NEWSLETTER Registered Charity No

T H E CHICHESTER SOCIET Y NEWSLETTE R JUNE 2012

In this Issue:- This city needs a local plan now!

1. The urgent need for Our Chairman, Richard Childs, feels a sense of urgency

a new Local Plan The coincidence of two events has highlighted the crucial issue of planning regu- 2, 3. Chisores and a lation for Chichester in years to come. venerable tree

4. Cicestrian on The Government’s new planning policy

A-boards First, the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was pub-

5. ‘In Town without lished on 27 March. It enshrines 12 principles, including that planning should ac- my Car’ and ‘20s count for the characteristics of an area and conserve and enhance the natural envi- Plenty’ campaigns ronment. It also refers to a ‘strong sense of place’ and ‘local character and history’. Key to the implementation of the NPPF is the provision of Local Plans pre- 6, 7. Winds of Change; a pared by local planning authorities, in our case Chichester District Council. new weathervane

8, 9. Restricted Grand- eur; Chichester through the ages

10,11. Whyke Residents celebrate their 25th Anniversary

12,13. Snowballs in the Downs; a walk for Midsummer!

14, 15. Nutbourne

Vineyard

16. The opening of the The iconic view of the Trundle across the ‘Daffodil Field’ Novium The Daffodil Field 17. Meet members of your committee Second, the developers, Taylor Wimpey, recently announced proposals to build 100 houses on the ‘daffodil field’ between Summersdale and Lavant. The Chich- 18,19. Planning issues ester Society has told them that it opposes the development for three reasons: 20. The Olympic  No new housing in the Strategic Gap between Chichester and Lavant. Torch  New housing will overload the capacity of local sewage works.

 Development here is not included in the District Council’s existing plans. VISITS: We are looking for opportunities to A loophole for unrestrained development? organise further events but with a 3-month The Government has allowed a one year transition (to March 2013) in which Lo- schedule, details will cal Plans may be completed by planning authorities before the NPPF takes effect have to be sent by email. in their area. Chichester District Council decided last November to revise its time- Make sure your email table for producing a new Local Plan to December 2013. Heather Caird, Leader of address has been sent to the District Council, has replied to the Society saying she is confident that interim the editor (address on plans will remain valid until then - but there will still be a 9-month window during last page). which developers will test this assertion to the utmost in their own interests. We would rather have the security of a completed Local Plan, and urge its completion Printed on Nine Lives recycled paper with all deliberate speed to preserve the Daffodil Field and other valued sites.

Read more on our website www.chichestersociety.org.uk

Chisores - we’d like to see them go away ...

The Normans had wooden palisades to defend their castle …

… but we rely on this ugly ‘Harris fencing’. This has been disfiguring Priory Park for a year now. The rumour was that it had been put up on ‘Elf’n Safety’ grounds, to stop people tripping over and falling off the castle mound. But the path round the

edge, still accessible, is as badly eroded as any! We hope that the new CDC Parks and Open Spaces Of- ficer, Andy Howard, is allowed some money in his budget to fix the problem and allow Chichester children their traditional games of ‘chase’ round the paths. Oh, and it would look a lot better, too.

Offices to let! Quite a lot of them, to judge by the number of estate agents’ signs to be seen in the city centre these days. Maybe the office space has become availa- ble as tenants’ businesses have failed, or maybe landlords are squeezed and looking for some extra income. Either way, it would add to the vitality of the city centre to have these offices in use. But is sticking up large boards on the fronts of historic buildings the way that business really operates these days? Surely any substantial business will con- duct a search online, rather than prowl the streets on the offchance of seeing something that might be useful?

One sign might catch the eye; a dozen or so disfigure the area for Cicestrians and give a bad impression of a struggling city centre to prospective tenants. There used to be a ban on these boards in the Conservation Area but five years ago CDC Planning was “too busy” to renew the necessary ‘Article 4’ direction. Perhaps this is a job for our new BID (Business Im- provement District) who could set up a webpage for city centre properties to let, and exert pressure on agents to take down these ugly boards. (That drain- pipe could do with some paint, too!)

ISSUE NUMBER 173 ~ JUNE 2012 THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Registered Charity No. 268055 2

When is a brick not a brick?

When it’s tarmac! Much as we appreciate the reinstatement of temporary repairs in the city centre (though it must be said that the amount of work being done seems to be out of proportion to the problem), Westgate is also part of the Conservation Ar- ea, and has been waiting ten years for some of these tarmac patches to be re-instated. The danger of leav-

ing it so long is that the identity of the original utility company who dug up the road will have been lost. With mergers and takeovers in the utility indus- try now the norm, there’s even room for a disclaim- er - “It wasn’t us guv, it was that other lot” - and the expense returns to the West Sussex taxpayer. Mean- while yet more tarmac appears, as in the picture on the left. We will be timing its reinstatement!

Have you seen a Chisore that you would like to be featured? Tell the Editor! (536725)

FAREWELL TO A GRAND OLD TREE!

The old horse chestnut in Westgate has finally come to the end of its life and has had to be taken down. There have been venerable trees here for over 100 years, as our 1890s photograph shows. Your editor has been told by both West Dean Gardens and CDC Parks that they have had to fell an unusually high number of dis- eased trees this last year. Maybe the stress of prolonged drought was too much for these old giants. Your committee is negotiating with the local authorities to sponsor the replanting of trees in crit- ical locations.

