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Chichester 11 Heritage 12 Trails Trail 8: Notable Chichester people 11 Introduction Over the centuries many talented people have either lived in Chichester or had close connections with the city. Some of 9 them are still household names, while others have become more 10 obscure. This selection seeks to cast the net wide, and include people who made a big impact on the city during their own 8 day and those whose contribution has become more apparent with the passing of time. You will find here writers, artists, philanthropists, and holy men. Hopefully you will be inspired to read further about these diverse but talented personalities. 7 6 2 15 1 17 3 5 13 4 16 14 18 19 Market Cross, the starting point for the tour Fanny Cornforth Did you know? Fanny Cornforth (1835–1909) was the Chichester has 518 listed buildings, 18 of which are Grade 1. Find out more model, muse and mistress of the about them on the Heritage Trails and discover a lot of hidden architectural Chichester Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel gems and stories about Chichester’s amazing history that will surprise you. Rossetti. After the death of Rossetti’s wife, Elizabeth Siddal in 1862, Cornforth Chichester Heritage Trails Heritage moved in as Rossetti’s housekeeper. She later fell on hard times and ended • Received a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £53,200 in 2016 with her life at Graylingwell Hospital (the contributions of £1,000 each from Chichester City Council and The West Sussex County Asylum), on the Chichester Society. Trails outskirts of Chichester. Cornforth was born Sarah Cox, the • Was conceived by the Chichester Society, managed daughter of a Steyning blacksmith. As by Chris Hare of History People UK and delivered Notable people a young woman she worked in service with the support and active contribution of many in Brighton. It is believed that she first organisations and individuals, some of whom received 8 met Rossetti in 1858. The circumstances are not clear, but she already had training in heritage skills through the project. one marriage behind her, to a man named Hughes. She had, for whatever reason, adopted the alias Fanny Cornforth. Rossetti saw in her his feminine Special thanks to ideal: her image appears in some of Rossetti’s most famous paintings, including, Lady Lilith, Fair Rosamund, Bocca Baciata, and The Blue Bower. • Project partners: Bishop Luffa School, Chichester By 1876 Rossetti, addicted to drugs and in declining health, was an BID, Chichester City Council, Chichester Local History Chichester increasing concern to his family, who stepped in to care for him. The family Society, Chichester Society, Chichester Walls Trust, City Council sought to limit the contact between Rossetti and Cornforth. University of Chichester, West Sussex Library Service, In 1879, Cornforth married a publican called John Schott and together West Sussex Record Office. they ran a pub called The Rose Tavern in Westminster. Yet Cornforth continued to see Rossetti, accompanying him on a trip to Cumbria in 1881. • Project volunteers: in particular Andrew Berriman, Richard Childs and The following year Rossetti died. Before his death he gave Cornforth a Alan Green whose knowledge of Chichester’s local history has been of number of his paintings. In the following years she was able to sell these immense value. Also Anthony Quail, Bob Wiggins, John Wichers, Richard paintings to secure extra income for herself and her husband. Beeny, Paula Chatfield, Ellen Cheshire, Mabs Evans, Mary Hand, Madeleine John Schott died in 1891, followed eight years later by his stepson, with Keene, Geoff King, Sue Millard, Paula Nicholson, Sue Parslow, Geoffrey whom Cornforth continued to live. She then returned to Sussex. Her sister- Redman, Pat Saunders, Lela Tredwell, Wendy Walker, Ross Wilson; and in-law through Rossetti, Rosa Villiers, does seem to have given Cornforth students at Bishop Luffa School and the University of Chichester. limited support, but by 1905, Cornforth was living in the workhouse at Chichester. Two years later, under her married name of Sarah Hughes, For further information she was admitted to the county asylum, where she was diagnosed with www.chichesterheritagetrails.org.uk dementia. Nothing was known of her background at the time and her www.chichestersociety.org.uk later life remained shrouded in mystery until details about her final years in Chichester were discovered in 2015. She died in 1909 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Chichester Cemetery: a sad end for a woman once known to the Pre-Raphaelite artists as ‘The Stunner.’ © 2018 The Chichester Society Further information on Fanny Cornforth and some of the other people included in this trail leaflet can be found at West Sussex Record Office and Design: Blacker Design (6924-1-18) Aerial images: Getmapping. Website and social media: Nigel Bird. Photographs: Chichester Library. Lela Tredwell, John Wichers. Printed by Oxted Colour Admiral Sir George Murray by Charles Woolcott around 1815 A ChiChester soCiety ProjeCt We start at the Market Cross. Bishop Storey the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801. Nelson wanted With the Almshouse Arcade behind you cross over into Eastgate 1 (died 1503) endowed the city with this fine market Murray to be his second-in-command at Trafalgar, 14 Square. Number 11 is situated at the apex of The Hornet and cross in 1501. The bishop wished for the tradesmen but Murray was in England at the time attending Market Road. Look up to see an oval plaque commemorating the stay here of the city to be protected from inclement weather to family business and could not be at the in 1819 of the youthful poet, John Keats (1795–1821), whose visits to the while conducting their business. Chichester’s market great battle. Like his brother, Richard, who lived Vicar’s Hall Crypt in South Street (see Trail Four) is believed to have inspired cross is arguably the most impressive in the country. opposite him at Fernleigh House, Sir George also his celebrated poem, The Eve of St Agnes. It is believed that the poem was became mayor of Chichester. In 1944, General inspired by Keats’ love for Fanny Brawne, whom he had met when she was From the Market Cross proceed along Eisenhower stayed at The Ship Hotel (as it had seventeen. Keats died in Rome in 1821, with his love for Fanny unrequited. 2 West Street until you reach the House become) prior to the D-Day invasion of France. of Fraser department store on the right. Proceed along East Street Oliver Whitby (1664–1702), an alderman Walk along Guildhall Street and enter through the gates into 15 until you reach Little of the city of Chichester, founded his ‘Blue 10 Priory Park. Ahead of you will be seen the former chapel of the London on the right. Turn right Coat’ school in 1702, to provide an education Franciscan Order, commonly known as the ‘Greyfriars.’ After the dissolution of and walk up Little London. On for boys from poor families living in the near- the monasteries it became the city’s guildhall. In 1804 the poet and visionary, your right you will see number 30. by parishes of Wittering and Marden. The William Blake (1757–1827) was tried here for sedition, after he was accused John Hack (1805–1884), a school closed in 1949. The present building of evicting drunken soldiers from his garden at Felpham with the words, ‘Damn Chichester Quaker, who was was completed in 1906. The old school motto the King, damn the country one of the most successful vis et sapientia (strength and wisdom) can and damn you too!’ Thanks businessmen in the colony of still be seen above the portico. to his influential friends, the South Australia, lived here as a poet William Hayley and the young man. Hack and his wife Cross West Street and head towards the publisher, Joseph Seagrave, left England in 1836. Once in 3 entrance to the cathedral at the west door. The Blake was represented by the Australia, Hack set himself up in statue of St Richard (1197–1253), by the sculptor Philip best legal team available and business selling sheep, cattle, and Jackson, was commissioned as part of Chichester’s was acquitted. milk. He had brought over two Millennium Project. Richard was one of Chichester’s prefabricated ‘portable cottages’, most significant bishops. He was consecrated in 1245 OPTIONAL ROUTE which he set up at Glenelg and Adelaide respectively. He soon established by the Pope, but the king, Henry III, refused to accept Stop numbers 11 & 12 are an optional route. If you don’t wish to follow this bullock waggon teams running between the main settlements of the him and barred him from the cathedral and the city route proceed from stop 10 to stop 13. colony, delivering stores and supplies. He became a major landowner. He of Chichester. For two years he lived in exile in his also established a Quaker meeting house in Adelaide. Hack lost much of diocese as a model bishop, performing many miracles; With Priory Park behind you walk along Guildhall Street to North his fortune in the crash of 1841, but gradually built up new businesses. He when he was restored in 1247 he set about reforming 11 Street and turn right, continuing to the underpass; on emerging keep ended his days as the Controller of Accounts for the South Australian the behaviour of his clergy and stamping out corrupt the large car park to your right, and St Pauls Church to your left; continue Railways. practices. So great was his reputation that he was created a saint by the Pope on Broyle Road passing alms houses behind tall iron gates, to a large sign within a few years of his death in 1253.