For most of its history, Sussex has been an agricultural county. The Chichester area, with the fertile coastal plain for arable and the Downs for sheep and cattle grazing, has long been one of the richest in agricultural terms. Just as the medieval sea trades were based on wool, Chichester Harbour’s sea trade from the 17th to the early 19th centuries was based in one way or another on grain, much of it transported around the English coast by coastal shipping.
The city of Chichester did not have a direct connection to the sea until the construction of the Chichester Canal between 1818 and 1822. However, for centuries before this, Chichester had its own port, located at Dell Quay.
The actual quay at Dell Quay is said to have been built or rebuilt in about the 1530s or 1540s. In 1580 it was substantial structure, 90 ft (27 m) long and 49 ft (15 m wide).
Dell Quay was the only place in Chichester Harbour legally allowed to receive foreign trade, but there were other places in and near the Harbour that were also used to load and unload ships used in the English coastal trade:
One of these was Wittering, which covered the area between Selsey and Pagham, to Sidlesham Mill. Smuggling was also carried on in various parts of the Harbour and on the coast.
The following document contains rough background notes for a talk recounting the maritime history of Chichester Harbour and nearby areas by Ian Friel, former Principal Curator of Chichester District Museum. The notes were written prior to a History tour on Solar Heritage, the Solar Boat run by Chichester Harbour Conservancy. Ian is seen here on the Solar boat commenting about the village of Bosham.
Click on the notes below and find out how historic sea trade round the Manhood Peninsula fits into the wider context of local maritime activity.