Note, however, that as far as trees on the Walls are concerned, English Heritage has to be persuaded that the presence of trees is part of the Walls’ history before they will relax their blanket ban on tree The trees in Westgate after the planting within 1881 blizzard, (left); and being 5m. of a scheduled felled with ‘cherry picker’ and ancient monument. chipper, April 2012 (right)

Read more on our website www.chichestersociety.org.uk 3

Cicestrian returns to the fray on A-boards! The long-running battle of the A- Diminishing returns There is now a suggestion that a boards in Chichester is entering a £50 annual licence fee should be new phase. And it could end up As it is, the centre has maintained demanded for each board, and with an annual licence fee being a lot of its fine character, and not this idea is currently being demanded from shopkeepers, in ended up looking like a hundred mulled over by city councillors. the hope of deterring them from other commercial centres up and This might be a minor deterrent, advertising their products and down the country. Local traders but would certainly not bring their presence in this way. argued long and hard against this about a major reduction. One policy, but fortunately failed to councillor has suggested it should win the day. All of us want to A complete ban? be upped to £500 a year. have a prosperous and lively Many people feel West Sussex shopping centre, but there is a No-one is suggesting the traders County Council should grasp the powerful argument that neither should be deprived of any adver- nettle and ban the illegal boards illuminated signs nor A-boards tising at all. Standing signs like for once and for all. The whole help to ensure this in any way. the one at Eastgate Square are a city would look better for it, with step in the right direction, and the removal of a worsening eye- There are now so many boards in there are various other methods sore, and pedestrians would no the main streets that any impact is of signing, such as that at the longer have to put up with the lost in a general morass of colour North Street entrance to Crane many obstructions - a particular and words. If anything, they con- Street, to say nothing of the shop blessing for the disabled in bug- spire with other manifestations fronts themselves, and their de- gies and the partially sighted. such as the pedlars hawking their sign. tatty wares in the streets and am- Naturally, the retailers would ob- plified bellowing buskers to im- Drastic action ject, as they objected years ago to pair Chichester's reputation as a the local policy of banning illu- quality shopping location. Perhaps the only way to get rid of minated signs from the city cen- the A-board nuisance is for the tre. We all have some harsh The opposing parties county council to give traders due things to say about planners from warning that it intends to remove time to time, but all credit to Lined up on one side in the A- these illegal obstructions. It them for sticking to their guns on board dispute are organisations should follow up the warning by this issue. If they hadn't, the cen- including the Chichester Society hiring a lorry to collect those left tral area would be full of flicker- and the Conservation Area Advi- in the streets and take them to the ing signs of all shapes, sizes and sory Committee, as well as Westhampnett tip. It would be colours - a depressing vision of groups representing the disabled. good riddance to bad rubbish. commerce at its worst in the heart On the other side, of course, are of a historic city. the city retailers, who maintain that in the current chilly econom- ic climate they need all the advertising they can get. What is hap- pening currently is that the county and district councils want to transfer responsibility for a range of their street licensing duties to the city council. This is quite a reasonable idea, because there is certainly confusion at present over who does what.

Licensing as a solution Prizes to The Old Cross for the One of the duties in question is A largest and greatest number of -boards, which the county council A-boards; and to Crane Street for is responsible for controlling. the most obstructions.

ISSUE NUMBER 173 ~ JUNE 2012 THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Registered Charity No. 268055 4

Chichester - less cars or car-less? Sarah Sharp introduces the latest sustainable transport initiatives - ‘In Town without My Car’ Day & ‘Give Your Cars Time Out’.

The ‘ITWMC’ Become an Undriver! campaign We have also launched the novel At the beginning of the year we idea of issuing "Undriver Li- launched "In Town without My cences" to encourage you to Car Day" in Chichester with a pledge to give your car Time meeting with Keith Taylor, our Out once a month, once a week, MEP. The bold intention is to or even more, if you can manage encourage and promote sustaina- it. This is a personal pledge ble travel in all its forms on 22nd which we can all make with the 20’s plenty - latest news of each month. Please look in the aim of weaning ourselves off Chichester Observer, or listen to over-dependency on the car as We are pleased to announce that, Spirit FM, to find out more about the default mode of transport. subject to a successful South our upcoming events. On 22nd The car might be appropriate for Chichester County Local Com- nd June you will hopefully find us in some journeys but it may well be mittee meeting on 22 May, we the Cattle Market Car Park trying that there is an alternative at oth- will all be able have our say on to put as many bikes as possible in er times, which might be quick- 20mph limits in Chichester. a car parking space, for which we er, better for you and your pock- Consultation may take place in will, of course, pay! et, and for the environment too. September.

Do we want communities in which children are not allowed to venture out alone to play and explore their world or elderly people feel intimidated by the speed of traffic? Pollution, too, stays stubbornly high. Would we rather not start to re-think the shar- ing of our streets and tip the bal- ance slightly more in favour of the pedestrian and cyclist. The choice is yours.

What you can do

Please do think seriously about taking part in this consultation. We seem tantalizingly close to a breakthrough to unlock the potential for safer, quieter streets. We must seize the opportunity to think about how we see Chiches- ter developing and what sort of Logo design by Clara Potter, Chichester High School for Girls communities we want to live in.

Please do apply for your Undriver's Licence without delay by emailing Please put up our 20's Plenty [email protected] or phoning 07789 843556 or 01243 790077 with poster (which you can download your pledge. The same contact address and phone can be used for any from the website) and take part in enquiries about the 20’s Plenty campaign. The 20’s Plenty website is the consultation in September. at www.20splentyforchichester.org.uk.

Read more on our website www.chichestersociety.org.uk 5

Winds of Change? The new weathercock intrigued John Wichers and he set out to find out more. Here is the first part of his researches

Chichester has a considerable where he emphasized the benefits perch high above the town. number of jewellery shops and as that “Fair Trade” gold was giving With the ball firmly back in Cred a mark of local prosperity we to impoverished miners in Jewellery’s court, Greg Valerio should be glad to have them. For- S.America, he issued a friendly spent the next two months trying tunate then, that one of their num- challenge to the church; namely to source the gold leaf production, ber chose to promote its particular that it would be a wonderful ges- without which the plan would speciality – Fair Trade Gold – in ture if our Chichester Cathedral never have come to fruition. such an unusual manner. The sto- could be the first ecclesiastical Easy, you might think; but today ry of how the “Golden Cockerel” institution in the world to com- over 90% of the world’s gold leaf came to be is an interesting tale mission something made from or is manufactured in China, and and here it is! containing Fairtrade gold. with that country’s human rights record, this source was quickly ruled out!

