# Selsey: Full Reference > Local news and community guide for Selsey, West Sussex. A characterful coastal town at the tip of the Manhood Peninsula with a proud fishing heritage, an active lifeboat station and a strong community. ## Areas ### Selsey Town Centre The commercial and community heart of Selsey, centred on the High Street and the roads leading off it. The High Street runs roughly north to south through the middle of town and has the practical character of a working community rather than a tourist destination. Shops include a butcher, a baker, a ... URL: https://www.selsey.news/areas/selsey-town-centre ### Selsey Bill The rocky headland at the southernmost tip of the Manhood Peninsula, marking the point where the coastline turns from south-facing to east-facing. Selsey Bill is one of the most exposed spots on the Sussex coast, open to the full force of the English Channel. The RNLI lifeboat station is the dominan... URL: https://www.selsey.news/areas/selsey-bill ### East Beach The shingle and sand beach on the eastern side of Selsey, running from Selsey Bill northwards towards Pagham Harbour. East Beach is where Selsey's fishing fleet operates, with boats launched from and hauled up onto the beach using tractors and winches. The fishermen's huts and equipment line the bac... URL: https://www.selsey.news/areas/east-beach ### West Beach The stretch of coast on the western side of Selsey, facing south-west into the English Channel. West Beach is quieter than East Beach and does not have the fishing fleet, but it offers good walking along the shore towards the Medmerry nature reserve. The beach is predominantly shingle with some sand... URL: https://www.selsey.news/areas/west-beach ### Church Norton A quiet hamlet on the northern edge of Selsey parish, at the head of Pagham Harbour. Church Norton is one of the most historically significant sites in Sussex, as it was here that the Saxon cathedral stood from 681 AD until the see was moved to Chichester in 1075. The remains of the original chapel ... URL: https://www.selsey.news/areas/church-norton ### Medmerry The area to the west of Selsey where the largest managed coastal realignment scheme in Europe was completed in 2013. The Environment Agency breached the old sea wall and allowed the sea to flood several hundred acres of low-lying farmland, creating a new intertidal habitat of salt marsh, mud flats a... URL: https://www.selsey.news/areas/medmerry ### Norton A residential area on the northern side of Selsey, between the town centre and Church Norton. Norton is quieter and more spacious than central Selsey, with a mix of detached houses, bungalows and some newer development set back from the road in generous plots. The area has a suburban character with ... URL: https://www.selsey.news/areas/norton ### Sidlesham A small village on the B2145 between Selsey and Chichester, sitting on the western edge of Pagham Harbour. Sidlesham is technically a separate parish but is closely linked to Selsey and serves as the gateway to the town for anyone approaching from the north. The village has a church, a pub (the Crab... URL: https://www.selsey.news/areas/sidlesham ### Holiday Parks Area The western side of Selsey is dominated by several large holiday and caravan parks, the most prominent being Bunn Leisure's parks including West Sands, Green Lawns and White Horse. These parks provide static caravans, holiday chalets and touring pitches, and during the summer months they bring a sig... URL: https://www.selsey.news/areas/holiday-parks-area ### North Selsey The residential area stretching north from the town centre along the B2145 towards Sidlesham. North Selsey is predominantly modern housing, with estates built from the 1960s onwards filling in the land between the older town core and the parish boundary. The housing is a mix of bungalows, semi-detac... URL: https://www.selsey.news/areas/north-selsey ## Guides ### Restaurants in Selsey Selsey is not a dining destination in the way that Chichester or Arundel are, but the town has a respectable selection of places to eat, anchored by its access to some of the freshest seafood on the S... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/restaurants ### Cafes in Selsey Selsey's cafe scene is modest but serves the community well. The High Street has several cafes offering hot drinks, breakfasts, sandwiches, light lunches and afternoon snacks at reasonable prices. The... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/cafes ### Pubs in Selsey Selsey has a small number of pubs serving the local community, and their character reflects the town's identity as a working fishing settlement rather than a tourist resort. The pubs are locals in the... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/pubs ### Takeaways in Selsey Selsey has a reasonable selection of takeaway food outlets for a town of its size, concentrated along and near the High Street. In a fishing town where crab and lobster are landed fresh from the beach... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/takeaways ### Seafood in Selsey Selsey's identity as a fishing town is not just historical. A working fleet of small boats still operates from East Beach, landing crab and lobster that is renowned across Sussex and beyond. The sight... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/seafood ### Sunday Lunch in Selsey Sunday lunch is a well-observed tradition in Selsey, as it is across coastal Sussex, and the town and its immediate surroundings offer a handful of options for those wanting a roast dinner to mark the... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/sunday-lunch ### Local Produce near Selsey Selsey's position at the tip of the Manhood Peninsula gives it access to two distinct sources of local produce: the sea and the agricultural land of the peninsula. The combination makes for a larder t... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/local-produce ### Shops in Selsey Selsey's High Street is a practical shopping street that serves the everyday needs of a town eight miles from the nearest city. The range of shops reflects the community it serves: mostly independent,... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/shops ### Supermarkets near Selsey Selsey does not have a large supermarket within the town itself. The main in-town grocery option is the Co-op on the High Street, which stocks a reasonable range of everyday items, fresh food, househo... