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Watergate House
The land at Watergate was first mentioned in 1278. The origin of the name is not clear but it is possible that, as the valley here is very narrow and steep-sided, it may have been thought of as a gate through which flood waters can pass.
The original house was built in the 16th century and was lived in by many different families over the years. Richard Cotton, the former owner of Warblington Castle, bought Watergate after Warblington was destroyed by Cromwell’s troops in 1642.
The house was rebuilt between 1780 and 1810, converting it from the original Jacobean to a more Ionic style, as shown below. It was rebuilt again in the late 19th century in a Georgian style.
The final resident of Watergate House was William Christy. Against social convention, he fell in love and then married his house keeper, Marian Ashworth Brennan. She inherited the entire estate upon his death in 1939.
Did you know?
Canadian troops were stationed here when WW2 broke out in 1939. Tragically the house was completely destroyed by a chimney fire in 1942, as can be seen in the photo below.
The main house was rebuilt by the current owners in the late 1980s, with the architect basing his plans on the original 18th century designs for the house. This means that the appearance of today’s Watergate House is very similar to the original 18th Century building.
Two of Watergate House’s lodges are also original. Travelling along the B2146 to Compton, the house in the woods on the left is named The Pillars, and probably dates from the 1780 to 1810 rebuilding of the main house. The other lodge, where the southern entrance of Locksash lane meets the B2146, was built in 1901 and is also original.
Barley Mow Pub
The Barley Mow is a traditional free house, with a cosy log fire in the winter and a garden by the river for the summer.
The Barley Mow has a unique skittle alley, available for hire. In days gone by it also used to have a shop stocking provisions and homemade bread. With many cottages small and primitive, until the turn of the 20th century ‘cottagers’ meals could be sent to the bakery for locals to buy.
Did you know?
The whole ceiling of the Barley Mow used to be covered in Hops and the restaurant side of the pub is a newer addition. As of November 2024 the pub is undergoing change of ownership.
- Barley Mow, Walderton, West Sussex PO18 9ED
- Website: www.thebarleymow.pub
- Phone: 02392 631321
- Lunch menu: click here
- Get the Bourne Bus here – click here
The River Ems
The Ems is a seasonal chalk stream that historically was used to power water mills and feed watercress beds in the Ems Valley.
Most of the milling activity took place further downstream towards Westbourne, where the river Ems powered a corn mill and water pumping station. There was also an ancient water mill powered by the Ems at Lordington, which is now a private house, and other mills at Emsworth.
Six miles in length, the source of the Ems is about 1.5 miles (2.4km) northeast of Stoughton village. The river is a Bourne, which means it is seasonal and it flows in the winter months southwest through Walderton alongside the road, behind the Barley Mow Pub and under the B2146 at Walderton Bridge. Willow trees grow along much of the river (below).
Did you know?
Before the 16th century the Ems was originally called the Bourne. The river was renamed by the 16th century chronicler Raphael Holinshed. This is why many of the towns and villages that the river runs through or past still have ‘Bourne’ as a suffix.
Although the river Ems is seasonal for much of its length it has a surprisingly rich natural history. Recent surveys by the Western Sussex Rivers Trust have shown that, when flowing, the Ems is rich in aquatic insect life. It contains good populations of caddis fly larvae and even small fish like Bullhead catfish, both signs of good water quality.
The Ems then flows past Lordington and Racton, where it leaves the Octagon, through Westbourne and on to Emsworth. Here it becomes tidal, and it passes into Chichester and Langstone harbours before flowing into the sea.
Did you know?
In prehistoric times the River Ems was tidal as far as Westbourne. This would have left Emsworth almost isolated at high tide. That’s why there used to be poles at the ford and toll gate at Emsworth, to highlight where the road went, to stop people falling into the river!
The Monarch’s Way
The Monarchs Ways is a 625-mile (1,006 km) long-distance footpath that approximates the escape route taken by the 21 year old King Charles II following his defeat at the Battle of Worcester on 3rd Sept 1651.
The Monarch’s Way was established in 1994 and runs from Worcester via Bristol all the way to Shoreham, West Sussex. In its latter stages, it crosses part of the Octagon Parish.
Did you know?
It is because King Charles II escaped to France in a ship that all of the waypost signs for the Monarch’s Way have a ship logo.
The Monarch’s Way charts six weeks of history in which Charles was a fugitive from Cromwell’s parliamentarian New Model Army. After many adventures and narrow escapes, he finally made it to Shoreham, from where he was transported to safety in France on a ship called The Surprise.
Having spent his time exiled in France and Holland, he returned to England nine years later, being crowned Charles II on 23 April 1661.
Did you know?
The King’s escape to France by ship from the Sussex coast was masterminded by Colonel Gunter of Racton, who made the arrangements for the King to be smuggled to France. Colonel Gunter managed to keep his part in the escape secret until he was on his deathbed, just before the Restoration in 1657.
- Find out more about Colonel Gunter of Racton – click here
- Find out about the escape of King Charles II to France – click here
- Find out about the 625 mile Monarch’s Way walking trail – click here