Bosham, (West Sussex)

OPC for Bosham is : Roger Pearce

Email: Roger Pearce.

Parish picture

A small attractive village on one of the small inlets of Chichester harbour, Bosham has played an important part in the history of this country over the centuries. Inhabited by the Romans, Bosham was the sixth most important town in Sussex in the 8th Century, recorded as one of the wealthiest manors in England in the Doomsday Book Bosham was only one of five places that appear on the map attached to the 12th century "Saxon Chronicle".

The Romans left a great deal of evidence of their occupation of the area of Bosham, particularly around the Quay and church Bosham was one of the places where legend has it that the Danish King Chanute sat on a chair surrounded by his courtiers and commanded the waves to go back It is thought that Chanute had a home in Bosham – his eight year old daughter was drowned in the brook and is buried in Bosham Church in a Saxon coffin at the foot of the chancel steps.

Alongside the little girl’s coffin is another Saxon stone coffin. Recent research suggests that it might be Harold II, 2nd Earl Godwin, who was killed at the battle of Hastings.

At one time Bosham was second only to Whitstable in the oyster industry. Until the trains came through Bosham in 1846, the trade was purely local but after that it was possible to get the oysters to London in one day. The trade ended when limpets wiped out stocks soon after the First World War, but it is now being revitalised.

Parish picture

The Quay and the tiny High Street are lined with cottages that were once the homes of fishermen. In the early 1900s an old building known as the Raptackle, was used to house the gear for rope making, while the old mill, which probably dates back long before the Conquest, is now the Bosham Sailing Club Clubhouse

Places of worship:

Church details, together with baptism, marriage, monumental inscription & burial records can be accessed by clicking on the church name.

Catholic Church

Congregational Church

Holy Trinity

Census returns:

The OPC Database has no census returns for people residing in this parish yet.

People born in this parish but residing elsewhere:

1 individual in the OPC Database for the 1851 census.

4 individuals in the OPC Database for the 1861 census.

1 individual in the OPC Database for the 1871 census.

1 individual in the OPC Database for the 1881 census.

2 individuals in the OPC Database for the 1891 census.

1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 - Look up service offered

Maps:

Grid reference: 480500, 103994 ~ View on: Google Maps, Open Street Map, Streetmap, National Library of Scotland Map or Oldmaps.

Militia records etc:

Roll of Honour has a transcription of the war memorial at together with biographical information concerning the individuals listed.

Other links relating to this parish:

Bosham Community Website has a great photo gallery and some interesting tales from the village

Poll Registers:

The OPC database contains 38 poll register entries for people entitled to vote in this parish.

1641 Protestation Returns:

There are 125 protestation returns for this parish in the OPC database.

Gazettes:

The OPC database contains 15 entries for people associated with this parish mentioned in Gazettes.

Photographs:

There are 65 images depicting this parish in the OPC database.

Roughwood has images of Bosham watermill

Postal directories:

The OPC database contains no postal directory entries for this parish.

1911 Kelly's Directory for Bosham

1909 Kelly's Directory for Bosham

1851 Post Office Directory for Bosham

Publications:

There are 5 books about this parish in the Sussex OPC Bibliography.

There are 20 articles about this parish in the OPC Sussex Archeaological Collections Index.

There are 4 people from this parish in the OPC Sussex Archeaological Society Members Index.

Wills:

The OPC database contains 1 will of someone who lived in this parish.

The OPC database contains 2 wills which mention this parish.

Interest in this parish:

1 registered user has badged this parish. To contact them or see their details, please register as a frequent visitor to this site.

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