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/supermarkets ### Bus Services in Selsey Bus services provide the main public transport link between Selsey and the outside world. With no railway station and only one road in and out of the town, the bus is the primary alternative to the ca... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/buses ### Driving in Selsey Driving is the dominant mode of transport in Selsey, a consequence of the town's geographical isolation at the end of the Manhood Peninsula. The B2145 is the only road in and out of the town, and ever... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/driving ### Cycling in Selsey The Manhood Peninsula is flat, which makes cycling an attractive and practical mode of transport and recreation for Selsey residents. The terrain around the town is essentially sea-level, with no hill... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/cycling ### Trains near Selsey Selsey does not have a railway station. The town lost its rail connection in 1935 when the Hundred of Manhood and Selsey Tramway closed after 38 years of operation. Since then, Selsey has been entirel... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/trains ### GP Surgeries in Selsey Selsey is served by the Selsey Medical Centre, the main GP surgery for the town and the surrounding area. The practice is located in the Selsey Centre complex on Manor Road, a modern facility that bri... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/gp-surgeries ### Hospital Services near Selsey The nearest hospital to Selsey is St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, approximately eight miles to the north. St Richard's is the main acute hospital serving the Chichester district and the wider wes... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/hospital ### Schools in Selsey Selsey has primary schools serving the town and the Selsey Academy, a secondary school providing education for students aged 11 to 16. The schools serve the local community and children from the surro... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/schools ### Housing in Selsey Selsey's housing stock is dominated by bungalows, a distinctive feature of the town that reflects its popularity with retirees and the flat terrain of the Manhood Peninsula. Walk through any residenti... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/housing ### Retirement in Selsey Selsey is one of the more popular retirement destinations on the Sussex coast, and the evidence is visible in every street. The preponderance of bungalows, the gentle pace of life, the community organ... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/retirement ### Community Groups in Selsey Selsey has an active community life that belies the town's modest size. The relative isolation of the peninsula, the settled population and the high proportion of retirees with time and energy to cont... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/community-groups ### Churches in Selsey Selsey has a religious heritage that stretches back to 681 AD, when Saint Wilfrid established the seat of the South Saxon bishops here. While the cathedral has been gone for nearly a thousand years, t... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/churches ### Volunteering in Selsey Volunteering is deeply embedded in the culture of Selsey. In a small, relatively isolated town with a strong community identity, the voluntary sector fills roles that in larger places might be handled... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/volunteering ### The RNLI Lifeboat in Selsey The RNLI lifeboat station at Selsey Bill is one of the defining institutions of the town and a source of immense community pride. Established in 1861, the station has been saving lives in the treacher... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/lifeboat ### Walking in Selsey Selsey and the surrounding Manhood Peninsula offer some of the best flat walking on the Sussex coast. The combination of coastal paths, nature reserve trails, quiet lanes and open countryside provides... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/walking ### Birdwatching in Selsey Selsey and the Manhood Peninsula are among the best locations for birdwatching on the south coast of England. The combination of Pagham Harbour, the Medmerry reserve, the coastal foreshore and the agr... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/birdwatching ### Beaches in Selsey Selsey has beaches on three sides, reflecting its position at the tip of the Manhood Peninsula. The beaches vary considerably in character, from the working fishing beach at East Beach to the quiet sh... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/beaches ### Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve Pagham Harbour is a tidal inlet on the eastern side of Selsey, designated as a Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The harbour is managed by the RSPB and is one of the most... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/pagham-harbour ### Medmerry Nature Reserve The RSPB Medmerry reserve, to the west of Selsey, is one of the most significant coastal conservation projects in England and has rapidly become a major wildlife site. The reserve was created by the M... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/medmerry-reserve ### Fishing in Selsey Selsey has a long tradition of recreational fishing alongside its commercial fleet, and the waters around the Manhood Peninsula offer some of the best sea angling on the Sussex coast. The rocky ground... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/fishing ### Watersports near Selsey The waters around Selsey and the Manhood Peninsula offer a range of watersports, though the conditions and facilities are more suited to experienced practitioners than beginners. The tidal currents ar... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/watersports ### Cricket in Selsey Cricket in Selsey follows the tradition of English village cricket, played on a ground that sits within the flat landscape of the Manhood Peninsula. Selsey Cricket Club provides the main organised cri... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/cricket ### Football in Selsey Selsey Football Club is the town's main football club, competing in the non-league pyramid in West Sussex. The club fields senior teams and runs youth teams across the age groups, providing a sporting... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/football ### Bowls in Selsey Bowls is one of the most popular sports in Selsey, reflecting the town's older demographic and the long tradition of lawn bowling in English coastal communities. The Selsey Country Club and other loca... