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* {{cite book |title= Post Office Directory - Sussex|year= 1938|publisher=Kelly's Directories|location=London}}
* {{cite book |title= Post Office Directory - Sussex|year= 1938|publisher=Kelly's Directories|location=London}}
* {{cite book|author=Alec Down|editor=Peter Drewett|title= Archaeology in Sussex to A.D.1500 (Research reports / Council for British Archaeology):Roman Sussex-Chichester and the Chilgrove Valley|year= 1978|publisher=Council for British Archaeology|location=London|isbn=090031267X }}
* {{cite book|author=Alec Down|editor=Peter Drewett|title= Archaeology in Sussex to A.D.1500 (Research reports / Council for British Archaeology):Roman Sussex-Chichester and the Chilgrove Valley|year= 1978|publisher=Council for British Archaeology|location=London|isbn=090031267X }}
* {{cite book |author=Timothy J. McCann |title= Sussex Cricket in the Eighteenth Century|year= 2004|publisher=Sussex Record Society|location=Lewes|isbn=085445 055 6}}



==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 20:17, 21 February 2010

Selsey
Aerial view
Area12.28 km2 (4.74 sq mi) [1]
Population9,875 [1] 2001 Census
• DensityTemplate:Pop density km2 to mi2
OS grid referenceSZ854935
• London60 miles (97 km) NNE
Civil parish
  • Selsey
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCHICHESTER
Postcode districtPO20
Dialling code01243
PoliceSussex
FireWest Sussex
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament
Websitehttp://www.selseytowncouncil.gov.uk/
List of places
UK
England
West Sussex

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. Coastal erosion has been an ever present problem for Selsey .[2]

There is only one road (the B2145) 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. At one time Selsey was inaccessible at flood tide, and a boat was stationed at the ferry to take horses and passengers to and from Sidlesham.[3]

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).[4]

Edward Heron-Allen identified at least twenty different spellings of the place that we now know today as Selsey.[5]

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.[6] Various stone implements have been found which date to the Palaeolithic period.[7] People have been living in the area ever since.[8][9]

It is believed that, in the Iron Age, the Atrebates (one of the Belgae tribes) built a city at Selsey, similar in status to the pre-Roman urban centre ( oppidum) at Hengistbury Head near Christchurch.[9][10][11] So far there is no archaelogical evidence to confirm this, although some have speculated that the old city that Camden refers to is, indeed the old Belgae settlement and was located at the Mixon rocks, now south of Selsey Bill.[12][13][14].

File:Selsey frag.jpg
Picture of Anglo-Saxon gold fragments found on Selsey beach[15]

There have been various finds of silver and gold coins in the Selsey area.[16] Gold coins from the Atrebates rulers named Commius, Tincommius, Verica, Eppillus, and Cunobelin were found on the beach in 1877, it is thought that these coins would have been minted locally.[17][18]. The ancient British coins would have been superseded by Roman coins and there have been finds of them too.[17][19] 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.[15][20]

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[21]. Selsey Abbey stood at Selsey (probably where Church Norton is today)[22], and was the cathedra for the Sussex Diocese until this was moved to Chichester in 1075 by order of William the Conqueror.[23] 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."[24][25]

Title page of book about the murder of the two men, the trial and execution.

The manor of Selsey remained in the Bishop of Chichesters hands until 1561, when it was taken over by the crown[24]

In July 1588 the Spanish Armada arrived off the Isle of Wight with the intention of attacking Portsmouth.[26] 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).[14][26]. However the Spanish Admiral, recognising the danger decided to head for Calais[26].

Over the centuries Selsey has derived an income from the sea, one of the darker enterprises was smuggling.[27] In the eighteenth century Selsey Bill was very much more isolated than it is today, and the sand spit extended farther out to sea. There was only the causeway connected to the mainland and that was covered at high tide.[3] The approach of the local riding officer would have been conspicuous in the extreme.[28] The Rectors of Selsey reputedly claimed a tithe on all kegs landed there, and stories also tell of a passageway leading from the Old Rectory (at Church Norton) to the remains of a Mound, thought to have been built by the Normans.[29][30] The course of the tunnel was marked by a depression on the surface of the ground as late as 1911.[31][32]

