Selsey: Difference between revisions
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The earliest evidence of human habitation, in the Selsey area, goes back to the stone age.<ref>Heron-Allen p.72.</ref> Various stone implements have been found which date to the [[Palaeolithic]] period.<ref>''Heron-Allen''. Plate XI</ref> People have been living in the area ever since.<ref>Heron-Allen p.73</ref><ref name="mee6">Mee. PP. 5 - 6 </ref> |
The earliest evidence of human habitation, in the Selsey area, goes back to the stone age.<ref>Heron-Allen p.72.</ref> Various stone implements have been found which date to the [[Palaeolithic]] period.<ref>''Heron-Allen''. Plate XI</ref> People have been living in the area ever since.<ref>Heron-Allen p.73</ref><ref name="mee6">Mee. PP. 5 - 6 </ref> |
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Nearby Chichester itself stands on the foundations of the Romano-British urban settlement of ''[[Noviomagus Reginorum]]'', which translates to "New Market of the Kingdom". It has been hypothesised that the tribe known as the [[Belgae]] built a city at Selsey, similar in status to the pre-Roman urban centre ( ''[[oppidum]]'') at [[Hengistbury Head]] near [[Christchurch, Dorset|Christchurch]].<ref name="mee6"></ref><ref name="cam228">Cambden. Britannia. p.228. ''At low water there are obscure Remains of that ancient little City where those Bishops resided''</ref> So far there is no archaelogical evidence to confirm this, although some have speculated that the ''old city'' that Cambden refers to is, indeed the old Belgae settlement and was located at the Mixon rocks, now south of Selsey Bill.<ref name=tepns33_76>Richardson. ''The Owers'', p.76</ref><ref name="cam228"></REF><ref>Admiralty Chart 2045 - This chart provides details of the coastal waters around Selsey Bill </ref>. |
Nearby Chichester itself stands on the foundations of the Romano-British urban settlement of ''[[Noviomagus Reginorum]]'', which translates to "New Market of the Kingdom". It has been hypothesised that the tribe known as the [[Belgae]] built a city at Selsey, similar in status to the pre-Roman urban centre ( ''[[oppidum]]'') at [[Hengistbury Head]] near [[Christchurch, Dorset|Christchurch]].<ref name="mee6"></ref><ref name="cam228">Cambden. Britannia. p.228. ''At low water there are obscure Remains of that ancient little City where those Bishops resided''</ref> So far there is no archaelogical evidence to confirm this, although some have speculated that the ''old city'' that Cambden refers to is, indeed the old Belgae settlement and was located at the Mixon rocks, now south of Selsey Bill.<ref name=tepns33_76>Richardson. ''The Owers'', p.76</ref><ref name="cam228"></REF><ref name="chart">Admiralty Chart 2045 - This chart provides details of the coastal waters around Selsey Bill </ref>. |
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[[Image:Selsey frag.jpg|thumb|left| 200px|Picture of Anglo-Saxon gold fragments found on Selsey beach]] |
[[Image:Selsey frag.jpg|thumb|left| 200px|Picture of Anglo-Saxon gold fragments found on Selsey beach]] |
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The manor of Selsey remained in the Bishop of Chichesters hands until 1561, when it was taken over by the crown<ref name="hors35"></ref> |
The manor of Selsey remained in the Bishop of Chichesters hands until 1561, when it was taken over by the crown<ref name="hors35"></ref> |
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In July 1588 the [[Spanish Armada]] arrived off the [[Isle of Wight]] with the intention of attacking [[Portsmouth]].<ref name="mee11">pp. 11 - 12. Description of what preparations Selsey made to support the action against the Armada</ref> The wind changed direction to the south-west. Men from the [[Manhood Peninsula]] serving under [[Drake]] conceived a plan to lure the Spanish fleet onto the Owers rocks (off Selsey).<ref name="mee11"></ref><ref name="chart"></ref>. However the Spanish Admiral, recognising the danger decided to head for [[Calais]]<ref name="mee11"></ref>. |
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Revision as of 19:49, 17 November 2009
| Selsey | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view | |
| Area | 12.28 km2 (4.74 sq mi) [1] |
| Population | 9,875 [1] 2001 Census |
| • Density | Template:Pop density km2 to mi2 |
| OS grid reference | SZ854935 |
| • London | 60 miles (97 km) NNE |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CHICHESTER |
| Postcode district | PO20 |
| Dialling code | 01243 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | http://www.selseytowncouncil.gov.uk/ |
Selsey is a seaside town and civil parish, about seven miles (11 km) south of Chichester, in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. Selsey lies at the southernmost point of the Manhood Peninsula, almost cut off from mainland Sussex by the sea. It is bounded to the west by Bracklesham Bay, to the north by Broad Rife (rife being the local word for stream or creek), to the east by Pagham Harbour and terminates in the south at Selsey Bill. There are significant rock formations beneath the sea off both of its coasts, named the Owers rocks and Mixon rocks, where much land has been lost to coastal erosion.