From Peru to Italy

After countless enquiries and false leads, in what Greg readily admits was the most difficult part of the exercise, he eventually tracked down a small, Italian family-owned concern in Florence, run by Giusto Manetti Battiloro, which has been producing gold leaf for over 180 years. Their skilled work adorns many famous buildings, including the Palace of Versailles and Windsor Castle.

Contact was duly made for the The old weathercock showing its age supply of the gold leaf – a highly specialized process in itself – as Fairtrade gold and the The idea of a new cockerel Greg now needed to negotiate an early delivery date with the Italian Cathedral To his enormous credit (and it factory as the maintenance of the Back in February 2011, Chiches- must be admitted, to Greg’s sur- cockerel was nearing completion. ter Cathedral allowed one of its prise), the Dean responded imme- Manettis then sprung an unwel- cloisters to be used for a photo- diately and positively. “Yes!” he come surprise on Greg by an- graphic exhibition of hand-crafted said, “the weather vane of the ca- nouncing that the firm would jewellery from Cred Jewellers in thedral is due for a service and close down completely for a South Street. The opening of this has to be removed and checked. whole month’s summer holiday. show was well attended by Why not take this opportunity to For a while it looked as though guests, significantly including the give it a new look and encase it in the cockerel would miss out on its Dean of the cathedral, the Very Fair Trade gold?” And so, the new coat of gold but for another, Reverend Nicholas Frayling and idea was born and remarkably this time, welcome avian intru- of course the founder of Cred swiftly, became reality: eight sion: the peregrine falcons had Jewellery, Mr. Greg Valerio. months from inception to finished returned to the cathedral and must article, on November 2nd the not be disturbed for the nesting At the close of Greg’s welcoming cockerel, in its fine new coat of season! This “divine” intervention speech to the assembled guests, gold leaf was hoisted back to its gave Greg and the Manettis the

ISSUE NUMBER 173 ~ JUNE 2012 THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Registered Charity No. 268055 6

£29,000 per kilo - not an incon- siderable outlay!

Only 9 grammes were needed – the weight of 1 signet ring – an amazingly small amount considering the size and surface area of the cockerel. The explanation lies in the thickness, or rather “thin- ness” of the leaf; so fine it is measured in microns (and a mi- cron is 1/1000 of a millimetre). This gold leaf was only 18 microns thick; a necessity for the delicate gilding procedure.

To the steeple

The next and most “nail-biting” stage in the saga was the removal The first stage in restoration - re-soldering to strengthen the body of the weathervane. For this extra time needed to source and chapter, we hear from the cathedral Clerk of Works, Ralph deliver the gold to the factory for How to make gold leaf transforming to gold leaf. Tyreman. He recounted that the The next hurdle was the actual cockerel had never been removed production of the gold leaf. from its perch since installation in Artisanal mining Manetti makes this in “batches” 1977. This operation replaced the The responsibility for sourcing and a minimum quantity of 250 original, now in the cathedral mu- the gold was placed with A.R.M., grammes gold is needed for the seum. That 1977 replacement was The Alliance for Responsible process. As only 9 grammes of far less robust in its construction Mining, an organization that is gold leaf are required to adorn the than its earlier forebear of 1680, allied to the international Fair cockerel, the remainder would be which still shows indentations Trade movement and specializes melted back into gold and ab- made by bullets (reputedly from in buying gold from small-scale, sorbed into Cred Jewellery’s an enemy aircraft inWW2!). artisanal mines in S.America - stock. Considering the price of mines that are essentially owned gold at the time was about Continued on page 9 and run by the local people. These miners get a 10% premium on the current international price of gold on condition that this premium is re-invested in the local community for improving their working environment.

Additionally, if the gold is mined without recourse to hazardous chemicals, such as mercury or cyanide, they receive an extra 5% premium. It is a little known fact but one worth mentioning, that of all the gold that is mined in a year (about 2500 tonnes) artisanal and small-scale miners account for just 10% of global supply but fur- nish a staggering 90% of the la- bour used in gold extraction. The second stage in restoration - a coat of protective paint

Read more on our website www.chichestersociety.org.uk 7

Restricted Grandeur Richard Childs explores this description of Chichester through the ages, following in the footsteps of a former colleague at County Archives

To paraphrase Kipling, “What do devoted to the sick – plus ça they know of Chichester who change! only Chichester know?” It is often the passing visitor who can per- Eric Gill ceive more about a place than a and William Hudson long time resident. However, by the end of the 19th In 1974 a former colleague of century, the engraver, Eric Gill mine, Tim McCann compiled Re- found much to admire. I only stricted Grandeur – Impressions knew that Chichester was what of Chichester 1586-1948, which Brighton was not, an end, a thing, was published by West Sussex a place, the product of reason and County Council. As County Ar- love. For love too was visi- chivist I was delighted to be able nd ble...... Here was something as to publish a 2 edition of Tim’s human as home and as lovely as book in 1995. The book reproduc- heaven. es some 30 authors’ thoughts on Chichester over 400 years. Cross of Stone like a greate arch, The Society’s current campaign its pretty large and pirramydy against the proliferation of A Celia Fiennes form with several Carvings. Boards is reflected in the words and Daniel Defoe of the naturalist William Hudson, Daniel Defoe was pretty unim- who visited Chichester in 1900. In 1696 Celia Fiennes visited pressed by the place on his visit in As to the sights: when you enter Chichester and summed it up suc- 1722 .....and yet I cannot say and walk in the streets you en- cinctly as follows: this is but a much for the city of Chichester, in counter a strange procession of little Citty encompass’d with a which, if six or seven good fami- signs, advancing to meet you, not wall, with 4 gates which castes lies were removed, there would always singly but often in twos the two streets directly across not be much conversation, except and threes. Hudson was of course each other and so lookes through what is to be found among the canons, and dignitaries of the ca- from gate to gate...... in midst of Writers on Chichester: Daniel thedral. these 2 or 4 Streetes divided by Defoe (left), Eric Gill (above), the Market place is a very faire William Hudson (below) William Pitt Lennox

Over 100 years later Lord Wil- liam Pitt Lennox was disappoint- ed by the city and reflected on better times lost when he wrote, Those who remember Chichester in its palmy days would scarcely believe the dullness that now pre- vails there, many of the principal shops are closed, the barracks instead of being occupied by some crack infantry corps and two squadrons of cavalry, are now principally devoted to the sick and wounded of the Crimean ar- my. Shops closed and the barracks

ISSUE NUMBER 173 ~ JUNE 2012 THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Registered Charity No. 268055 8

referring to the city’s 70 or so pubs and their signs.

