Selsey, (West Sussex)

OPC for Selsey is : Stacey Gardner

Email: Stacey Gardner.

Parish picture

Selsey 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 three Coastguard Stations and a Lloyds of London semaphore signal station. The village was established long before the Romans, and it is probable that a mint existed here before their arrival.

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. 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.

Parish picture

The sea wall was built in the late 1950's to protect the houses of Selsey. Coastal erosion remains a problem for Selsey and up to 25 yards is lost per year.

The present church is mainly 13th century and was originally situated at the location of St Wilfrid’s first monastery and cathedral at Church Norton, some 2 miles from the present centre of population. In 1864-66 the church was dismantled stone by stone and re-erected in its present position, only the chancel remaining at the old site.

The church has a chalice dating from Elizabethan times and also a Saxon font that is arcaded in marble standing on a central shaft with four small shafts round it.

Places of worship:

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

Methodist Church

Our Lady of Mt Carmel and St Wilfred

St Peter

St Wilfrid, Church Norton

Census returns:

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

People born in this parish but residing elsewhere:

2 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 1891 census.

Maps:

Grid reference: 485500, 93500 ~ View on: Google Maps, Open Street Map, Streetmap, National Library of Scotland Map or Oldmaps.

Militia records etc:

War Memorial a transcription of the names from the memorial in front of St Peter's Church

Poll Registers:

The OPC database contains 37 poll register entries for people entitled to vote in this parish.

1641 Protestation Returns:

There are 116 protestation returns for this parish in the OPC database.

Gazettes:

The OPC database contains 27 entries for people associated with this parish mentioned in Gazettes.

Photographs:

There are 96 images depicting this parish in the OPC database.

Roughwood Postcard Album has images of Medmerry Mill, Selsey

Postal directories:

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

1909 Kelly's Directory for Selsey

1911 Kelly's Directory for Selsey

1882 Kelly's Directory for Selsey

1899 Kelly's Directory for Selsey

1930 Kelly's Directory for Selsey

1938 Kelly's Directory for Selsey

1918 Kelly's Directory for Selsey

1851 Post Office Directory for Selsey

Publications:

There are no books about this parish in the Sussex OPC Bibliography.

There are 26 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 no wills that mention this parish.

Interest in this parish:

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