Poet and artist
William Blake was tried in the guildhall located in the park. The park has also played host to
county cricket matches, holding its first
first-class match in 1852 (before the park itself was established) when
Sussex played an
All England Eleven. In 1882 and 1886, the touring
Australians played on the ground, although Sussex were not their opponents: they played
Lord March's XI (owner of the nearby
Goodwood Estate) and against a
United Eleven. It was in the Australians' match against the United Eleven that the great
W.G. Grace played on the ground. Having last played on the ground in 1852, Sussex returned there in 1906 playing a 1906
County Championship match against local rivals
Hampshire. Sussex last played on the ground in 1950 against
Glamorgan. In May 2017, two Roman town houses were found underneath the park using Ground penetrating radar equipment. One of the houses included a hot room and baths. ==Present==