And finally …

The final quotation that I’ve selected is taken from Dr. Thomas Sharp who was commissioned by the City Council to advise on the preservation and replan- ning of the City. His report that was published in 1949 as Georgian City included the following statement: It is not only that so much of its building is good, being Georgian: even as Georgian it is outstandingly good. The city has, for its size, an altogether unusual number of distinguished buildings. Here again outside the special places like Oxford, Cambridge and Bath, the city has few rivals, and certainly none among the smaller towns. Richard Childs

Special Offer

Restricted Grandeur is a delightful compilation and I recommend it to all those with an interest in the city’s heritage. Copies may be purchased from West Sussex Record Office for £5. Howev- er, members of the Chichester Society can pur- chase copies at a specially reduced price of £4 upon production of this Newsletter at the Record Office.

The Cockerel - Continued from previous page mer North Sea trawlerman Adrian Tarrant, explains how he got the job; his firm’s main business is the For the removal and replacing of the weathervane, installation of lightning rods and “earthing” on tall Ralph engaged the services of Tarrant Specialist chimneys and high-rise buildings. The specialist Earthing – a Hunston-based firm. Proprietor and for- climbing skills required are perfectly suited to the scaling of the cathedral spire. The alternative – un- thinkably expensive – would have been to encase the entire spire in scaffolding.

A dizzying climb

It took his team of four steeplejacks the entire first day to carry all the equipment needed from ground level to the base of the spire. The most difficult part of the operation now began – the construction of the ladder. All 14 of the 4 metre (13 ft) sections are indi- vidually lifted and attached to eye-bolts firmly screwed into the spire’s stonework for the entire 184 ft (56m for the metrically inclined); finally, scaffold rods and wood planks are lifted by block and tackle and fashioned into a working platform complete with a waist-high safety railing. This took the team a further three days.

To be concluded in our next issue Do you want his job?

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Celebrating Whyke’s 25th! Geoff King, Chairman of the Whyke Residents’ Association, looks back at achievements and memorable moments in the Association’s history Whyke Residents’ Association is massive alterations to the mar- 25 years old this year and contin- ket’s usage and the potential ef- ues to have much to do keeping fects on the community of pace with the issues that affect the Whyke. These were heady days. residents of the South East of Chichester. Scope and character

Founded in adversity Once established the WRA Committee expanded its interest In the beginning there was a very to embrace the whole of the real threat to the community that neighbourhood of Whyke ex- brought together concerned resi- tending south and east to the dents. In the case of Whyke it A27 by-pass including the was the proposal to drive an inner Whyke Estate, the schools and ring road through the Cattle Mar- the Quarry Lane estate. ket from New Park Road to Mar- ket Avenue and to build a super- Whyke residents recognise the store and multi-storey car park on distinctive character of their the Market site. neighbourhood which lies outside yet is very much connected The nucleus for the residents’ to the heart of Chichester. They group was already made up of are proud of its unique heritage active members of other City reaching back to pre-Roman Replacing the footbridge - a local groups including the Chichester times. issue from 2008 Society. Our first chairman, George Appleby, and Professor Adjacent to the City walls with ture – from flint galleted mid - Freddie Fielden who became our its Amphitheatre, former Cattle Victorian to small-scale modern Market and roads bearing names first President guided the associa- eco-friendly developments. tion through objecting to the pro- like Caledonian linked to former posals. Local residents had previ- ironworks and First World War Its close proximity to the town, ously witnessed the demise of the events like Cambrai. Whyke has the corner shop, the bus services livestock market and could see many different styles of architec- and the railway, the schools and to the out of town facilities makes Whyke a popular and pleasant place in which to live. The one drawback is the lack of a safe ac- cess across the A 27 to the south.

Monitoring change

The WRA have steadily grown in confidence in identifying qualities which make living in Whyke worthy of maintaining and en- hancing. Throughout the years it has served as the eyes and ears of the community and has developed strong working relations with all levels of the local authorities. South Ward Councillors regularly attend committee meetings and Landscaping project at junction of Whyke Lane and Kingsham Road the Association’s representatives

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have contributed to many Chich- Co-operate or confront? ester committees. Planning applications are reviewed and com- Over time the WRA committees mented upon, particularly if they have acquired considerable affect the Conservation Area. knowledge and from a state of confrontation at the founding of Current problems the association has developed many useful skills in consultation Over the past 25 years Whyke, in and collaboration. Many issues common with other Chichester that would have in former times residents’ groups, has dealt with passed without comment have recurring themes such as changes been identified and dealt with. in population; infill housing de- The WRA is active in supporting velopments; multiple occupancy local institutions - the young res- with increasing numbers of stu- idents of The Foyer, asylum dents; pressures on street parking, seekers, Stonepillow and St and traffic flow. Joseph’s Hospice, the police and This summer the longstanding community police, the local concerns over the development of schools and St George’s Church. The Heritage site at the end of A Golden Jubilee street party 10 Winden Avenue are being closely Community activities years ago - watch out for more monitored in collaboration with this summer HydeMartlet Housing Associa- Several landscape schemes and tion. Traffic and parking issues commemorative tree plantings the Association to achieve other will no doubt try the patience of have been completed, with local projects. local residents once the demoli- residents joining together for planting and maintenance. Stra- tion work begins, and the con- New notice boards struction will take two or more tegic blank corners are now filled years to complete. with seasonal colour and interest One piece of good news is that for all to appreciate. the WRA have gained permission

