Midhurst

Midhurst, a market-town of Sussex, on the Rother, a navigable tributary of the Arun, 65 miles by rail SW. of London and 12 N. of Chichester. Cobden was born close by, and Lyell was educated at the grammar-school (1672). Cowdray House, $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ mile NE., was built about 1530 by the Earl of Southampton, and for 239 years had been the seat of eight Viscounts Montague, when in 1793 it was reduced by fire to a beautiful ruin. Till 1885 Midhurst borough (35 sq. m. in area) returned a member to parliament. Pop. of parish (1851) 1481; (1891) 1074.