In the 1720s one Selsey man ran a regular ferry service to France, travelling back and forth every five weeks, and other prominent Selsey figures made considerable fortunes just from part-time work in the free-trade.[28] Landings weren't confined to Selsey itself: in a single run in 1743 2,000 lbs of tea were brought inland at West Wittering some six miles away.[28]

In 1749 fourteen smugglers were accused of the murder of Mr. William Galley, a Custom-house Officer, and Mr. Daniel Chater, a Shoemaker.[33] Seven were tried and hanged in Chichester for their crimes. Subsequently, two of the smugglers, John Cobby and John Hammond had their bodies hung in gibbets at Selsey Bill so that they could be seen at great distance from east and west.[34][35]

At the beginning of the 19th century, Selsey opened its first school. In 1818 premises were granted to the Rector and churchwardens of Selsey which were on trust to permit the premises to be used for a schoolhouse or free school, for the gratuitous education of such poor children belonging to the Parish of Selsey as the said trustees or successors may think proper.[36] The school was eventually taken over by the local authority in 1937.[37]

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. The light railway rolling stock was all second hand and not very reliable and the journey times lengthy. Various nick names such as the Selsey Snail were attributed to the tram and comic postcards were issued reflecting its poor service.[38]

Climate

Climate data for Selsey
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Source: [39]

Landmarks

The parish has a couple of Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Bracklesham Bay runs along the coastline of the parish.[40] Pagham Harbour falls partly within the parish.[41] 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.[42] Cricket had been played in Selsey before the clubs foundation and a famous incident occurred in 1647, when a fielder called Henry Brand died, after being struck on the head by a batsman trying to hit the ball a second time to avoid being out.[42]

The clubs 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.[43] 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.

Education

Selsey has a secondary school called Manhood Community College and two primary schools, Seal Primary School and Medmerry Primary School.[44] 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.[44][45] The owner/headmaster from the early 1950s until the school's closure in 1969 was William Percy Higgs (died Bristol 1986), a former Cambridge University organ scholar and music master at Eton.[44] 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. [44]

Notable residents

The plaque notes that Eric Coates was inspired to write Sleepy Lagoon, the signature tune for Desert Island Discs, whilst watching the sea from here[46]

Notable residents of Selsey include Sir Patrick Moore (Born 1923) – an astronomer, writer, researcher, radio commentator and television presenter has lived in Selsey since 1968.[47]

Air Commodore Edward 'Teddy' Mortlock Donaldson CB, CBE, DSO, AFC and Bar, LoM (USA)(1912 – 1992) 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.[48]

Eric Coates(1886 -1957) the English Composer lived and worked in Selsey. He wrote the hit song Sleepy Lagoon which was a reference to the view towards Bognor.[citation needed] His musical composition can still be heard as the theme tune to Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4.[46]

Edward Heron-Allen (1861-1943): Selsey's most distinguished resident in the early 20th century, Mr Heron-Allen made an enormous contribution to village life and today is still well known as the author of the classic work on local history for the area.[48] [49]

Colin Pullinger (1814-94): A Victorian business man who was an undertaker, wooden pump maker, repairer of umbrellas, letter writer and clerk to the Selsey Sparrow Club. He was famed for making more than two million humane and perpetual mousetraps, which were exhibited at international exhibitions in London and Philadelphia. A blue plaque has been placed at the site of his Inventive Factory, which is today occupied by the offices of Selsey Town Council in the High Street.[48]

