Knights Leaflet
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THE LIBERTY OF ST JOHN A Midhurst Society Publication The land owned by the Hospitallers was outside the borough jurisdiction. It was known as the Liberty of St John and those who lived there had special privileges. In KNIGHTS medieval times they were free of the obligation to attend the local monthly court; HOSPITALLER they could sell goods at any market in England without paying a toll; and they were able to inherit property before they came of AT MIDHURST age whereas elsewhere it was forfeit to the Crown. or 300 years the medieval The advantages continued, and even in the F Knights Hospitaller (the 19th century wrongdoers in Midhurst could Knights of the Hospital of escape punishment by fleeing into St Johns, St John the Baptist at and vice versa. Local people deeply resented Jerusalem) raised money in this division of authority, and their only Heritage as being of special historical Midhurst for the Crusades and consolation was that those in St Johns could interest, supposedly erected in the 16th for subsequent wars against not vote at elections (until the Reform Act of century. On the contrary it was installed in the Saracens. Originally a 1832). The Liberty kept its own law court and 1811 by a wealthy local antiquarian, Henry nursing order with a 1000-bed constable until the Great War. Seymour, who bought all the houses that hospital in Jerusalem to care stood on land that he believed had once for pilgrims to the Holy Land, belonged to the Hospitallers in West Street. the Knights later became ‘THE COMMANDERY’ He then demolished them and built a large monks with swords. They house for himself on the corner between took the monastic vows of Contemporary documents dating from 1338, West Street and the Bepton Road with poverty, obedience and chastity, lived in 1515 and 1540 list the Hospitallers’ properties gardens down to South Pond. He named it ‘St monasteries and died fighting. Like the in Midhurst. There is no mention of a Johns’. Templars, they believed that sanctification commandery (or priory). No members of the came from killing the enemies of Order lived here. All authority was vested at Christendom. Today, their worldwide Poling. There were only lay tenants whose successors administer hospitals, provide rents were collected twice a year by a clerk ambulance services and help those in stricken from Poling. Yet a plaque on a wall in West areas. The Midhurst Society, promoting new ideas and supporting Street proclaims: our heritage to help Midhurst become a better place to live, “IN 1811 work and enjoy. Like to know more? IN SUSSEX THE COMMANDERY HOUSE www.facebook.com/themidhurstsociety/ OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST JOHN www.midhurstsociety.org.uk/web/ Membership enquiries: [email protected] STOOD HERE” Pious benefactors throughout Europe gave money and lands to support the Hospitallers. This is set above a black door in a pseudo- Text by Bridget Howard medieval frame, which was listed by English © The Midhurst Society 2018 Their English brotherhood had 30 Printed by KerryType, Midhurst, 2018 commanderies, or priories, each of which had (probably as far as the present chalice and paten, an alabaster tablet smaller manors attached to them. The Sussex Catholic church), lying between the depicting St Thomas, a marble panel over the headquarters were at Poling near Arundel. Bepton Road and the stream altar and two most precious illuminated This housed the Knight Preceptor and his that fed the later South missals: one hand-size, the other larger for deputy, the chaplain, a steward, two Pond. The effect of this was the priest. There were two chantries where attendants and two clerks. Funds were raised that ‘New West Street’ extended Masses were said for the souls of the by collecting alms and by leasing out lands further west beyond the Duck founder’s family. given to them at Eastbourne, Islesham, Lane turning. There, Savaric built Midhurst, Rumboldswyck and Up Marden. a chapel with a rear garden. It Because the chapel belonged to the and the Midhurst lands were Hospitallers, it was outside episcopal control leased by the Knight Preceptor and at one time probably had its own cleric to AT MIDHURST at Poling to a local agent who conduct daily services. By 1514 the lessor was kept the rents and the oblations merely required to provide ‘an honest priest’ The Midhurst properties were donated to the from the chapel, off-setting to celebrate on four occasions, namely the Hospitallers in about 1224 by Savaric de them against an agreed fee that he paid to feast (29 December) and the reburial (7 July) Bohun, a religious fanatic (later declared Poling. of St Thomas; the birth (24 June) and the insane) who on at least two previous beheading (29 August) of St John the Baptist occasions had given part of his lands in – patron of the Hospitallers. Normandy to monastic orders. His THE CHAPEL grandfather, Ralph fitzSavaric, had probably given the Knights their Poling estates some The Chapel was on the south side of West THE SUPPRESSION 80 years earlier. Both men were, in their time, Street, near the present junction with Grange Lords of the Manor of Midhurst. Road (which did not then exist). It was In 1514 the Midhurst lands and the chapel dedicated to St Thomas Becket, murdered at were leased to Robert Gybrishe for 41 years Savaric gave the Hospitallers the tithes from Christmas 1170 before the high altar of at an annual rent of 33s 4d. He also had to his North and South Mills. In addition, he Canterbury Cathedral. His sanctification, pay 10 marks (about £6 13s 4d) to show his assigned to them the rents from outlying almost immediately after his death, was due good faith – a considerable amount, but land which they leased to local farmers. It to the miraculous healing power of the presumably he thought it to be a good consisted of 50 acres of arable land and a smallest drop of his blood. The cult verged on investment. quarter acre of meadow (together worth 13s idolatry, and the dedication to him of the 4d per year), and 54 acres of sheep pasture Midhurst chapel ensured that it became a Unfortunately before his term had expired, (worth 8s 4d). These were at: place of pilgrimage, conveniently situated all the Knights’ lands in England were seized Fernhurst (Moses Hill Farm) 58.3 acres between the shrine of St Richard at by Henry VIII in 1540. Poling was given to the Trotton (Milland Farm) 44 acres Chichester and that of St Swithun at Earl of Arundel and the Midhurst properties Easebourne (Collyers) 1.3 acres Winchester. The founding of the Midhurst became part of the Cowdray estate. The Heyshott (Hoyle Farm) 0.25 acres chapel in about 1224 links it to the great Hospitallers’ chapel was no longer in use, but international celebrations in 1220 when the the building survived until 1617 when it was Outside the then extent of Midhurst, the saint was re-interred in the presence of Henry sold by the second Viscount Montague, who Hospitallers also received 10 crofts and their III, the papal legate and three archbishops. was in debt having been heavily fined for fields, 2 meadows and an area of ‘wild involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. It was heathland’. This lay between Wool Lane and The chapel furnishings included elaborate then demolished and disappears from Rumbolds Hill, and continued southwards vestments, five altar cloths, a silver and gilt history..