Bosham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bosham | |
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  Bosham shown within West Sussex |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| District | Chichester |
| Shire county | West Sussex |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Chichester |
| List of places: UK • England • West Sussex | |
Bosham (pronounced Bozzum) is a small coastal village and civil parish in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England, situated three miles (5km) west of Chichester on an inlet of Chichester Harbour.
The parish has a land area of 1375.3 hectares (3397 acres). In the 2001 census 2847 people lived in 1313 households, of whom 1358 were economically active.
Bosham is colloquially divided into two halves: Old Bosham and New Bosham. New Bosham constitutes the more developed northern half of the village, situated around the A259 road and the railway line. The village is served by Bosham railway station. It is sometimes referred to by its increasingly obsolete original name, Broadbridge. Old Bosham includes the remaining geographical protrusion to the south. This includes the site of the original village around Bosham Harbour, as well as the tracts of farmland and private property of Bosham Hoe. At high tide the sea comes right into the old village, flooding the lower road and several car parking spaces.
Forming a part of Chichester Harbour, Bosham is renowned for its sailing. The Bosham Sailing Club has recently celebrated its centenary having been formed in 1907.
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[edit] History
[edit] Roman
The site has been inhabited since Roman times, and is close to the famous villa at Fishbourne. The Romans were responsible for the village's Mill Stream as there was no fresh water, and built a basilica there.
[edit] 7th century
Bede mentions Bosham in his book The Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, speaking of St Wilfred's visit here in 681 where he encountered a Celtic monk, Dicul, and five disciples in a small monastery.
[edit] Church
In 850, the original village church was built on the site of the Roman basilica, and in the tenth century was replaced with Holy Trinity church, situated beside Bosham Quay, that still serves as the local place of worship. The body of a young girl, discovered in a small Saxon coffin when the church floor was being renewed in 1865, is thought to be that of Gunhilda of Denmark, daughter of Canute the Great, who allegedly drowned in the Bosham Mill Stream, and he may have contributed to the building work.[1]
Canute had a palace in the village, probably where the Manor House now stands or possibly at the harbour edge. Legend has it that Bosham was the site at which he commanded the waves to "go back", so as to demonstrate to his overly deferential courtiers the limits of a King's powers.
The village is one of only five places that appear on the map attached to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of around this time.
[edit] Harold
Bosham is mentioned by name in the Bayeux Tapestry, referring to the 1064 meeting of Harold and Edward the Confessor on the way to meet William of Normandy to discuss who would succeed Edward to the throne:
- "Ubi Harold Dux Anglorum et sui milites equitant ad Bosham"
- (Where Harold, Earl of the English, and his army ride to Bosham)
Harold's strong association with Bosham and the recent discovery of a Saxon grave in the church has led some historians to speculate that King Harold was buried here following his death at the Battle of Hastings, rather than Waltham Abbey as is often reported. A request to exhume a grave in Bosham church was refused by the Diocese of Chichester in December 2004, the Chancellor ruling that the chances of establishing the identity of the body as that of Harold II were too slim to justify disturbing a burial place.[2]
[edit] Norman
The Domesday Book lists Bosham as one of the wealthiest manors in England. It included the nearby village of Chidham.
[edit] Bosham F.C
Bosham Football Club was founded in 1901. They were one of the founding members of the Sussex County Football League Division Three in 1983. They have won the title twice in their history. In the 2007-08 season, the team play in the Sussex County Football League Division Three. Also known as Bosham Swans, the team play their home fixtures at Bosham's local recreation ground. The club has a youth team, Bosham Cygnets, comprising local youngsters.
[edit] Bosham Cygnets
Bosham under 13's youth team won the 2006-07 league unbeaten, conceding the least goals whilst scoring the most.
The Bosham under 14 secured promotion to a higher league in 06/07
[edit] Gallery
 Bosham quay at sunset |
 Bosham harbour |
 Boats at the harbour |
 The Ropeshed |
 Part of the old village |
 View from the pub at low tide |
 The pub car park |
 High tide on the harbour road |
[edit] References
- ^ A poem on this legend.
- ^ In re Holy Trinity, Bosham [2004] Fam 124 - decision of the Chichester Consistory Court regarding opening King Harold's supposed grave.
[edit] External links
- Bosham village
- Bosham Online
- Bosham Cricket Club
- Bosham FC Youth
- King's grave mystery may be unearthed
- Live Bosham webcam
- Chichester Harbour Online
- Bosham Sailing Club
