Westhampnett was a Saxon settlement which like most passed into the hands of new overlords the Normans on the Norman Conquest. The present village is a scattering of houses around an Anglican parish church of Saxon origin, dedicated to St Peter. Westhampnett was listed in the Domesday Book in the ancient hundred of Boxgrove as having 16 cottager households, woodland, land for pigs and a mill, and a value to the lord of the manor of £3. Westhampnett Poor Law Union was established in 1835, encompassing many surrounding parishes. Westhampnett's own workhouse was in existence until a fire destroyed it in 1899. The building had existed since the 16th century, and was leased to the Guardians of the Union by the Duke of Richmond. The house had been rebuilt by Sir Hutchins Williams in about 1720. Two public houses existed in the parish: The Swan in the southwest, and the Coach and Horses at Maudlin. These, and a disused brickworks, are shown on an 1898 map.
Civil parish
The civil parish includes the hamlets of Maudlin and Waterbeech to the northeast, and Westerton and Woodcote to the north. Maudlin derives its name from the former small hospital of St Mary Magdalen. To the north the parish extends just to Goodwood Racecourse high on the South Downs, including Goodwood House and most of Goodwood Airfield and motor racing circuit. The parish has a land area of. In the 2001 census 460 people lived in 161 households, of whom 234 were economically active.
Church
The parish church of St Peter, a Grade II* listed building, was a Saxon construction dating from before the Norman Conquest, and incorporates Roman bricks in the structure. The church is mentioned in the Domesday Book. It was enlarged in the 13th century and added to in later centuries, the Roman brick chancel arch being replaced. The church has three bells: one undated, the others dated 1581 and 1632. The churchyard contains an unusually large number of elaborate headstones, including plain and Celtic crosses, indicating a wealthy congregation in past centuries.
The Goodwood estate is the family seat of the Dukes of Richmond and occupies much of the parish of Westhampnett. A motor racing circuit was developed from the perimeter road of the former RAF airfield which is now, as Chichester/Goodwood Airport, used for recreational flying and pilot training; the track hosts the annual Goodwood Revival race meeting. The Goodwood Festival of Speed was developed around a hill climb in the grounds of Goodwood House. Goodwood Racecourse is in the north of the estate.
Notable places and people
Between Westhampnett church and Maudlin is the Rolls-Royce Motor Carsassembly plant, producing and testing the finished cars. Just to the south of the church is Chichester District’s main waste recycling centre. Towards Chichester is the former Westhampnett Mill, a watermill on the River Lavant, and a Grade-II listed building; it is constructed with red brick and is dated 1772. There are 46 other listed buildings in the parish, including three Grade I at Goodwood House. Three consecutive Bishops of Chichester are buried at Westhampnett: Ashurst Gilbert, Richard Durnford and Ernest Wilberforce. In the church there is a monument to 16th century MPRichard Sackville. England cricketerJames Lillywhite was born in the village and is buried at St Peter's. Lillywhite was a member of England's first Test team in the first ever Test match in 1877 against Australia and was the first captain of the England team.