There is one road in and out of the town which briefly becomes a bridge at a point known as "the ferry", crossing the water inlet at Pagham Harbour (a part of Bognor). The term ferry is used because at the bridge point there was at one time a ferryman who took people across to the island.
Placename
According to Bede the name Selsey is derived from the Saxon Seals-ey and can be interpreted as the Isle of Sea Calves (sea calves are better known as seals).[2]
Edward Heron-Allen identified at least twenty different spellings of the place that we now know today as Selsey. [3]
A selection of versions as identified by Heron-Allen are:
- Seoles - Old English
- Seleisi - Domesday Book 1086
- 'Celesye - Assize Roll 1279
History
The earliest evidence of human habitation, in the Selsey area, goes back to the stone age.[4] Various stone implements have been found which date to the Palaeolithic period.[5] People have been living in the area ever since.[6][7]
Nearby Chichester itself stands on the foundations of the Romano-British urban settlement of Noviomagus Reginorum, which translates to "New Market of the Kingdom". It has been hypothesised that the tribe known as the Belgae built a city at Selsey, similar in status to the pre-Roman urban centre ( oppidum) at Hengistbury Head near Christchurch.[7][8] So far there is no archaelogical evidence to confirm this, although some have speculated that the old city that Cambden refers to is, indeed the old Belgae settlement and was located at the Mixon rocks, now south of Selsey Bill.[9][8][10].
There have been various finds of silver and gold coins in the Selsey area. [11]Gold coins from British rulers named Commius, Tincommius, Verica, Eppillus, and Cunobelin dating from the Iron Age were found on the beach in 1877, it is thought the British coins would have been minted locally.[12]. The early British coins would have been superseded by Roman coins and there have been finds of them too.[12]In addition, some Anglo-Saxon gold fragments were found on the beach between Selsey and Bognor, these were dated as late 6th/ 8th century and what made them particularly interesting is that they had a runic inscription on them, the fragments were handed over to the British Museum.[13]
Selsey was the capital of the South Saxons kingdom, possibly founded by Ælle. Wilfrid arrived circa 680 and converted the kingdom to Christianity, as recorded by the Venerable Bede[14]. Selsey Abbey stood at Selsey (probably where Church Norton is today)[15], and was the cathedra for the Sussex Diocese until this was moved to Chichester in 1075 by order of William the Conqueror.[16] In the Doomsday book Selesie is mentioned under the hundred of Summerly:
"The Bishop(of Chichester) holds Selesie in domain. In the time of King Edward it was rated at ten hides and so it continues. The arable is seven plough lands. There are two ploughs in the demesne, and fourteen villains with eleven bondsmen have five ploughs."[17]
The manor of Selsey remained in the Bishop of Chichesters hands until 1561, when it was taken over by the crown[17]
In July 1588 the Spanish Armada arrived off the Isle of Wight with the intention of attacking Portsmouth.[18] The wind changed direction to the south-west. Men from the Manhood Peninsula serving under Drake conceived a plan to lure the Spanish fleet onto the Owers rocks (off Selsey).[18][10]. However the Spanish Admiral, recognising the danger decided to head for Calais[18].
