West Wittering
Village and parish in West Sussex, England
title: "West Wittering" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["villages-in-west-sussex", "populated-coastal-places-in-west-sussex", "seaside-resorts-in-england", "beaches-of-west-sussex"] description: "Village and parish in West Sussex, England" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Wittering" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Village and parish in West Sussex, England ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| official_name | West Wittering |
| country | England |
| civil_parish | West Wittering |
| region | South East England |
| static_image | File:West Wittering Parish Church.jpg |
| static_image_caption | St Peter and St Paul’s Church, West Wittering |
| area_footnotes | |
| area_total_km2 | 13.63 |
| population | 2,700. |
| population_ref | 2011 Census |
| population_density | 197 /km2 |
| os_grid_reference | SZ779984 |
| coordinates | |
| post_town | CHICHESTER |
| postcode_area | PO |
| postcode_district | PO20 |
| dial_code | 01243 |
| constituency_westminster | Chichester |
| london_distance | 60 mi NE |
| shire_district | Chichester |
| shire_county | West Sussex |
| website | Parish Council |
| :: |
::callout[type=note] the settlement in West Sussex, England ::
| official_name = West Wittering | country = England | civil_parish = West Wittering | region = South East England | static_image = File:West Wittering Parish Church.jpg | static_image_caption = St Peter and St Paul’s Church, West Wittering | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 13.63 | population = 2,700. | population_ref = 2011 Census | population_density = 197 /km2 | os_grid_reference = SZ779984 | coordinates = | post_town = CHICHESTER | postcode_area = PO | postcode_district = PO20 | dial_code = 01243 | constituency_westminster = Chichester | london_distance = 60 mi NE | shire_district = Chichester | shire_county = West Sussex | website = Parish Council West Wittering is a village and civil parish situated on the Manhood Peninsula in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It lies near the mouth of Chichester Harbour on the B2179 road 6.5 mi southwest of Chichester close to the border with Hampshire. The sandy beach was described as having excellent water quality in 2017.
The population in 1872 was 616. The 2001 census records a population of 2,684. There is a primary school.
Governance
Wittering was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as comprising four households and a value of one pound. It was principally ploughing land, ploughed by two teams. The tenant-in-chief was Earl Roger of Shrewsbury under the lordship of Ralph of Bignor, whereas prior to the Norman Conquest it was privately owned.
In modern times, an electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward includes some of Birdham and at the 2011 Census had a total population of 4,472.
Natural history
Part of the Site of Special Scientific Interest Bracklesham Bay runs in between the coastline in the parish.
Chichester Harbour, a Site of Special Scientific Interest is partly within the parish. This is a wetland of international importance, a Special Protection Area for wild birds and a Special Area of Conservation. The harbour is of particular importance for wintering wildfowl and waders of which five species reach numbers which are internationally important. The beach is situated on the Chichester Harbour, which is a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The beach is well-known for its windsurfing and kitesurfing conditions. The beach is managed by the National Trust, and has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its rare habitats and wildlife. It is considered to be one of the best beaches in the UK for swimming due to its clean water and gently sloping shoreline.
Notable residents==
- Michael Ball, actor and singer.
- Nicholas Lyndhurst, actor.
- Bevil Mabey (1916–2010), businessman and inventor.
- Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
- Lord Nicholas Gordon Lennox, diplomat and son of the Duke of Richmond.
- Sir Henry Royce, engineer, designer of Rolls-Royce cars and aero-engines. From 1917 until his death in 1933.
- Kate Winslet, actress, lives in West Wittering.
Bibliography
The locality is referred to in Giles Cooper's radio play Unman, Wittering and Zigo.
::quote[attribution="''Clare Jerrold''"] At the mouth of Chichester Harbour lies the little settlement of West Wittering, beautiful and glittering when the sea flows round it at high tide, forlorn and untidy when it is out. ::
- J.M. Wilson Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales 1872
- Clare Jerrold Picturesque Sussex, Hove, Combridge 1932
References
References
- "2001 Census: West Sussex – Population by Parish". West Sussex County Council.
- "Civil Parish population 2011".
- "Blue Flag Beaches". FEE International.
- "Historical details".
- "School details".
- "Open Domesday: Hundred of Wittering".
- "Ward population 2011".
- "SSSI Citation — Bracklesham Bay". Natural England.
- "SSSI Citation — Chichester Harbour". Natural England.
- (September 2024). "Sunday Times December 23, 2007}}{{dead link".
- "Sunday Mirror May 23, 1999".
- "Bevil Guy MABEY". Gov.uk.
- ''Sunday Telegraph'', 29 October 2007 p14 (Issue no 2,420)
- "Lord Nicholas Charles Gordon-Lennox". The Cambridge University Heraldic & Genealogical Society.
- "Elmstead House, Elm Lane". Historic England.
- Pells, Rachel. (2 April 2015). "Kate Winslet in Titanic battle over plan to build 600ft seawall to protect her home". The Independent.
- 1971 [[Walton-on-Thames]], [[Thomas Nelson (publisher). Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd]] {{ISBN. 0-17-432370-0
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