Currently the WRA membership to mount a new notice board on stands at just under 100 house- the western edge of the Amphi- holds, some of whom have been theatre close to the Cattle Market supporters since its early days. entrance on Whyke Lane. This Well attended annual Open will provide local groups with a Evenings with engaging themes space to advertise their activities. always attract lively debate. This summer’s Jubilee parties will Aided by a glass of wine the certainly be posted there for all to question and answer session see. flows particularly well! Membership subscriptions are £3 per household and can be Millennium and Jubilee paid to WRA Treasurer at 9 To celebrate the advent of the Willowbed Avenue PO19 8JD. new Millennium, a number of talented WRA researchers and artists came together and decided to produce not only a neighbourhood map, but also recorded an oral history and published Aspects of Whyke. A book which Chichester Society life member proved so successful that this Geoff King was a member of the year it went to a second edition. Noviomagus planning group at Whyke Community Mosaic in Funds raised through the sales of the time of the foundation of the collaboration with Art4Space these publications have helped Whyke Residents’ Association.

Read more on our website www.chichestersociety.org.uk 11

A Midsummer Snowball Hunt! David Wilson goes in search of the mysterious ‘snowballs’ on the Downs

Snowballs and Chalkstones as I do, the idea of digging a hole someone being baffled and won- and finding it white seems totally dering whether a local farmer Andy Goldsworthy, the artist, has contradictory … it was like find- might have done something a fascination with artworks in a ing sky in the ground.” strange; and then coming on an- landscape that will change over a other and yet another, and gradu- period of time. These have includ- Changing with time ally becoming absorbed by the ed sand sculptures on the beach, enigma of them”. stone cairns in rivers, and most For him there was also the fasci- conspicuously, giant snowballs in nation of seeing these stone snow- the centre of London as part of an balls transformed into something exhibition at the Barbican in 2000. which would ‘melt’ in slow mo- These melted slowly and unpre- tion – the chalkstones are ex- dictably over three or four days pected to decay in 200 years, not 3 revealing their inner contents from days! Planning permission has wool to pinecones. been extended to allow them to stay longer than the original 2 In 2002 Andy Goldsworthy set up years, so our younger readers may the Chalkstones Trail between get some indication of whether the Cocking and West Dean with the 200-year estimate is accurate support of the Pallant House Gal- (some in exposed positions don’t lery, local councils and the estates look as if they’ll make it to 100). that the trail passes through. The visual parallel with snowballs seems obvious to us Sussex dwell- ers, but Andy Goldsworthy re- gards chalk as a rare and peculiar thing. “For me, chalk has always had mythical, magical properties. Stone 6 cracking up in 2012. Coming from the Scottish borders, Stone 8 scarcely changed since this 2002 photo.

How to find the route

The walk is described from the top of Cocking Hill to West Dean, as you can then get tea and cakes at the end of the walk! Distance about 5 miles with 700 feet of as- cent. Grid references in brackets.

Leave your car in the car park where the South Downs Way Stone 5 - white in 2002, going crosses the A286 road to Mid- green by 2012 hurst, and catch the no. 60 bus

back from West Dean (on the hour Already one of his predictions, and half-hour Mon-Sat, 20 mins that with time the white stones past the hour on Sun). Or catch will become green, and dim like the bus out from Chichester (15 lights going out, has proved true; and 45 past the hour Mon-Sat, 5 and also perhaps has his wish that past on Sun) and back from West Stone 1 above Cocking (2012); people may come upon the stones Dean (20 and 50 past Mon-Sat, 5 Stone 2 with (improvised) by chance, and wonder how they to the hour Sun). But CHECK decorated molehills (2002) got there. “I love the thought of these times before setting out!

ISSUE NUMBER 173 ~ JUNE 2012 THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Registered Charity No. 268055 12

7. Keep straight on, past the well- Stone 12 is just a little way up the known wild daffodil woods on the steep track, threatening to roll

left. You come to Stone 7 in the down the hill! [854136]

hedgerow on the left, in ½ mile, a 13. Keep on the track to find Stone few yds before the road. [843152] 13 on the left after 350 yds. The 8. Stay on the track another 300 yd coppiced area on the left has pro- until it ends at the road; the Ro- vided the stakes and binders for man road from Chichester to hedgelaying in West Dean Gar-

Silchester passes through this dens. [858134]

point. Turn left. Stone 8 is in front 14. Down the hill to the old rail- of you at the corner of the road. way bridge, with Stone 14 covered [842150] in ivy just beside. This bridge is 9. Take the track past the stone for known locally as the King’s 500 yd. Stone 9 is where you re- Bridge. It was Edward VII’s fa- join the road. [846143] vourite route when going with a

shooting party up to the Royal

Oak at Hooksway. [863129]

15. At the main road, follow signs to the left leading to West Dean Gardens and passing the bus stops for return. Stone 15 can be seen in Stone 11 at the roadside, 2012. the parkland across the Lavant in Stone 12 threatening to roll down front of the House. Entry fee to hill in 2002 - but it’s still there! gardens payable to visit the stone, but not if just stopping for tea. The route itself [864124] 1. Set off up the track by the side of the car park. After ¾ mile you will see Stone 1.[864168]

