Editing Midhurst (section)

== Culture and community ==
=== Culture ===
'''The Midhurst Music, Arts and Drama Festival (MADhurst)''' is an annual community event that brings together the creative, artistic & musical talent of Midhurst. It takes place at multiple venues in and around Midhurst for ten days every summer, culminating on August Bank Holiday in a Carnival Parade (organised by the Town Council) and Grand Finale celebration with stalls, a music festival, clowns, food and more at the Midhurst Sports Ground.  The programme for each festival varies from year to year, but typically includes evening and lunchtime concerts (classical, swing, folk and jazz), an art trail, an artisan fair, a 'family fun day' for young children, theatre and dance performances, a local Gardeners Question Time, a short story competition and numerous workshops on creative skills, plus a range fringe events such as exhibitions, beer festivals, quiz nights, treasure trails and others. The event brings together the whole community to manage the box office, arrange workshops, help with PR and social media, provide security and everything needed for a smooth-running festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://madhurst.co.uk/ |title=The MADhurst Festival: a community event for the creative arts |publisher=Madhurst.co.uk |access-date=15 October 2015 |archive-date=11 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011150509/http://madhurst.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''The Midhurst Medieval Festival''' takes place annually in the Old Town, in early May, featuring re-enactments, falconry, spinning and weaving demonstrations, have-a-go archery, medieval music, stalls and medieval food.

'''The architectural heritage''' of Tudor, Georgian and Victorian buildings in Midhurst is considerable, with 94 [[listed building]]s. The Midhurst Society was founded in 1969 to help conserve this heritage. The Society aims to preserve, protect and improve local features of historic or public interest. It promotes high standards of planning and architecture and seeks to enhance the local environment and amenities, in liaison with public authorities. A biannual magazine "Midhurst Magazine" is published to encourage interest in the local past, present and future.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.midhurstsociety.org.uk/web/ |title=Midhurst Society |publisher=Midhurst Society |date=15 August 2015 |access-date=15 October 2015 |archive-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709053322/http://www.midhurstsociety.org.uk/web/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''The Knockhundred Shuttles''' a Midhurst-based mixed Morris Dancing club, meets regularly to practice, and appears in numerous country festivals.  The Midhurst Players present 3–4 amateur dramatic productions each year, the Midhurst Art Society and the Midhurst Camera Club each hold summer exhibitions each year, and the Midhurst Choral Society gives periodic recitals.

'''Filmography:'''  In 2010 Midhurst featured as a set for the television series ''[[Foyle's War]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.violetdesigns.co.uk/foyles_war_series7.htm |title=Foyle's War Series 7,Foyles War Filmed 2009 Midhurst,ITV 2010 |publisher=Violetdesigns.co.uk |access-date=15 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180907/http://www.violetdesigns.co.uk/foyles_war_series7.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 2014 the Midhurst Together Group facilitated the community production of the "Midhurst Happy Video", based on the original song by [[Pharrell Williams]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/news/local/picture-gallery-midhurst-films-happy-video-1-6016873 |title=Picture Gallery: Midhurst films Happy video – Midhurst and Petworth Observer |publisher=Midhurstandpetworth.co.uk |date=24 April 2014 |access-date=15 October 2015 |archive-date=7 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107011930/http://www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/news/local/picture-gallery-midhurst-films-happy-video-1-6016873 |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''Social Media:''' The town has an internet presence with a Town Council website,<ref name=homepage/> a "VisitMidhurst" website focused on the information needs of tourists,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://visitmidhurst.com/ |title=Welcome to the Midhurst tourism website |publisher=Visit Midhurst |date=7 March 2015 |access-date=15 October 2015 |archive-date=8 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008102203/http://visitmidhurst.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a community Facebook page,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/midhurstwestsussex |title=Midhurst, West Sussex |publisher=Facebook.com |date=11 October 2015 |access-date=15 October 2015 |archive-date=7 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107011930/https://www.facebook.com/midhurstwestsussex |url-status=live }}</ref> Twitter feed<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/midhurstuk |title=Midhurst UK (@MidhurstUK) |publisher=Twitter |access-date=15 October 2015 |archive-date=7 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107011930/https://twitter.com/midhurstuk |url-status=live }}</ref> and Pinterest page.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pinterest.com/midhurstuk/ |title=Midhurst West Sussex on Pinterest |publisher=Pinterest.com |access-date=15 October 2015 |archive-date=7 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107011930/https://www.pinterest.com/midhurstuk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> About ten community organisations are also active on social media, and many of them have websites.<ref>"''Bringing Midhurst Together: a list of Clubs, Societies and Groups that meet in Midhurst''" (2015). Produced by the Midhurst Together Group</ref>

