Rape of Chichester

Rape of Chichester
Area
 • 1831 145,840 acres (590.2 km2)
Population
 • 1801 21,608
 • 1811 24,200
 • 1831 38,929
Density
 • 1831 0.27 inhabitants per acre (67/km2)
History
 • Created by 1275
 • Succeeded by Sussex (western division)
Status Rape (county subdivision)
 • HQ Chichester
Subdivisions
 • Type Hundreds

The Rape of Chichester is one of the rapes, the traditional sub-divisions unique to the historic county of Sussex in England. The most westerly of the Sussex rapes, the rape of Chichester is a former barony, originally centred on Chichester Castle in the city of Chichester.

History

The rape is not mentioned independently of 'the rape of Earl Roger' in the Domesday Book[1] and passed by inheritance as a single unit, out of all proportion to the other rapes in size, until the 13th century. First mentioned as the 'Bailiwick (Balliua) of Chichester' in 1264, it first appeared by name as the rape of Chichester in the Hundred Rolls of 1275.[2] It was referred to as the Rape de Cycestre in 1279,[1] le rape de Cicestre[1] in 1376 and of Chichestre in 1495.[1]

The rape of Chichester was created out of the larger rape of Arundel. It would seem likely that the creation of this new division was connected with the partition of the estates of Hugh d'Aubigny, 5th Earl of Arundel, the last Earl of Arundel of his line, between his co-heirs after his death in 1243. While John FitzAlan acquired Arundel, Robert de Mohaut obtained the overlordship of the twelve fees constituting the honor of Halnaker, and certain other estates in the vicinity. The unity of overlordship being thus lost, it may have appeared convenient to divide this district into two separate rapes, which would be of a similar size and nature to those in the rest of Sussex. No trace of any orders given or measures taken to create the division of the old rape of Arundel has been found.

It is possible that the rape of Chichester may have existed before the Norman conquest. The rapes in general pre-date the Norman conquest and many rapes are based on King Alfred's fortifications in the Burghal Hidage. As Chichester was also a fortification in the Burghal Hidage, it is quite possible that it existed as a separate administrative unit in the Saxon era and was merged with neighbouring Arundel rape by William the Conqueror and given to Earl Roger of Montgomery. William might of course have created five rapes only, one of which, out of all proportion to the others in size, was afterwards divided, but for this there is no evidence.[1]

The population of the rape of Chichester was 21,608 in 1801,[3] rising to 24,200 in 1811[3] and 38,929 in 1831.[4]

Location

The most westerly of all the Sussex rapes, the rape of Chichester borders the rape of Arundel to the east, with the county of Hampshire lying to the west and the county of Surrey to the north. The boundary between the Rapes of Chichester and Arundel started on the coast at the small stream dividing the parish of Pagham from that of Felpham.[2] The boundary ran roughly due north, except for a divagation eastwards to include the parish of Slindon, which was a peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury and so was attached to the archbishop's hundred of Pagham.[2] Once established it remained unaltered, the only change in the contents of the Rape being in 1844, when under the Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844 the long narrow strip constituting North and South Ambersham was annexed to Sussex.[2] Until that time it had been a detached part of the county of Hampshire, part of the parish of Steep.[2]

The rape of Chichester includes the city of Chichester and the towns of Bognor Regis, Midhurst and Selsey. Its highest point is Blackdown, which at 280 metres (919 feet) is the highest point in all of Sussex.

Historical population

Population 1801–1831
YearPop.±%
180121,608—    
181124,200+12.0%
182135,238+45.6%
183138,929+10.5%

Sub-divisions

The rape is traditionally divided into the following hundreds:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Mawer, Allen, F. M. Stenton with J. E. B. Gover (1930) [1929]. Sussex - Part I and Part II. English Place-Name Society.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Victoria County History - The rape of Chichester". British History Online. Retrieved 9 Feb 2012.
  3. 1 2 Dallaway, James (1815). A History of the Western Division of the County of Sussex, Volume 1. T. Bensley.
  4. ↑ Knight, C (1842). The Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, Volumes 23-24. C. Knight.

External links

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