The Great Storm Hits Selsey

16 October 1987

The great storm of October 1987 struck Selsey with exceptional force, causing widespread damage to properties, trees and infrastructure. Wind speeds were estimated to have reached over 100 miles per hour at Selsey Bill, among the highest recorded anywhere in southern England that night. Roofs were torn off, trees were uprooted, fences were flattened and the sea defences were battered by enormous waves. The fishing fleet suffered damage, and the seafront properties were exposed to the full fury of the storm. The damage was considerable, and the clean-up took weeks. The storm highlighted the vulnerability of a low-lying coastal town at the end of a peninsula, and it prompted renewed investment in sea defences and coastal protection.