2. Fork left at stone 1, and continue ½ mile to Stone 2. [856166]

3. Fork right at stone 2; after 150 yd bear left. Look for Stone 3 in coppice on right in a further 200 Stone 13 by the coppice, now cut. yd. [853167] Stone 14 at the King’s Bridge 4. Go straight on down hill. Going The end of the trail - stone 15 in (both 2002) up the other side look for a ruin in 2002 (with sheep wondering why the woods to the right, said to be 10. Stay with the road – a long bother?) an old smallholding (with snow- straight stretch, lined with trees drops planted around though these planted for Edward James who seem to be getting shaded out and owned West Dean, to shade him decreasing). You will see Stone 4 when he travelled from the House nestling in a dip where the next up to his private residence at track crosses over. [848167] Monkton House on the Downs. Stone 10 is on the left near the top 5. Turn left (not half left) and find of the hill. [850139] Stone 5 after 250 yd, on left at start of West Dean Estate (pre- 11. More road walking; Stone 11 viously you were on Cowdray is just over the brow of the hill on land). [847164] the left [851137] A first for the Newsletter! If you have a QR enabled smartphone, 6. Keep straight on and find 12. And down the hill on the road, you can download a webpage Stone 6 in a glade on the right af- round the bend, and turn left (not with the walk directions, to save ter 500 yd [846160] sharp left) just after the cottage. taking your Newsletter with you.

Read more on our website www.chichestersociety.org.uk 13

Pioneering Sussex winemakers show the way Bridget and Peter Gladwin tell the story of their vineyard near Pulborough

stalled in 2010 so we able to complete everything from start to fin- ish on the same site.

Our wine

Owen Elias, our award-winning wine maker, oversees production of both still and sparkling wines. A combination of choice of which grapes to blend and of which type of fermentation to use gives a wide variety of types of wine.

 Nutbourne Sussex Reserve: uses a blend of Bacchus, Huxelrebe and Reichensteiner grapes to produce a distinctive, elderflowery, crisp and dry white wine - nearly half our annual production. Nutbourne Vineyards were first about 40,000 bottles of wine,  Bacchus: a single grape varie- planted in 1980 as one of the ear- though this varies from year to ty that is dry and floral. ly pioneers of wine grape grow- year. Harvesting usually takes  Nutbourne Blush: a delicate ing in this country. We’ve owned place in early October but de- rosé wine made from Pinot Noir and managed the vineyard since pends on the ripening season. and Schönburger grapes – light, 1991 and over the years it has de- The latest wine making equip- zesty with ample fruit. veloped and expanded as English ment and technology was in-  Hedgerow: an off-dry wine wines have come of age. It’s nice to report that Nutbourne is now considered one of the premier boutique wine producers in the South East, offering a range of estate-grown still and sparkling wines that can compete anywhere in the World.

Our vineyard

There are 26 acres under vine planted in the greensand soil on south-facing slopes protected by the South Downs. We tend the vines throughout the year, prune by hand during the winter and then train and nurture them over the summer.

Our harvest target is for just over 50 tonnes of grapes from the whole vineyard. This produces

ISSUE NUMBER 173 ~ JUNE 2012 THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Registered Charity No. 268055 14

(Opposite) Views of the vineyards in Nutbourne as the grapes are being planted and tended

(This page) Grapes ready to harvest; the winery where they are fermented; and bottled ready to drink!

with good depth and hints of hedgerow fruits made from Schönburger and Müller- Thurgau. Nutty Brut: a traditional bottle -fermented sparkling wine made with Pinot Noir, Char- donnay and Reichensteiner - about a quarter of our output. We also offer group We welcome visitors tours of the vineyard and winery with organ- Alongside the vines and wine ised tastings. These production, we like to think that take place in our wine Nutbourne is a lovely place to lodge where buffet or visit with stunning views to the barbecue meals can also South Downs. We have lakes be provided. with resident ducks and swans, plus a family of llamas!

Visitors are welcome from May Further Information to October, weekdays 2pm to Please contact us on 01798 815 196 or email nutbournevine- 5pm with weekends and bank [email protected] holidays 11am to 5pm. There is no entrance charge and you can The text of this article was provided by Bridget Gladwin of walk among the vines, enjoy the Nutbourne Vineyards beautiful setting and visit the windmill tower to taste and buy the wines.

The attractive rural setting of the vineyard, and the splen- did view to the Downs.

Read more on our website www.chichestersociety.org.uk 15

The Novium is to open on July 8th! Tracey Clark, Novium Manager, gives us a preview of the new museum

Over the past year the museum Jupiter restored! staff have been working with pro- “There are so many highlights to fessional conservators and spe- Along with the bath house re- mention! I believe visitors will be cialist contractors to transfer the mains and Chilgrove Mosaic, an- surprised at the size of the remains collections from the old museum other key exhibit will be the Jupi- of the Roman Baths and fascinat- in Little London to the new store ter Stone. This has been painstak- ed by the audio-visual film show- at The Novium and install objects ingly conserved and restored to ing how the baths were built and into the new store and gallery dis- take a prime position in the muse- used. The reaction we receive plays. um. It is a portion of Roman from people viewing the remains sculpture base, which has been for the first time is ‘wow’! dated from anywhere between the A grand entrance late first and early third century Brand new views As visitors enter the ground floor AD. It was dedicated to the Ro- of the new museum they will en- man god Jupiter and was found “Visitors are also surprised by the counter the large Chilgrove Mosa- during excavations at West Street breath-taking views of Chichester ic, which dates back to the fourth in 1934. Cathedral from the second floor. century and was discovered at A bench facing the large window Moving problems Chilgrove Roman Villa. This was provides an opportunity to sit and the first object to be transferred to, Tracey Clark, The Novium Man- enjoy the outlook whilst listening and installed at, The Novium. Due ager, says: “This is the biggest to the fascinating story that ac- to its size, weight and construc- move in the museum's history. It companies the view. tion, this was no easy task as one has been an extremely challenging of the sections alone weighed operation for all the staff. It was ”I can’t wait to welcome Chiches- 500kg and there were four sec- not like your average house move ter Society members and hope tions in total! as we not only packed the collec- they will enjoy the new thematic displays, seeing many exhibits we The mosaic has been sited oppo- tions into special conservation have never had the room to show site the remains of Chichester’s grade boxes and crates marked before, and the building itself.” Roman bath house, which have with the room they are to go into, been uncovered for the public to but also made sure that every indi- see for the first time and which vidual object could be tracked and International Fame located at every stage of the dominate the ground floor. Since The building has been designed move. In addition a number of the baths were first excavated in by the award winning Keith Wil- objects required conservation the 1970’s they have lain pre- liams Architects, whose projects treatment involving professional served under a car park, until the include the Wexford Opera House conservators and all had to be museum could be purposely built in Ireland and The Unicorn Thea- transferred to the new site by a over the top. tre in London. specialist removal company. Continued below opposite Never been seen before like this!

