Westhampnett
| Westhampnett | |
| Sussex | |
|---|---|
 St Peter, Westhampnet | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU883062 |
| Location: | 50°50’56"N, 0°44’49"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 709 (2011) |
| Post town: | Chichester |
| Postcode: | PO18 |
| Dialling code: | 01243 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Chichester |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Chichester |
'Westhampnett (or West Hampnett)'[1] is a village in Sussex, located one mile north-east of Chichester on the former A27 road, now by-passed.
The village is pre-Norman and is home to many listed buildings, including the Saxon church of St Peter, where three bishops of Chichester are buried. The parish of Westhampnett includes most of Goodwood estate, its golf course, motor-racing circuit and airfield.
Name
The name Westhampnett is first attested in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Hentone.[2] This name derives from the Old English words heah tun ('high estate / farmstead'). The name is first attested with the addition of the Old English word west and Anglo-Norman diminutive suffix -et in 1279, as Westhamptonette.[3]
Church
The parish church of St Peter was built in the Anglo-Saxon age, and it incorporates Roman bricks in the structure. The church is a Grade II* listed building,[4]
The church is mentioned in the Domesday Book. It was enlarged in the 13th century and added to in later centuries, the Roman brick chancel arch being replaced. The church has three bells: one undated, the others dated 1581 and 1632.[5] The churchyard contains an unusually large number of elaborate headstones, including plain and Celtic crosses, indicating a wealthy congregation in past centuries.
History
Westhampnett was a Saxon settlement which like most passed into the hands of new overlords the Normans on the Norman Conquest.[5] The present village is a scattering of houses around its Saxon parish church, St Peter.
The village is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as having 16 cottager households, woodland, land for pigs and a mill, and a value to the lord of the manor of £3.[2]
Westhampnett Poor Law Union was established in 1835, encompassing many surrounding parishes.[1] Westhampnett's own workhouse was in existence until a fire destroyed it in 1899. The building had existed since the 16th century, and was leased to the Guardians of the Union by the Duke of Richmond.[6] The house had been rebuilt by Sir Hutchins Williams in about 1720.[5]
Two public houses existed in the parish: The Swan in the south-west, and the Coach and Horses at Maudlin. These, and a disused brickworks, are shown on an 1898 map.[7]
RAF Westhampnett
The airfield began as a Second World War fighter base, opened in 1940 during the Battle of Britain when it was home to two Spitfire squadrons. It was later used by the United States Air Force fighter squadrons, flying British Spitfires and |Typhoons.
Goodwood
- Main article: Goodwood House
The Goodwood estate is the family seat of the Dukes of Richmond and occupies much of the parish of Westhampnett.
A motor racing circuit was developed from the perimeter road of the former RAF airfield which is now, as Chichester/Goodwood Airport, used for recreational flying and pilot training; the track hosts the annual Goodwood Revival race meeting. The Goodwood Festival of Speed was developed around a hill climb in the grounds of Goodwood House. Goodwood Racecourse is in the north of the estate.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Westhampnett) |
- Westhampnett Parish Council
- Information on Westhampnett from GENUKI
- A History of the County of Sussex - Volume 4 pp 175-180: Westhampnett (Victoria County History)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information on Westhampnett from GENUKI
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Westhampnett in the Domesday Book
- ↑ Mills, Anthony David: 'A Dictionary of British Place-Names' (Oxford University Press, 2003) ISBN 978-0-19-852758-9
- ↑ National Heritage List 1026099: The parish church of St Peter
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 A History of the County of Sussex - Volume 4 pp 175-180: Westhampnett (Victoria County History)
- ↑ "National Archives: Westhampnett Union". http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/178bcf57-2a7f-4f83-b2b8-46894bdf3a4c.
- ↑ Map: NLS
