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Bognor in Sussex County England History and GeographyBOGNOR, a market-town and chapelry in the parish of SOUTH BERSTED, hundred of ALDWICK, rape of CHICHESTER, county of SUSSEX, 7 miles (S. E.) from Chichester, and 68 (S.W. by S.) from London. The population is returned with the parish. This place, anciently called Bogenor, implying, in the Saxon language, a rocky shore, was, prior to 1790, an insignificant village, inhabited only by a few fishermen. The rocks, extending several miles along the coast, render it accessible only to ships of small burden, detracting from those commercial advantages which the situation in other respects offers: it owes its increase to the salubrity of the air, and the commodiousness of the beach, which have made it eligible as a place for bathing. In 1790, Sir Richard Hotham, Knt., member of parliament for the borough of Southwark, having visited this town, discovared the natural advantages which it possessed as a watering-place, whereupon he erected a handsome villa for his own residence, and several lodging-houses, which he furnished at considerable expense for the accommodation of visitors. From this circumstance the town is also called Hothampton, in honour of Sir Richard, whose additions to it were such as to entitle him to be considered its founder. After his decease, his estate here being sold to different purchasers, Bognor increased the more, and in a few years became a place of fashionable resort. The town is pleasantly situated near the peninsule of Selsea, and is sheltered from the north winds by a chain of hills, called the South Downs, extending from Portsdown to Dover; but it is exposed to inundations of the sea, which frequently breaks in upon the adjacent coast: it commands an extensive view of the Isle of Wight; and, in a clear day, the Ower light may be distinetly seen, which at night assumes the appearance of a gem in the ocean. It contains several handsome villas, respectable lodging-houses, and a commodious hotel, and is connected by good roads with the pleasant village of Aldwick, and other places in the vicinity, and by a ferry over the river Arun with Little Hampton, whence are pleasant rides to Worthing and Brighton. The warm and cold baths are conveniently arranged for the use of invalids; there are two subscription libraries, and races occasionally take place on the sands. The character of the place seems to render it peculiarly eligible to families who seek to avail themselves of the benefit of sea-bathing and a marine atmosphere in tranquillity and retirement, rather than to frequent watering-places in search of amusement. The inhabitants are principally employed in the fishery, for the supply of the London market. The Portsmouth and Arun canal passes within three miles of the town. The markets, recently established by act of parliament, and for which a spacious market-place has been formed, are on Thursday and Saturday; and a fair is held on the 5th and 6th of July. The internal regulation of the town is under the superintendance of commissioners appointed under an act, who meet once a month: they levy a duty of two shillings per chaldron upon coal, culm, and coke brought into the town, which is applied in repairing the roads. The living, a perpetual curacy, is a peculiar belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury: the chapel, dedicated to St. John, was built and endowed by subscription, in 1821. There are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists. The Jubilee school, for the instruction of fifty girls, founded by the late Princess Charlotte; and a school for clothing and educating twenty girls, founded by Mrs. Smith, of Bersted Lodge, are supported by subscription. In opening the rocks, various fossils have been discovered: beautiful agates and pebbles, and, after storms and high tides, pyrites are found in profusion on the beach. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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