Halnaker Park

The ruins of Halnaker House are a distinctive feature viewed from the south. They are set within a large garden area bounded by a brick wall to the west. Within the gardens are a variety of specimen trees, a cockpit (according to the Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 map surveyed in 1972) and two more recent houses, Little Halnaker (date of building unknown) and Halnaker Park (a Lutyens House, date of building unknown). There is a further house converted from farm buildings to the west, opposite an entrance pillar in the flint wall.

The 1972 Ordnance Survey map indicates a Park pale on the eastern boundary. Within the north-east corner of Hazel Wood and in places within Halnaker Park woodland a distinct ditch and bank feature can be found. Along the rest of the boundary it can be seen as a steep bank but the ditch appears to have been ploughed out.

Of the woodland within the park boundary Hazel Wood is now a largely coniferous plantation divided in two by a central track aligned north-north-east/south-south-west. The only hazel is confined to the boundaries. Halnaker Park woodland is predominately beech with some conifer.

The most impressive feature of the landscape is the mature Sweet Chestnut Trees. There are 74 in total distributed along the lower southern boundary, in a block to the south-west of the ruins, in a long row to the south-east of the gate house entrance, and as isolated trees in the lower park. The trees are all in a poor state, with die back and bark loss. They are clearly very old. One has a girth of more than eight meters.

From studying maps of 1629, 1778, 1813, 1880 and comparing them with 1997 aerial photographs and on the ground observations, certain historic features can be identified.

Boundaries: The southern, eastern and northern boundaries of Halnaker Park are the same as shown in the estate map of 1629 and they can be traced on the ground. The western boundary has been incorporated into Goodwood Estate Home Farm. However, the flint wall and bridleway appears to be consistent with the old inner park pale.

Woodland and Parkland Trees: the names and location of woodland blocks in 1629 are similar to the current situation, that is:Haflewoode coppice (1629) = Hazel Wood Winkinge Woode = Ladys WinkinsHoke Woode = Rook WoodHarthill Wood = Hathill Copse WestSaley Coppice = Seely Copse

The gap or ride through the woodland to the northern boundary, apparent on maps of 1778, 1813, 1880 is still evident as Halnaker Gallop. The shape of the woodland blocks are almost identical to the 1880 map and very similar to the 1778 map. Many of the parkland trees and clumps on the 1880 map are still present today.

In essence, the landscape of Halnaker Park has changed little in 370 years, with the exception of changes in land use. More of the park is now under arable cultivation rather than grassland and pasture (as indicated by the field names in 1629).

The greatest threat to the historic landscape in the short term is the loss of the Sweet Chestnuts in the lower park. All the trees are showing signs of severe stress mainly due to agricultural activities, for example spray drift, ploughing too close to the tree base, or ring barking due to mechanical damage from equipment.

Returning the lower park to permanent pasture would reduce the stress on the trees and considerably enhance the setting of the ruins of Halnaker Park. Reversion to pasture could be grant aided. Collection of seed and propagation of replacement trees would maintain the historic stock. It may be possible to involve the local West Sussex Education Trust (which has links with the Goodwood Estate) in the tree propagation and early care.

Retaining the shape of woodland blocks is important in conserving the historic landscape. This need not interfere with the commercial forestry and game management. Ideally the outer tree/shrub line should be retained and a diversity of species encouraged.

The remains of the park pale ditch and bank is an important historic feature. Further loss should be avoided by preventing close ploughing and allowing a slightly wider boundary woodland strip to develop.

In September 1980, Stella Palmer wrote ‘The site is part of a medieval deer park. There are remains of a sweet chestnut avenue south of the gate house (now outside the boundary) and one or two of the trees probably date from 1700. Brick walls enclosing the ruins and immediate gardens surrounding them were built circa 1800. The present gardens (Little Halnaker) were planted in and around the ruined buildings after 1960 and although not of themselves of historic interest make a pleasing setting and for this reason are important. They are well kept up.'

Recently, several folios of drawings and plans by Gertrude Jekyll were located at Halnaker House. They are presently lodged in the Surrey History Centre in Woking.