Kelly's Directory 1909, East Wittering, West Sussex


East Wittering is a parish extending to the shore of Bracklesham Bay, 7 miles south-west from Chichester station on the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, in the south western division of the the county hundred of Manhood, rape, petty sessional division and county court district of Chichester, union of Westhampnett, and in the rural deanery of Selsey and archdeaconry and diocese of Chichester. From the mouth of Chichester harbour to the extremity of Selsey Bill, a distance of about 8 miles, the sea, owing to the flatness of the county and the nature of the soil, has encroached so as to have absorbed a large portion of the prebenal manor of Bracklesham, belonging to this parish. The church (name unknown) is of stone and partly of Norman date, and has a belfry containing 1 bell; it was restored in 1875-6 at a cost of £550, and affords 100 sittings. The register dates from the year 1658. The living is a rectory, net income £130, with residence, in the g ift of the Bishop of London, and held since 1880 by the Rev. Henry John Sargent M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, and rural dean of Selsey, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon K.G., G.C.V.O., C.B. is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The soil is loam; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats. The area is 1,113 acres of arable and pasture land, 1 of water and 140 of foreshore; rateable value, £1,537; the population in 1901 was 157.

Parish Clerk, Edward Redman

Post Office - Edward Redman, sub-postmaster, Letters dispatched at 5.50pm weekdays & 10.20am Sundays. Letters arrive from Chichester at 8am. West Wittering 2 ½ miles distant is the nearest money order & telegraph office.

Carriers to Chichester - Henry Redman every mon, wed, & sat; Henry Thomas Jordan, tues, wed & fri

The children of this parish attend Birdham & West Wittering schools

Sargent Rev. Henry John M.A. (rector & rural dean), Rectory
Sowman J. W. the Bungalows
Barker John Edward, apartments
Baston Fred, Royal Oak P.H.
Charlton James, blacksmith
Napper George, blacksmith
Redman Edward, wheelwright & Post Office
Smart George, farmer, Church Farm
Smart William, farmer
Stevens Richard (exors. Of), grocers


01 Aug 2006

Transcribed by Stacey Gardner

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