The Chichester Corporation Supply

Although remnants of Roman water supplies were found in Chichester in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the city had no piped supply at that time. In fact it had a poor public health standard and in relation to typhoid, it had one of the worst records in the country.

Following the establishment of the Chichester Water Company in 1873 by local businessmen, a well was sunk at Fishbourne in 1874 and having proved successful a pumping station was constructed.

The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone at Fishbourne (1874)

However, local people were slow to connect up to the Company's mains and so the Chichester Corporation took over responsibility for the supply not only to Chichester but many of the surrounding parishes in 1897.

To meet increasing demands, a further well was constructed at Fishbourne in 1898 and then in 1927 a new service reservoir was constructed at Chalk Pit Lane, Lavant to replace the original reservoir which was sited at New Broyle Farm on the northern outskirts of the City.

Inside Lavant Reservoir (1927)

Development at Funtington

During the 1930s as demand was growing the Corporation sought to develop a new source at Funtington. Unfortunately plans for the development were initially delayed by an alternative proposal from the neighbouring Chichester RDC for another source close by. As a result a public inquiry was held although the Minister for Health decided in favour of the Corporation's proposal.

Although the initial trial boreholes at Funtington proved successful, the development was severely hampered by the outbreak of the Second World War and the funding restrictions which this imposed. It was not until 19 October 1945 that the first supplies from Funtington were finally pumped to Lavant Reservoir.

Funtington Pumping Station (1970s)

Post-War Developments

As a result of concerns about the possibility of agricultural pollution affecting supplies from Fishbourne, a system of superchlorination of the supply was developed to provide additional protection to supplies. At Funtington adits were developed to increase the yield of the wells, as well as improved pumps and controls so that automatic pumping could be adopted to eliminate the need for shiftworkers to be on site at all times.

Leading Miner Braithwaite, of George Stow & Co, working in the Funtington adits (1952)

Supplies to Birdham and the Witterings

Although the completion of the Funtington source provided the Corporation with plentiful supplies, the distribution network down to the coast through Birdham to the Witterings was inadequate to support this growing seaside resort.

A decision to construct a water tower at the Witterings was made in 1946 but due to funding constraints, construction did not start until 1951. As a result the residents in that area had to suffer hosepipe restrictions in the summers of 1950 and 1951.

Wittering Tower on completion in 1952

Despite the completion of the water tower in May 1952, widespread problems with low pressure were experienced in the summer of 1954 and again restrictions were imposed. A scheme was put forward for laying a reinforcement main from Salthill Road in Fishbourne to Birdham in 1955 but it was some years before Ministry approval was received for the expenditure. Work on the second section of the main from Fishbourne to Appledram Lane commenced early in 1960 and this work led to the discovery of Fishbourne Roman Palace in 1960.

The Discovery of Fishbourne Roman Palace

The Discovery of Fishbourne Roman Palace is explained in the words of Alfred Burgess who was Engineer and Manager of the Corporation Water Department.

“Anyone closely involved with the excavation of the ground will be aware of the possibility of unearthing something of value, perhaps an old coin or other artefact of bygone times. However, the discovery of a Roman building is not an everyday occurrence, especially when the building is given the status of a palace. But this is what happened in May 1960, when the Chichester Corporation Water Department’s direct labour gang was excavating a trench through fields north of Fishbourne. The 18-inch water-main then being laid between Salthill Road and Appledram was the second stage of a scheme to improve the supply to the Wittering and Selsey areas.”

“The first stage, between East Ashling and Salthill Road had been completed the previous year. It was during the carrying out of this first stage that the trench had cut through a Roman midden near Sennicotts. I was amazed one wet Sunday to find a lady and gentleman down in the muddy trench, pinning labels to the walls where they had found items of interest, while their baby in the pushchair above remained calmly reconciled, as though it was an everyday occurrence. After a while the parents broke off from their pre-occupation and introduced themselves as Mr and Mrs Rule of Westbourne. We exchanged visiting cards, and theirs remained in my desk until, twelve months later, it provided the telephone number for conveying news of the initial findings at Fishbourne. Mr and Mrs Rule were the first to recognise the importance of the find and were instrumental in enlisting the support of their fellow archaeologists. Twenty years later Margaret Rule became nationally famous as director of operations when the Tudor warship “Mary Rose” was raised from the Solent.”

“It was fortuitous that the excavation of the trench at Fishbourne caused no damage to the most spectacular of the mosaic floors, namely the one depicting at the centre a winged cupid.”

“Professor Barry Cunliffe, who had directed excavations at the Roman palace throughout the following decade, described the discovery in his 1971 book as ‘typical of the rescue activity which is going on all over the country - but unlike many chance finds, because of close local co-operation, the Fishbourne discovery was properly recorded and eventually followed up.’ Chichester Water Department employees were proud to have played their part in this spirit of co-operation.”

The exposed remains of Fishbourne Roman Palace, 1963 featuring the 'Cupid on a Dolphin' mosaic. (Photo courtesy of Fishbourne Roman Palace / Sussex Archaeological Society)

Despite the laying of this new section of main, the second section from Appledram Lane to Cutfield Bridge at Birdham was not started until 1962 and this was too late to avoid yet another summer of restrictions for the residents of Birdham, Itchenor, Earnley and the Witterings.

A New Source at Lavant

In anticipation of the need for new supplies a decision was made by the Corporation early in 1960 to develop trial boreholes at Mid Lavant to the north of Chichester. The scheme was however delayed since there was a possibility of four local water undertakings being amalgamated into a Regnum Water Board, and one of them, the Bognor Regis UDC, was due to drill trial boreholes at Westergate Woods. However by 1962, and in the absence of results from Westergate Woods, the Corporation decided to proceed with the works at Lavant.

By the time work started on site negotiations by Portsmouth and Gosport Water Company to purchase the Corporation Water Department and the other three water undertakings were progressing rapidly. As a result the Water Company actually contributed to the construction of the boreholes which were finally completed in July 1963, just prior to the transfer of assets from the Corporation to the Company on 1 October.