Selsey Fisheries on East Beach
Picturesque Selsey East Beach
Selsey Beach views
Selsey Beach with views towards Bognor Regis
Selsey Promenade towards the Lifeboat Station Selsey sits just 8 miles south of Chichester and is a delightfully friendly and popular family seaside resort. The Peninsula area pushing south of Chichester to the tip of Selsey Bill is officially called the Manhood Peninsula - the name is thought to be of Saxon origin. The terrain is very flat with most of the peninsula not more than 20 feet above sea-level. (read more via the Manhood Peninsula Friends of the Earth webguide). The Selsey Community spirit is particularly in evidence around Selsey Festival time in August. Selsey is a hotspot for diving and snorkelling. The shallow off shore waters from the lifeboat station are crammed with marine life, reefs, corals and sponges as well as wrecks, many of which date from the World Wars. The finest fresh seafood is available here in Selsey which is a major fishing location with a busy fishing fleet.
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Pretty East Beach is a popular area with families with a children's playground and family cafe behind the seawall. A picturesque promenade runs from East Beach towards the lifeboat station and Selsey centre which has a good selection of restaurants and fine fish and chip shops. Seafood here is fresh from the catch so expect the best fish and chips on the south coast at Selsey! As well as fine seafood, the Selsey Peninsula is one of the best spots for growing salad lettuce in the UK, as evidenced by the location of Natures Way Foods in the town. Three charming beaches are here - East, West and Marine Beach with Pagham Harbour, Chichester Harbour and Chichester City Centre all within easy reach of Selsey. Late July/early August is a good time to visit when both the Selsey Festival and Lifeboat week kicks off.
A popular seaside resort today, especially with families, Selsey is actually integral to the history of the Chichester area even prior to the Roman invasion of AD 43. Before 1809 when a causeway was finally built, Selsey was separated from the mainland and surrounded by water. The area was an island - Seal Island, and around 300 years ago Selsey had its own ferry service in operation. Bishop Wilfrid arrived in Selsey around 680 after being banished from Northumbria and established a cathedral minster here. It was Selsey then that was the main centre for Christianity prior to the cathedral's move to Chichester in 1075. By the late 19th century Selsey was a firmly established fishing village, and fishing is still strong here evident by the many fishing boats and seafood outlets lining the Selsey coast at East and West Beach.
Selsey's fishing industry also plays a part in the popular leisure pursuit of diving off the coast here. Scraps thrown overboard from the fishing boats attracts marine life making the Selsey waters particularly interesting for divers. Wrecks are off the coast too, including wrecks dating from the Second World War. This part of the Sussex coast was heavily patrolled by German U-Boats in both of the World Wars and contains a large number of reefs full of marine life such as lobsters, eels, shellfish, crabs and cuttlefish as well as numerous sponges and corals. Divers in Selsey should note that the best diving and snorkelling in the area is under and around the Lifeboat Station. A slipway and boat lane operates at Selsey's East Beach so diving is off limits here. The best of the shore diving is around the old Lifeboat station and by boat a quick 5 minute ride sees you at top diving spots Far Mulberry and Mixon Hole (see Mulberry Divers Selsey weblink right for details).
A real community festival, the Selsey Festival takes place annually at the end of July into August. Events are numerous and include everything from music and jazz nights to Lifeboat Station Bazaars, guided walks, fancy dress bike rides, fetes, and a superb Carnival Procession and Fireworks Display.
Mulberry Divers, Orchard Parade, East Beach, Selsey, West Sussex PO20 0NS. Tel. 01243 601000.
Selsey Lifeboat Station with on-site museum is a real hub within the town. Lifeboats operate in all weathers here and the station has a long history stretching back to 1861. Rescues off the Selsey coast however were taking place well before this date and many a brave story is told in the little on-site museum and via the Selsey Lifeboat Station webguide history section. During World War II the Selsey Lifeboat Canadian Pacific saw 50 launches and the 3 Bronze Medals and 5 Silver Medals awarded to members of the Selsey crew are testament to this lifeboat station's service over the years. Lifeboat Week annually at the end of July into August sees a wide selection of events including Lifeboat Launch Day, treasure hunts, quizzes and races. See the Selsey Lifeboat webguide for details and dates for Lifeboat Week.
Selsey Lifeboat Station & Museum, The Boathouse, Kingsway, Selsey West Sussex PO20 0DL. Tel. 01243 602833. The museum is open from April to October, 10am to 5pm.