Selsey was connected to Chichester from 1897 to 1935 by a rail link initially called the Hundred of Manhood and Selsey Tramway and later the West Sussex Railway.
Today
This erosion has continued ever since, and the area remains low-lying and vulnerable to flooding, frustrating homeowners in the area, many of whom bought houses without being aware of the area's history. Local groups now lobby for greater flood prevention, but many[who?] wonder at the wisdom of investing in such a known-vulnerable stretch of land.
Its primary economic background until the mid 19th century was fishing trade, but this was equalled in significance by the development of tourism in the town, and during much of the 20th century, visiting holidaymakers (referred to as "grockles" by the locals) doubled the population.
The rise of international travel has led to a slowing of the tourist trade, but Selsey still has a significant leisure industry centred around the many caravan parks in the area.
The caravan park was hit by the severe storms on Monday 10 March 2008 and several hundred caravans were damaged beyond repair with many more suffering flood damage, which has caused the park to be completely closed to holidaymakers for several weeks.
The town saw the foundation of the International Bognor Birdman event.
In July 2007, a sculpture was placed at the entrance to the town. Cast in bronze by Wiliam Pye, it is based on Hokusai's woodblock print of a tsunami, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Selsey is at constant threat of rising sea levels destroying its connection with mainland Sussex and the houses of residents living nearby to the coastline. Recently, plans have been made to increase the sea defences leaving those with beachside houses at even more of a threat.
Landmarks
The parish has a couple of Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Bracklesham Bay runs along the coastline of the parish.[19] Pagham Harbour falls partly within the parish.[20] The harbour and surrounding land is of national importance for both flora and fauna. The shingle spit is also of geological interest.
Selsey Cricket Club
Selsey Cricket Club was founded in 1834 and is one of England's oldest cricket clubs, although references to cricket in Selsey were made prior to then. In 1647, a fatality was recorded at Selsey, when a fielder called Henry Brand was hit on the head by a batsman trying to hit the ball a second time.[citation needed]
The most famous member is the B.B.C. astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, C.B.E. Sir Patrick was a former Club Secretary, and an active playing member, and is now an Honorary Life Vice President.
A former President of Selsey Cricket Club was Hubert Doggart, O.B.E., MA. He was the son of the sportsman Graham Doggart who rose to chair the Football Association.
Doggart fils represented England in two Test matches in 1950. He was President of the MCC (1981–1982), the Cricket Council (1981–1982) and the Cricket Society (1983–1998), and he chaired the Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club (1993–2003). In the 1970s he played occasionally for Selsey CC.
Selsey Cricket Club has at present two Saturday and two Sunday sides, plus an active Junior section. Selsey plays in the Sussex Invitation League.
On the 6 February 1974, Selsey Cricket Club were amongst the guests on Patrick Moore's instalment of This is your life. At that time, Eamonn Andrews was the presenter of the programme, produced by Thames Television for ITV.
Education
Selsey has a secondary school called Manhood Community College and two primary schools, Seal Primary School and Medmerry Primary School. Before and after the Second World War there were several private preparatory schools in Selsey including Broombank School housed in the former residence of the music hall entertainer Bramsby Williams next to the Selsey Hotel. The owner/headmaster from the early 1950s until the school's closure in the 1970s was William Percy Higgs (died Bristol 1986), a former Cambridge University organ scholar and music master at Eton. Higgs made Broombank a music and arts school attracting the children of well known actors, artists and musicians as well as temporary students from France, whose numbers occasionally matched those of the British children.
Notable residents
Notable residents of Selsey include Sir Patrick Moore (1968–present).
Air Commodore Edward 'Teddy' Mortlock Donaldson CB, CBE, DSO, AFC and Bar, LoM (USA) who set a new world air speed record of 616 mph in September 1946, also breaking the 1,000 kilometres per hour (620 mph) barrier for the first time in the Star Meteor IV. Donaldson lived at Iron Latch Cottage, a blue plaque being placed on the beach at the bottom of Park Lane to mark the event. Donaldson has a second plaque at No. 86, Grafton Road.
