Lurgashall
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Lurgashall is a village in West Sussex situated north east of Midhurst. It contains the church of St Laurence.
In the 2001 census the parish covered 20.97 km² and had 220 households with a total population of 581. 271 residents were economically active.
Although there was, almost certainly, an inhabited settlement in the village of Lurgashall in Roman Times, the name is Saxon. it means 'aula' or Hall of Leotegar who, in about 495AD, came with his tribe along the old Roman road leading from Midhurst to London and found a convenient, and probably inhabited, clearing in the Wealden forest in which he decided to settle.
In due course of time, Leotegar's descendants were converted to Christianity by the followers of St Wilfred and built the first St Laurence's Church. Although the Church has had many additions over the years, it still retains some evidence of the original Saxon structure.
After the Norman Conquest the King gave the Lurgashall area to a Norman family called Alta Rippa who built a Manor House there in about 1100, The Manor House itself has not survived but the area that the estate occupied is now Park Farm, which gets its name from the Deer Park which the Alta Rippa family established in about 1200.
It is perhaps as well that the Alta Rippa family came to Lurgashall since, either through plague, or bad harvest, or for some other reason, the village had become almost extinct in 1100, and finds no mention in the Doomsday Book of 1086. The coming of the Manor revived the village's fortunes and it grew in importance throughout the feudal period.
In 1557 a village Inn was built at the side of the Green, probably with funds provided by the Manor. At first it had no name at all, since it was not necessary to distinguish it from any other, but ever since records began in about 1700, it has been known as 'The Noah's Ark'. It is said that it acquired this somewhat unusual name because a pond was once outside the door, which patrons had to cross to refresh themselves, giving the impression of animals crossing into the Ark before the deluge.
The Noah's Ark was no ordinary Inn. With it was built a brew house, which continued for over 350 years to brew its own beer, which was delivered to other Inns in the district. As well as brewing beer, 'The Noah's Ark' baked bread for the village, giving rise to the old jingle:' For well-baked bread and home-brewed ale, you must come to Lurgashale'.
From then on, Noah's Ark became, what it has never ceased to be, the center of village life. Local meetings were held there, it provided refreshments (sometimes on too lavish a scale) for the Midsummer Fair held each year on 'Tally Nob': it was the local headquarters of the Captain Swing Riots of 1830 and, of course, it has refreshed countless cricket and football teams after their exertions over the years.
In 1871, 'The Noah's Ark' was sold to an Arundel Brewery and, from that date, brewing on the premises ceased. In 1906 it was sold again, this time to the Eagle Brewery for the very low price of E1,250.00. Fifteen years later it was again sold, this time to Friary, Holroyde and Healy who owned it until 1990 when the present brewers, Greens King, took over.
For over thirty years, 'The Noah's Ark' has played host to a summer theatrical production. Started hesitantly in 1967, the venture received an enormous boost when the late Tad Swannell took over the Inn in 1970. Happily, his enthusiasm for the project, and his efficiency in organizing ticket sales, which resulted in an extension of the run from the original one night to the present three, has been continued by his successors.
Some years ago, the Rev AA Evans wrote in 'A Countryman's Diary':' This was Lurgashall. have been to it several times since and with heightened appreciation ... its beauty increases with familiarity, it endures, while the merely catchy and trivial wear away'. This is as true today as when he wrote it.
[edit] External links
- The Rother Valley Guide. - Contains maps, photo galleries, history, news and information. Part of the Gravelroots area guide, linking to other villages and towns in the Rother Valley
- St Laurence's Church
- Midhurst Pages - Midhurst Town & Comunity
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