LETTER: Field public for hundred years

I read with interest the article about the opening of Chichester's 'new public park', the Brewery Field.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Jul 2016, 14:00 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 18:07 BST

Just as a point of record (and fact) the field has for more than a hundred years been public open space.

The field was owned by Henty Brewers (hence the name Brewery Field) and was given to “the community” (the county council) in perpetuity for the use and enjoyment of the citizens of Chichester.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Records Office could be legally built on part of the site because it is of course a public building. Likewise the enclosure of a part of the field for use by the Central and Lancastrian Schools has been deemed (presumably) not to contravene the terms of the original gift from the Henty family.

However, my understanding (and I have seen the deeds) is that there can never be any question of the site being developed for residential use, or any other non-community purpose.

Jonathan Smith

Adelaide Road

Chichester