Priory Park Orchard

Priory Park Orchard. . Following the dissolution of the monasteries, Chichester's Franciscan friary was acquired from the King by the Mayor and citizens of the city. The friary church was retained to be used as a council house and law court but the rest of the site was leased privately. Eventually the other remaining buildings were converted into a grand house and the grounds into a park. By the mid 18th century the north-west comer of the park contained a walled garden and maps of the period show it with a formal arrangement of paths and shrubs. In 1824 the park, excluding the Guildhall, was bought by the Duke of Richmond who later demolished the house and leased the grounds, with the exception of the 'orchard", to the Priory Park Society for use as a private park for subscribing members. They built the lodge cottage and replaced an old stable-block with a Refreshment Room., The north side of the walled garden was formed by the rampart of the Roman town defences. The northern part of its west wall is a remnant of the boundary wall of the friary and the remains of a medieval doorway can be seen in it. Most of the rest of the west and south walls are of relatively recent date but lower parts of both seem to be post medieval, incorporating old masonry of both Roman and medieval origin. These, together with ruinous parts of the east wall, are remnants of the walled garden. They probably date from about 1800., The Hospitium , The stone ruin next to the toilet block is thought to incorporate the remains of one of the medieval friary buildings and part of the mansion that replaced it after the dissolution. It probably formed part of a link between the house and a stable-block to the north but when the house was demolished it was incorporated into the ornamental park as a picturesque ruin. A hospitium was dedicated to the provision of hospitality for visitors to the friary in the form of food and drink and a place to stay., The Coade Stone Druid , Alternatively Neptune, carrying a trident, the statue is made of an artificial stone invented by a Mrs Eleanor Coade in the 18th century. It was originally purchased by the Chichester Corporation in 1777 for 15 guineas and decorated the top of a public water Supply in South Street. When this went out of use the statue was used as a memorial in the Cathedral for many years before being presented to the Priory Park Society in 1873.