One of the better well known areas of Chichester is to the north of the City – The Goodwood estate.

Originally, all this area south of the Trundle was  either land belonging to the Boxgrove Priory, or Land that belonged to the Earls of Arundel (as they were at this time around the 14 century; it was later that they became the Dukes of Norfolk). The Duchy of Richmond was a part of the machinations of State through the later Medieval period.

As a part of the role in Government, The “Steward” was the premier member of the Aristocacy in terms of Running the Court; The Earl marshall was the titular Head of the Nobility.

The Stewarts when they were a part of the Scotish House, drew this role from the time of Malcolm III – the son of King Duncan, he of the Shakespeare play.

From here through the Wars of Independence the “Stewart” become a less important figure, especially under Macolm IV in the 1540’s, and through The marriage of Henry VII of England’s daughter to the Scottish king, the intertwined fortunes of the House and the Monarchies rapidly picked up speed.

A Family Sept of the Stewart’s were the Lennox, and as a result of the accession of James I & VI to the Throne, this Clan became a component of the English Monarchy. Drawn from the Voctorious Tudor’s in 1485, and as previously mentioned being a pawn in the game of the 100 years war as well as the subsequent Wars of the Roses – the Honour of Richmond was a component of the “Stewart” role in the English Monarchy. Thus Henry VII appointed himself the Duke of Richmond, and so it was that it passed to Henry VIII. With his Aunt married to the Scottish King, then the passage upon his accession was to James VI – neither Mary nor Elizabeth appointing the Title.

It was through the passing to Charles I and then to Charles II as the Dukes of Richmond that the Honour remained and Charles the II gave it to The Lennox’s. That was in the 1680’s and it was at that time that the land north of Chichester was bought from the Now Dukes of Norfolk that began the Building known today as Goodwood House. As were the additional lands, and the activities in Court of the Second and the Third Dukes through the last phases of the Stewart Monarchy. From the accession of George I the Dukes of Richmond widened thir role in combining the tiltles of Aubigny (France) and that of Gordon (Scotland).

The most active Duke at this time was the Fourth Duke, Charles Lennox (1764 – 1819). With this combined Titular influence, he became one of the most influential Persons at that time in the Counry and in Chichester as well. mainly by setting up the Horse racing up on the Hill, the first really competitive course in the Country and it set a marker for subsequent Tracks. He also (more likely through watching as well as playing the common game) set up, established the regular playing of, and set down the initial Laws to

CRICKET! Through helping to purchase the land to the North of London, in St John’s Wood, he was the prime mover in the forming of the Marylebone Cricket Club or MCC. Games against London, Middlesex, Surrey, Kent and other teams were brought down to Sussex as well as over at Hambledon, and at Lord’s itself.

And as a part of the Court it figured in the rounds of the Georgian world portrayed across many works, and with a friendship with Wellington, it was the Duchess of Richmond who arranged and hosted the Ball in the Grand Place, Brussels on the eve of Waterloo.

And the richness of the History as well as the Life of Goodwood is extensive.