Voices
From The Sea’ is an A4-size book, with 212 pages and 222 photos,
full of fascinating stories (ancient and modern) from Selsey lifeboat
crew members, divers, fishermen, coastguards and other Selsey people,
plus a superb Foreword by Sir Patrick Moore. The Book £14
with ALL money for seafaring charities.
For more details visit:
The
history of Selsey starts in
the mists of time, the ages being marked by contemporary artifacts
and structures.
The Romans departed about the year 400 and in the year 477 Ella with
his three sons arrived and created the land of the South Saxons, with
his capital at Selsey.
St. Wilfrid arrived in Sussex in 680/1 and converted the nation of
the South Saxons to Christianity, and the Venerable Bede records:
" At the time King Ethelwalch gave to the Most Reverend Prelate, Wilfrid
land of eighty-seven families to maintain his company, who were in
banishment, which place is called Selesea, that is the island of the
sea-calf"
He
founded a monastery/Cathedral and twenty-three Bishops succeeded him
until the Cathedral was transferred from Selsey to Chichester in 1075.
The derivation of the name 'Selsey' is popularly considered to be
Seal Island. There is no doubt that until the end of the eighteenth
century, the now peninsula was an island with its own ferry, ferryhouse
and ferryman who was paid 'four bushels of barley in 1661 and allowed
to collect a halfpenny from every traveller'. The causeway was completed
in 1809 and facilitates the only access road, the B2145.
Selsey
Town sits at the end of the peninsula (Selsey Bill) and it is possible
to hear the sea on three sides from the centre of the Town which
lies some half mile north of the most southern point. The fishing
industry is renowned for its quality Selsey Crab and lobsters.
In 1897 Selsey was linked by a light rail track which suffered the
same fate as many others and closed in 1935.
Selsey Town is really an amalgamation of two communities, Sutton
the present day town and Northtown, the site of the ancient cathedral
of St. Wilfrid (681A.D).
Selsey accommodates one of the largest temporary villages in the
whole of western Europe, known as West Sands Holiday Centre which
makes provision for some 15,000 residential visitors each week from
April to October.
The Selsey community is characteristic of many of the smaller communities
in the region but more notable as it represents the next largest
population after Chichester in the district.
Selsey
(Seal Island) is situated in the extreme South West of Sussex, being
the most Southerly Parish of the County. Historically the land and
sea have provided the people of Selsey with a comfortable living.
Selsey was once an isolated fishing community, with 3 Coastguard
Stations and a Lloyds of London semaphore signal station, Selsey
was long established before Roman Times and it is probable that
a mint existed prior to Roman Times. Selsey had, by the 20th Century
become an oasis for writers, musicians and authors. In the 30's
and 40's tourism took off for the village with thousands of holidaymakers
staying locally in the new holiday camps. Large housing schemes
in the 1960's led to a massive rise in the permanent population,
which now stands at about 10,000.
SIGNIFICANT
HISTORICAL EVENTS
Spanish
Armada
The
Spanish Armada in 1588 passed close to Selsey Bill, prior to engagement
with the English Fleet commanded by Drake and Hawkins.
Listening
Post
The
Listening Post was in April 1999 recognised as a Grade 2 Listed building.
During the 1st World War a listening post was built in Selsey at East
Beach to provide early warning of approaching Zepplins. The structure
took the form of an "acoustic mirror" which was built of concrete
and shaped like a modern satellite dish. The structure survived and
is currently the subject of great interest due to its rarity.
Mulberry
Harbours
The
famous prefabricated Mulberry Harbours were stored in Selsey prior
to the D Day invasion and their use at Normandy Beaches by the allies.
Sections that were damaged or sunk off Selsey are visited regularly
by sub aqua divers.
A Blue plaque can be seen on the promenade by the junction of East
Beach Road
and Drift Road.
RAF
Selsey
RAF
Selsey was established as an advanced landing ground in May 1943 and
during the invasion it played an important part in the air cover of
the beaches. The first German aircraft shot down on D Day was the
victim of a Spitfire from RAF Selsey.Little remains of the airfield
today that occupied the open fields at Church Norton, 1 mile North
of Selsey.
A Blue plaque can be seen at the north side of the lane leading to
Church Norton,
one mile north of Selsey.
Sea
Wall
The
sea wall was built in the late 1950's to protect the houses of Selsey.
Coastal erosion remains a problem for Selsey and upto 25 yards is
lost per year.
Tornado
On
7 January 1998 Selsey suffered a tornado, that whilst not its first,
certainly caused considerable damage to 25% of Selsey properties.
The tornado was reported on world-wide television and Selsey received
much publicity. A week later the storms caused the sea to break through
the sea defenses to flood the Caravan Park and some properties in
the East Beach area.
Selsey
Today
Selsey
(which gained Town status in August 1995) continues to be well known
for its excellent shellfish, still having a smaller but active fishing
fleet, its Lifeboat Station dating back to 1860 and its unspoilt coastline,
a haven for birdwatchers and those in search of tranquility.
Selsey is proud of its achievements in the last few years. The instigation
of The Selsey Resource Centre which has made IT training available
to all, and a central point in the Town for people to visit for advice
on training, careers, jobs and business matters.
Selsey High Street has seen many new shops in the last few years,
with shops such as The Clothing Company, Boots the Chemist and Budgens
Supermarket
Selsey boasts one Hotel, numerous bed and breakfasts, guesthouses
and the largest Caravan park in Europe.
He
founded a monastery/Cathedral and twenty-three Bishops succeeded him
until the Cathedral was transferred from Selsey to Chichester in 1075.
Selsey
Town sits at the end of the peninsula (Selsey Bill) and it is possible
to hear the sea on three sides from the centre of the Town which
lies some half mile north of the most southern point. The fishing
industry is renowned for its quality Selsey Crab and lobsters.
Selsey
(Seal Island) is situated in the extreme South West of Sussex, being
the most Southerly Parish of the County. Historically the land and
sea have provided the people of Selsey with a comfortable living.
The
famous prefabricated Mulberry Harbours were stored in Selsey prior
to the D Day invasion and their use at Normandy Beaches by the allies.
Sections that were damaged or sunk off Selsey are visited regularly
by sub aqua divers.
RAF
Selsey was established as an advanced landing ground in May 1943 and
during the invasion it played an important part in the air cover of
the beaches. The first German aircraft shot down on D Day was the
victim of a Spitfire from RAF Selsey.Little remains of the airfield
today that occupied the open fields at Church Norton, 1 mile North
of Selsey.