chichester District Council, both of them Liberal Democrats, Jess Brown-Fuller and Hannah Burton.
The Midhurst Town Council meets monthly and comprises 15 directly elected members. The May 2015 election was uncontested as there were 13 nominations for the 15 seats, and therefore 2 vacancies. Four of these were women (31%). Various changes have occurred since the election. The council is led by a chairperson nominated by the councillors from among themselves. The council is supported by a staff of two: the Town Clerk (and Responsible Finance Officer) and an Assistant Town Clerk. There are three Council Committees: Finance, Asset and Policy (meets monthly), Community and Environment (meets monthly) and Planning and Infrastructure, which has an advisory function only to the principal planning authorities (Chichester District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority) (meets fortnightly). The times and dates of meetings, the minutes of meetings and other information is available on the Town Council website.
The Midhurst Town Council organises a community street party every December on the first Friday of December, a Summer Street Party on the last Saturday of August, various events for families throughout the year and regular 'Big Cleans'. The council is responsible for the town recreation ground and the town cemetery, and provides grants to various local clubs and organisations.
In 2014 the Town Council moved from its former offices in Capron House on North Street to the Old Library building on Knockhundred Row. The building is leased from the West Sussex County Council, with a view to its eventual purchase by the Town Council.