Bosham - Location
The most westerly town in Sussex and much loved by yachtsmen and artists alike, just off the 'old' A27 a short 4 mile drive from Chichester.
On the face of it Bosham looks far too small and unassuming to have any history or matter of interest related to it, maybe not even worthy of a visit. You would
be wrong, dear traveller! Bosham, (pronounced Bozzam) is one of the beauty spots of the south coast. It stands on its own little peninsular alongside the Bosham Channel as part of the large, natural Chichester Harbour complex. Much photographed and painted it is best viewed from the south. Maybe you could get a small dingy in the foreground and the little church at the waters edge to the left of centre? Bosham was the place where King Cnut, as legend would have us believe, proved
to his people that even he, King of England, Norway & Denmark could not order the sea to turn back.. Bosham, an important harbour in Saxon times, was where, in 1064, Harold set off to meet William Duke of Normandy. It is said that Harold was tricked into swearing an oath of loyalty to William and that it led to the eventual Battle of Hastings. The departure of Harold from Bosham is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry. |