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

Notes

  1. ^ a b "2001 Census: West Sussex – Population by Parish" (PDF). West Sussex County Council. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
  2. ^ SCOPAC. Sedimentary Study from East Head to Pagham. p.3. - The Standing Conference on Problems Associated with the Coastline (SCOPAC) was established in 1986 and consists of local authorities, the Environment agency and others. Archaeological evidence demonstrates that the coastline was some 2 to 3km seawards of where it is now at about 5,000 years
  3. ^ a b Horsfield. History and Antiquities Vol II p.35.A man and horse paid twopence; a foot passenger one halfpenny. The farmers and renters paid annually a certain portion of corn..
  4. ^ Bede. p.227
  5. ^ Heron-Allen.Selsey Historic. pp.6 - 7
  6. ^ Heron-Allen p.72.
  7. ^ Heron-Allen. Plate XI
  8. ^ Heron-Allen p.73
  9. ^ a b Mee. pp.5 - 6. The early beginnings of Selsey.
  10. ^ Roman Sussex-Chichester and the Chilgrove Valley. Alec Down.p.52.The main oppidum of this shrunken kingdom was probably at Selsey
  11. ^ History files. The Tribe of the Atrebates.
  12. ^ Cambden. Britannia. p.228. At low water there are obscure Remains of that ancient little City where those Bishops resided
  13. ^ Richardson. The Owers, p.76. If, as seems almost certain, The Mixon is the site of the 'the old city' perhaps Cymenes ora itself...
  14. ^ a b Admiralty Chart 2045 - This chart provides details of the coastal waters around Selsey Bill
  15. ^ a b British Museum catalogue and description.
  16. ^ Mee. A History of Selsey, Chapter 2 - The author lists various finds and provides illustrations of the coins found
  17. ^ a b Heron-Allen. Selsey Historic and Prehistoric . Chapter XXI - Description and pictures of coins found.
  18. ^ British Museum Catalogue of pre-Roman coins at Selsey
  19. ^ Romans in Sussex. Description and pictures of Roman coins found at Selsey.
  20. ^ Hines. p.448 Two bits of gold found on the beach between Selsey and Bognor..
  21. ^ Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People. ch.13
  22. ^ '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.
  23. ^ Horsfield. History and Antiquities Vol II. p.20. ... all cathedral churches should be removed from villages to cities.
  24. ^ a b Horsfied. History and Antiquities Vol II P.35
  25. ^ Horspool. Alfred. p.102. A hide is a bit like a form of tax, it is the amount of men required to maintain and defend an area for the King. The Burghal Hideage defines the measurement as one hide would be equivalent to one man. The hidage explains for the maintenance and defence of an acres breadth of wall sixteen hides are required
  26. ^ a b c Mee. pp. 11 - 12. Description of what preparations Selsey made to support the action against the Armada
  27. ^ Mee. Ch.7 the author explains the various ways the sea has been important to Selsey. Including wrecks, wrecking and smuggling
  28. ^ a b c Smugglers Britain. Description of Selsey Bill and smuggling activities Cite error: The named reference "smugglersbritain" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  29. ^ SAC. Volume 119. p.221 - talking about the Mound.. the earthworks were probably constructed in the Norman period and probably soon after 1066..
  30. ^ Mee.p38. There is even a tradition in Selsey that some of the Rectors used to take a 'tythe of kegs'..
  31. ^ Heron-Allen p.195. The author speculates that the gullys were built as part of the Armada defences.
  32. ^ SAC Vol 119. pp.218 -219. Plan of the mound
  33. ^ Smugglers and Smuggling. The book provides a narrative on the offence, capture, trial and excution of the smugglers involved.
  34. ^ Smugglers and Smuggling. p.124.
  35. ^ Heron-Allen. Historic and Prehistoric. p.309. and copy of tithe map. The Author says that it is not clear where the gibbets would have stood, but in an old tithe map, there was a Gibbet Field and he feels that this would have been the most likely place. The field was immediately adjacent to Selsey Bill.
  36. ^ Mee. p.75
  37. ^ Mee. p.80
  38. ^ Mee. pp.84-96. Information on the railway.
  39. ^ "Averages for Selsey". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |accessyear= (help)
  40. ^ "SSSI Citation — Bracklesham Bay" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 4 April 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  41. ^ "SSSI Citation — Pagham Harbour" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 4 April 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  42. ^ a b Timothy J McCann (2004) Sussex Cricket in the Eighteenth Century, Sussex Record Society
  43. ^ Selsey Cricket Club
  44. ^ a b c d Mee. Chapter Nine. Education in Selsey
  45. ^ Kellys Directory (1938)p.515 -516. Entry for Broombank School:Broombank Boarding; School(Misses Morgan, principals), Manor road.. Entry for the Selsey Hotel:Selsey Hotel (Selsey Hotel Ltd.), Manor rd.
  46. ^ a b Eric Coates Remembered. Blue Plaque Citation by local council.
  47. ^ Moore. The Autobiography p.62 -We arrived in Selsey on 29 June 1968 ..
  48. ^ a b c Blue Plaque press release.Citation by county council of blue plaques awarded to Selsey and reasons.
  49. ^ Selsey Bill: Historic and Prehistoric, published in 1911

References

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