Another bit of Midhurst

On our regular walk into Midhurst we cross this old bridge bearing a keystone dated 1794. In the 1800’s it was possible for barges to come from London, Portsmouth or the Midlands to Midhurst by way of canals and this, the canalised River Rother. This is the last bridge before the town wharf. The barges brought seaweed for the farms, grain for the watermills, coal for the gasworks and groceries and provisions for the stores. They would fill up for the return journey with bark and timber, farm produce, flour, and other local/rural products. Midhurst was particularly known for producing chalk, clay, sand and gravel.

Today as you can see the area is overgrown and silted up. The River Rother once had 8 locks, I’ve not seen a trace of any of them. Behind the bridge you can see one of the cottages owned by the Cowdray Estate, painted the usual yellow denoting a workman’s cottage.


Of all the towns I've been to
In counties East and West
To live in or to look at
I like our Midhurst best.

Explore the place and ramble
Around and up and down,
There's much that will entrance you in
This picturesque old town.

from 'Walkabout'
by Alec Annnand
published in 'Midhurst Town, then and now'