The Roman Baths in situ as you enter

The Bell Tow- er and the Cathedral Spire at eye level

ISSUE NUMBER 173 ~ JUNE 2012 THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Registered Charity No. 268055 16

Meet your committee! We introduced the Society’s Chairman, Richard Childs, at the last AGM. This is one of an occasional series to tell you about the rest of your committee Anthony Quail, Secretary David Wilson, Treasurer & Editor

Anthony is a relative newcomer to Chichester, arriv- David is also an incomer, arriving in Chichester in ing here in 2007 with wife Sarah and son Hugh after 2002 after a career teaching science at Manchester thirty years in Portsmouth. Interested in civic life and Grammar, then as deputy head at Maidstone Gram- heritage issues, Anthony joined the Society, and be- mar School, latterly teaching computing. He served came secretary in Autumn 2010, six months before the Society as Secretary for a while before becoming he retired from Portsmouth City Council as research Treasurer and later using computer skills to compile and policy manager specialising in housing policy the newsletter. He finds working on the Chichester and strategy. ‘Retirement is a myth,’ comments Society committee not unlike the deputy head’s credo Anthony, ‘I’ve rarely been so occupied in my life!’. “If it moves, it’s your problem; if it doesn’t move it’s your fault!” Anthony grew up with his two younger brothers in rural north Oxfordshire and recalls Children’s Hour Although David is a Kentish Man, a recently devel- on the Home Service and only one BBC TV channel! oped interest in family history has led to the discov- Three years ‘Up North’ at Bradford University was ery of ancestors from Scotland to Devon and from something of a contrast. Afterwards he lived and Wales to France, but none, so far, from Sussex. He worked in the Thames Valley before heading south also keeps up an interest in gardening, working as a to the Solent. When not dealing with Society busi- volunteer at West Dean, and also enjoys walking and ness, Anthony enjoys walking on the South Downs, cycling. His ambition to explore all the rights of way digging his allotment at Little Breach, and boating on within 20 miles of Chichester is well advanced. the Thames with Sarah on the Salamander, their small Dutch barge-style cruiser.

Continued from opposite Watch this space:

The Novium has already gained international inter- Local residents will be able to win the chance to est. France 3, a Normandy based news programme, preview the museum. Forty golden tickets will be up has visited the site and an American civil engineer- for grabs, with each one providing up to four people ing magazine has also run a feature about the con- entry on the exclusive preview day. Full details will struction of the building and the Roman bath re- be announced on the District Council’s website, mains. www.chichester.gov.uk, nearer the time.

Read more on our website www.chichestersociety.org.uk 17

Is Seventeen an Unlucky Number? David Wilson reviews the pressures on space in and around Chichester

We need new houses but …

Regular readers will be aware of the housing shortage in Chiches- ter, as evidenced by the length of the District Council’s priority housing list, and the near- impossibility for even reasonably well-off young couples to buy a house of their own. Pressure is being applied by central government not only to solve these problems but also in support of the STOP PRESS: Permission given for 20+ houses on this site. Due to the absence of a Local Plan, the District Council Development Committee much more nebulous concept of (South) was able to grant permission for this site to be built on. ‘growth’, the magic wand that will get us all out of the present situa- tion of austerity. Hunter’s Rest: not acceptable because it will set a precedent for On the other side, we all know just eroding the gap between Chichester and Lavant how crowded the South Coast is – how many significant open spaces assurance, to build on a variety of and Whitehouse Farm to the west. along the A27 can you name be- sites around Chichester outside the If the District Council cannot tween Southampton and Brighton? current Settlement Policy Area. come up with a robust plan for – and the problems with overload- Plans for Langmeads Farm at Sel- measured growth in the next 12 ed infrastructure, from traffic to sey have been refused; Hunter’s months, all these developers will the lack of school places to sew- Rest off Lavant Road has at the be confident in applying to build age overflows into Chichester time of writing gone to appeal; on their favoured sites – and to Harbour. Shopwyke Lakes has been re- have the blessing of the govern- ferred for more consideration of ment through the Planning Inspec-

Local sites targeted traffic issues; there is consultation torate. on land south of Donnington and As Richard Childs points out in also for the Daffodil Field be- A little but too often? our front page article, developers tween Chichester and Lavant; and are acting as if there is no local rumours continue to circulate Watch out, too, for successive plan, and seeking, with some self- about Oldplace Farm to the east mini-developments slowly cover- ing a site. If fewer than 25 houses are built at one time, the developer is exempt from regulations requir- ing a proportion of affordable housing to be included, and from the Environment Agency’s re- striction which prevents Apuldram sewage treatment from becoming overloaded (even more than it is at present).

Local Plans

There is a widespread misconcep- tion that local communities will be able to produce binding local Shopwyke Lakes when it was an industrial site. We think this develop- plans at will under the new ment should go ahead once traffic issues are finally sorted out. National Policy Planning Frame-

ISSUE NUMBER 173 ~ JUNE 2012 THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Registered Charity No. 268055 18

The 17 criteria

Summarised from ‘Interim State- ment on Housing’ on the District Council’s website at: http://www.chichester.gov.uk/

index.cfm?articleid=7647 .

