West Lavington, West Sussex

West Lavington
Church of St. Mary Magdalene
West Lavington
Location within West Sussex
Area2.45 km2 (0.95 sq mi) [1]
Population276. 2011 Census[2]
• Density121/km2 (310/sq mi)
OS grid referenceSU892205
• London45 miles (72 km) NE
Civil parish
  • West Lavington
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMIDHURST
Postcode districtGU29
Dialling code01730
PoliceSussex
FireWest Sussex
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament

West Lavington is a village and civil parish on the edge of Midhurst in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It contains a small private nursery school and the (now deconsecrated) church of St Mary Magdalene.

Church

The church was constructed for Henry Edward Manning[3] who was at the time rector of Woolavington, now East Lavington, with West Lavington forming a detached portion of that parish until 1851. The churchyard contains the grave of Richard Cobden although he lived in the neighbouring parish of Heyshott.

As a result of falling congregations and the church's poor condition, St Mary Magdalene church (a Grade II* listed building)[4] was closed in September 2008 and the congregation transferred to neighbouring Cocking.[5][6] The two parishes were subsequently united and are now known as "The Parish of Cocking with West Lavington".[7] In 2013, the church at West Lavington was offered for sale, although the graveyard will continue to belong to the parish with public access.[8][9]

Listed buildings

As well as the church, there are 14 other listed structures in the parish, including several associated with Cobden and a bridge over the former Rother Navigation[10] at The Wharf in Midhurst.[11]

Demographics

In the 2001 census there were 111 households with a total population of 298 of whom 115 were economically active.[1] At the 2011 Census the population of the civil parish was 276.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "2001 Census: West Sussex – Population by Parish" (PDF). West Sussex County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Civil parish 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  3. ^ "West Lavington - St Mary Magdalene". Sussex Parish Churches. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene (Grade II*) (1275104)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  5. ^ "West Lavington church to close". Gravelroots (The Rother Valley Guide). 9 August 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Ceiling fall could spell end for West Lavington church". Mid Sussex Times. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  7. ^ "St Catherine of Siena: About the Parish". A Church Near You. The Church of England. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  8. ^ "St Mary Magdalene Church". House for sale: West Lavington, Midhurst, West Sussex. www.rightmove.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  9. ^ "St Mary Magdalene Church West Lavington" (PDF). Jackson-Stops & Staff. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  10. ^ Historic England. "Bridge on former Rother Navigation (Grade II) (1392319)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  11. ^ "British Listed Buildings: West Lavington, West Sussex". Retrieved 10 April 2025.

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