=== Community facilities ===
[[File:The Old Town Hall in Market Square (geograph 4065729).jpg|thumb|left|The [[Old Town Hall, Midhurst|Old Town Hall]]]]
'''The [[South Downs National Park]]''', established in 2011, stretches for {{convert|87|mi|km}} between [[Winchester]] in the West to [[Eastbourne]] and [[Beachy Head]] in the East.  It encompasses the whole of the [[South Downs]], together with a significant area of the western [[Weald]] to the north of the Downs, as far north as Alice Holt near Farnham. The Park's landscapes cover {{convert|620|mi2|km2}}. The headquarters of the National Park Authority, the South Downs Centre in Capron House, Midhurst is a community hub, an exhibition about the National Park and a green conference centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://southdowns.gov.uk/discover/ |title=Discover – South Downs National Park Authority |publisher=Southdowns.gov.uk |date=20 June 2014 |access-date=15 October 2015 |archive-date=20 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920080852/https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/discover/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It also includes the Midhurst Tourist Information Centre.

'''The Midhurst Town Trust''' is a charity responsible for maintaining some of Midhurst's community facilities. The Charity Commissioners Scheme for The Midhurst Town Trust was sealed on 4 February 1910, and has governed the activities of the Trust ever since, with one amendment. Certain properties were vested in the Trust to protect, administer and care for. In addition to the [[Old Town Hall, Midhurst|Old Town Hall]] and the Market Square, the commissioners schedule of property included the Stocks, The Pound, The Curfew Garden, the Royal Arms, Town Mace and Constables Staves. The Trustees meet twice a year. There are currently six trustees: one representative of the Lord of the Manor (Lord Cowdray); Three representatives of Midhurst Town Council; and two co-opted trustees who reside in Midhurst.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.midhurst-town-square.org.uk/midhurst-town-trust/ |title=Midhurst Town Trust |publisher=Midhurst Town Square |date=4 February 1910 |access-date=15 October 2015 |archive-date=7 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107011930/http://www.midhurst-town-square.org.uk/midhurst-town-trust/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''The Grange Leisure Centre''' was opened on 3 March 2014, replacing a nearby earlier building dating from the 1960s.<ref>[http://www.chichester.gov.uk/index.cfm?ArticleID=21294] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215040048/http://www.chichester.gov.uk/index.cfm?ArticleID=21294|date=15 December 2013}}</ref> It is owned by Chichester District Council and operated by Westgate Leisure. The centre provides a number of services under one roof. It is a meeting-place for a range of clubs, including bridge, badminton, gymnastics, toddlers, line-dancing, yoga and many others. It includes: a multi-purpose four-court sports hall; a fitness room with state of the art Technogym equipment; two squash courts and a squash viewing area; a dance studio with mirrors that is also used for fitness and community activities; a health suite, including a sauna, steam room and a spa pool; a multi-purpose community hall and community rooms; and a bar and café with Wi-Fi access. The facility overlooks South Pond, with an outdoor seating area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westgateleisure.co.uk/grange |title=The Grange |publisher=Westgate leisure |date=3 March 2014 |access-date=15 October 2015 |archive-date=30 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530072235/http://www.westgateleisure.co.uk/grange |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''Community health facilities''' are provided at the Midhurst Community Hospital in Dodsley Lane.<ref>{{cite web|title=Midhurst Community Hospital|url=http://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/services/locations/midhurst_community_hospital.htm|publisher=NHS|access-date=15 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112019/http://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/services/locations/midhurst_community_hospital.htm|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The former Midhurst Sanatorium, founded by King Edward VII, closed in 2006 and has since been converted to housing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plans for King Edward VII hospital site approved |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-15724138 |website=BBC News |access-date=27 January 2019 |archive-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128033649/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-15724138 |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''Library:''' The local branch of the West Sussex County Library is housed in The Grange Leisure Centre.

'''Register Office:'''  The Midhurst Branch of the West Sussex Register office is housed in The Grange Leisure Centre, and is open part-time for the registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths.

'''Clubs and Societies:''' There are over fifty clubs and societies in Midhurst, covering all aspects of community life.<ref>Bringing Midhurst Together: a list of Clubs, Societies and Groups that meet in Midhurst''" (2015). The Midhurst Together Group.</ref> They include groups active in the arts and in crafting activities, in environmental and heritage activities, in social support and welfare activities and in sport and leisure.