Cultural references
Selsey is referenced in the punk song "Saturday's Kids" by The Jam (from the 1979 album Setting Sons), along with Bracklesham Bay, as a place where these lower-middle-class children take holiday with their families: "Save up their money for a holiday/To Selsey Bill, or Bracklesham Bay."
Selsey is also referenced in the opening scene of the Lerner and Loewe musical My Fair Lady, where one of the lower-class characters is told by Professor Higgins that he comes from Selsey, based on his accent.
Selsey is further referenced in the Madness song Driving in my car "I drive up to Muswell Hill, I've even been to Selsey Bill"
See also
- West Sussex Railway.
- Bishops of Selsey.
- St Peter's Church, Selsey.
- RNLI - Selsey Lifeboat Station
Notes
- ^ a b "2001 Census: West Sussex – Population by Parish" (PDF). West Sussex County Council. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ Bede. p.227
- ^ Heron-Allen.Selsey Historic. pp.6 - 7
- ^ Heron-Allen p.72.
- ^ Heron-Allen. Plate XI
- ^ Heron-Allen p.73
- ^ a b Mee. PP. 5 - 6
- ^ a b Cambden. Britannia. p.228. At low water there are obscure Remains of that ancient little City where those Bishops resided
- ^ Richardson. The Owers, p.76
- ^ a b Admiralty Chart 2045 - This chart provides details of the coastal waters around Selsey Bill
- ^ Mee. A History of Selsey, Chapter 2 - The author lists various finds and provides illustrations of the coins found
- ^ a b Heron-Allen. Selsey Historic and Prehistoric . Chapter XXI - Description and pictures of coins found.
- ^ Hines. p.448 Two bits of gold found on the beach between Selsey and Bognor..
- ^ Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People. ch.13
- ^ 'Selsey', A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 4: The Rape of Chichester (1953), pp. 205-210. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=41746&strquery=church+norton Date accessed: 19 October 2009.
- ^ Horsfield. History and Antiquities Vol II. p.20. ... all cathedral churches should be removed from villages to cities.
- ^ a b Horsfied. History and Antiquities Vol II P.35
- ^ a b c pp. 11 - 12. Description of what preparations Selsey made to support the action against the Armada
- ^ "SSSI Citation — Bracklesham Bay" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "SSSI Citation — Pagham Harbour" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
References
- Heron-Allen, Edward (1911). Selsey Historic and Prehistoric. Duckworth.
- Hines, John (1990). BAMMESBERGER WOLLMANN (ed.). The Runic Inscriptions of Early Anglo-Saxon England. C.Winter. ISBN 3533042715.
- Mee, Frances (1988). A History of Selsey. Chichester, Sussex: Philimore. ISBN 0850336724.
- Cambden, William (Updated English version 1701). Britannia Vol 1. London: Joseph Wild.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - Salzman, Louis Francis (facsimile edition 1973). A Victorian History of the County of Sussex: Volumes 4. London: Victoria County History. ISBN 071290588X.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - "2001 Census: West Sussex – Population by Parish" (PDF). West Sussex County Council. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- "SSSI Citation — Bracklesham Bay" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - "SSSI Citation — Pagham Harbour" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - Richardson, W.A.R. (2000–2001). The Owers. The English Placename Society Journal 33.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link) - Chart 2045. Outer Approaches to The Solent (Map). United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. 2005.
- Horsfield, Thomas (1835 Facsimile Ed 2009). The History, Antiquities and Topography of the County of Sussex Vol II. Country Books. ISBN 978-1-906789-16-9.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - Bede Venerablis (1988). A History of the English Church and People. Penguin Classics. ISBN 0-14-044042-9.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
External Links
- The Oxford Celtic Coin Catalogue - with pre-Roman British coins found at Selsey
- Romans in Sussex - details of Roman coins found at Selsey
- British Museum catalogue - details of gold fragments found at Selsey
- Public Sculptures of Sussex - Great Wave of Kanagawa.
- Revealed: Selsey's new £60,000 sculpture - Chichester Observer, July 2007
- West Sussex County Council
- Selsey Cricket Club
- SOS - Save Our Selsey a local lobby group for better coastal protection.