Development should:

1. Border on existing housing 2. Not result in settlements coalescing (Chichester should not swallow up villages) 3. Be well designed, low energy, and not unduly demanding on infrastructure 4. Have a mix of housing sizes and types 5. Protect landscape character 6. Respect archaeology and listed Oldplace Farm - prime agricultural land in plain view from the buildings National Park and subject to noise pollution from Goodwood airfield 7. Conserve and enhance biodi- versity work. Local plans may indeed be has produced a set of seventeen 8. Retain landscape features (e.g. produced, but they must agree criteria for allowing development trees & streams) with the principle of sustainable which they hope will prevent irre- 9. Allow effective sustainable development for growth. So if the versible damage to the environ- transport (e.g. bicycle and community plan is for no growth ment of Chichester. A list of crite- bus) whatever, it will be over-ruled by ria can only be a stopgap solution, 10. Not adversely affect environ- the Planning Inspectorate as tak- although they could be incorpo- mental quality (from pollu- ing no account of growth. rated into the final Local Plan. tants to noise) The Society’s view is that a Local 11. Not result in the loss of sport- These criteria, taken from the Plan is most urgently needed – by ing or recreational facilities original District Council docu- last month if possible! However 12. Not compromise long term ment, are set out on the right. we are pleased to note that in the plans for the district They are not presented in order of meantime, the District Council 13. Not adversely affect the priority. South Downs National Park 14. Contribute to local infrastructure needs 15. Not contradict policies of statutory bodies (e.g. CDC, Environment Agency) 16. Be delivered promptly or at least be time-limited (no pure- ly speculative applcations) 17. Be of a reasonable scale (e.g. 100 units adjoining Chichester

but down to 25 in villages)

What do you think?

So over to you for your opinion: Write to or email your committee (address back page) to say which of the above criteria are Chichester Canal at Donnington - Barratts want to build 120 houses on most important to you. the left (west side) - though adding public open space by the canal itself

Read more on our website www.chichestersociety.org.uk 19

The Olympics come to Chichester! The Olympic torch will be carried through Chichester on Monday 16 July. Our part of the route starts at 1150 at The Drive, off Lavant Rd, straight down into the city centre to be welcomed by the Mayor and other dignitaries, and then out along St Pancras to Port- field at about 1300 for a lift to Bognor. The best place to view is probably by Oaklands Park, where more celebratory events are planned.

Featured Torchbearers for the 16th L to R: Katie Mundo (from Totton), Vicky Wright (Fareham), Ben Stoggles (Pulborough) & Aaron Grant (Emsworth). A total of 13 people will carry the torch in Chichester. Ant Stewart is our local boy; the oldest at 65 is Mary Pearce from Pirbright and the youngest at 18 is Steph Blondell from Littlehampton.

More details of all of them at www.london2012.com/ torch-relay/torchbearers/community=chichester/.

Books,

THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP The Newsletter is published by The Chichester Society THERegistered CHICHESTER Charity No SOCIETY 268055 MEMBERSHIP Unit 3 & 4and , 132 printed Bath Road, by PurCoprint, Reading RG30 2EU Unit 3 & 4 , 132 Bath Road, Reading RG30 2EU Registered Charity No 268055 Annual Membership: £5 by Standing Order; Annual Membership: £5 by Standing Order; Editor: Tony Dignum Patron: TheRegistered Mayor of with Chichester the Civic Trust £7 by cheque Editor: David Wilson £7 by cheque Editorial Sub-Committee: Tony Dignum, Bill President:T 01243 David 536725 Goodman E [email protected] Under-18s: £2.50 Editorial Sub-Committee: Richard Childs, Anthony Under-18s: £2.50 Sharp, John Templeton and David Wilson Vice-President: Joy Crawshaw Joint Membership (double): £8.00 by Standing Quail, Bill Sharp, and John Templeton. Advertising : Martyn Bell (01243 839704) Patron: The Mayor of Chichester Order;Joint Membership £10 by cheque (double): £8.00 by Standing Elected at 2011 AGM: Letters to the Editor to the Secretary, President: David Goodman CorporateOrder; £10 bymembership: cheque £100.00 (one-off payment) Comunications to the Editor to:- Vice-Presidents: Joy Crawshaw and Ken Newbury Corporate membership: £100.00 (one-off payment) 11 North Walls, Chichester,Chichester PO19PO19 1DA1DA or by email Chairman: Richard Childs Life Membership (60 and over): ViceChairman:-Chairman: Tony JohnDignum Templeton £75Life single;Membership £ 100 joint (60 and over): Neitherto [email protected] the Editorial Sub-Committee nor the Society Secretary:Vice-Chairman: Anthony John Quail Templeton £75 single; £ 100 joint Neithernecessarily the Editorialsubscribe toSub the-Committee views expressed nor the by Society our Secretary: David Wilson Applications for membership and annual (01243 776757 or [email protected]) Applications for membership and annual necessarilycontributors, subscribe but we believe to the viewsthat all expressed shades of by our Treasurer: vacant (Chairman acting as Treasurer) subscriptions to the Treasurer, Treasurer: David Wilson subscriptions to the Chairman, Highgate House, contributors,opinion should but be we expressed believe thatin this all newsletter.shades of The Members of the Executive Committee: 11 North Walls, Chichester PO19 1DS Members of the Executive Committee: West Broyle Drive, Chichester PO19 3PP opinionEditorial should Sub-Committee be expressed reserves in this the newsletter. right to edit The as Martyn Bell, Madeleine Keene, David Laing, T 01243 536725 Cédric Mitchell, John Pavitt, Trevor Redman, Bill (01243 538585) Editorialnecessary Sub any- Committeesubmitted articles reserves and the letters. right to edit as SharpCédric and Mitchell, (co-opted) John Rodney Pavitt, BillChambers Sharp andand JeanJohn E [email protected] The Newsletter is published by The Chichester Society necessary any submitted articles and letters. Wichers.Symons. and printed by PurCoprint,

ISSUE NUMBER 173 ~ JUNE 2012 THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Registered Charity No. 268055 20