Binderton

Binderton is a tiny hamlet 3 miles north of Chichester. Binderton is sited on a small raised tongue of land which separates the River Lavant Valley from the valley which runs alongside Kingley Vale all the way up to the village of Chilgrove.

There's not much to Binderton, but the views from across the Lavant Valley and Preston Farm towards the Trundle are extremely pretty, especially on a slightly misty summer's morning.

One good way of enjoying this view is to cycle up to Binderton from Chichester along the Centurion Way cycle path - a lovely few miles of disused railway line.

The A286 Chichester to Midhurst road runs through Binderton on the way to West Dean. Look out for the ruins of the former Binderton Chapel on the eastern side of the road - a lovely building built in 1671, now reduced to a shell.

The Chapel was built here when Thomas Smith of Binderton House, pulled down Binderton's medieval church in order to extend his house. He built a new chapel across the road. But this was never consecrated due to a row with the church, who continued to be a bit miffed about the whole affair, even going so far as to refuse initially to bury Smith when his time came to meet his maker - talk about bearing a grudge. By Victorian times the chapel was in use as a barn.

On the other side of the road, tucked away behind a stout wall is the impressive Binderton House itself, which has now been divided up into posh flats. Binderton House is thought by English Heritage to have been built around 1680.

Binderton

Where to stay near Binderton