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/bowls ### Saxon Selsey Selsey's Saxon heritage is the most remarkable chapter in the town's long history. For nearly four centuries, from 681 to 1075 AD, this modest fishing settlement at the tip of the Manhood Peninsula wa... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/history-saxon ### Selsey's Fishing Heritage Fishing has been the defining activity of Selsey for a thousand years. From the medieval period, when the loss of the bishopric returned the town to its role as a small coastal settlement, through the... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/history-fishing ### The Selsey Tramway The Hundred of Manhood and Selsey Tramway, which operated from 1897 to 1935, is one of the most fondly remembered transport curiosities of the English south coast. The tramway connected Selsey with Ch... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/history-tramway ### Coastal Erosion in Selsey Coastal erosion has been a defining challenge for Selsey throughout its history. The town sits on a low-lying peninsula composed of soft clay, gravel and sand, and the exposed position at the tip of t... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/coastal-erosion ### Wildlife around Selsey Selsey and the Manhood Peninsula support a remarkable diversity of wildlife, thanks to the combination of coastal habitats, nature reserves and agricultural land that surround the town. The proximity ... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/wildlife ### Environmental Issues in Selsey Selsey sits at the intersection of several significant environmental issues. The town's position at the tip of a low-lying peninsula, its exposure to the sea and its proximity to internationally impor... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/environment ### Events and Festivals in Selsey Selsey has a community events calendar that reflects the character of a small, close-knit coastal town. The events are locally organised, practically funded and enthusiastically supported by a communi... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/events-festivals ### Arts and Culture in Selsey Selsey's cultural life is shaped by its landscape, its community and its relative isolation. The town does not have a theatre, a gallery or a cinema, but it has a creative community that draws inspira... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/arts-culture ### Selsey in the Second World War Selsey's exposed position on the south coast made it a front-line location during the Second World War, and the town's contribution to the war effort, particularly the testing of Mulberry harbour comp... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/history-wwii ### Property Prices in Selsey Property prices in Selsey are significantly lower than in nearby Chichester, the surrounding villages and the more fashionable parts of the Sussex coast. This relative affordability is one of the key ... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/property-prices ### Dentists in Selsey Dental services in Selsey are available through practices in the town, though the availability of NHS dental places is subject to the same pressures that affect dental provision across the country. Fi... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/dentists ### Pharmacies in Selsey Selsey has pharmacies on the High Street that provide prescription dispensing, over-the-counter medicines, health advice and a range of NHS and private services. For a town eight miles from the neares... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/pharmacy ### Parking in Selsey Parking in Selsey is generally straightforward compared to larger towns and cities. The town does not have a multi-storey car park or a park-and-ride scheme, but on-street parking, small car parks and... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/parking ### Dog Walking in Selsey Selsey is an excellent place for dog owners, with beaches, coastal paths, nature reserve trails and quiet lanes providing a variety of walking routes. The flat terrain makes the area accessible for do... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/dog-walking ### Internet and Broadband in Selsey Internet connectivity in Selsey has improved significantly in recent years, though the town's position at the end of the Manhood Peninsula means that it has historically been less well served than mor... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/internet-broadband ### Rubbish and Recycling in Selsey Waste collection and recycling services in Selsey are provided by Chichester District Council as part of the wider district service. Residents receive regular kerbside collections of household waste, ... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/rubbish-recycling ### Energy and Utilities in Selsey Selsey is served by the standard energy and utility infrastructure that covers the Chichester district. Electricity is supplied through the national grid via the local distribution network, and mains ... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/energy ### Crime and Safety in Selsey Selsey is a low-crime area by national standards, reflecting the small size of the community, the settled population and the relative isolation of the town. The crime rate is below the average for the... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/crime-safety ### Council Services in Selsey Selsey is served by three tiers of local government: Selsey Town Council, Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council. Each tier has different responsibilities, and between them they pr... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/council-services ### Holiday Parks in Selsey The holiday parks on the western side of Selsey are a major part of the town's economy and identity. Bunn Leisure is the dominant operator, running several large parks including West Sands, Green Lawn... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/holiday-parks ### Gardens and Allotments in Selsey Gardening is a popular pursuit in Selsey, encouraged by the mild coastal climate, the generous plot sizes of the bungalow-dominated housing stock and the high proportion of retired residents with time... URL: https://www.selsey.news/guide/gardens-allotments ## History - 16 October 1987: The Great Storm Hits Selsey - c. 500-600 AD: Selsey as 'Seal Island' in the Saxon Period - 681 AD: Saint Wilfrid Founds the Bishopric of Selsey - 1075: The Bishopric Moves from Selsey to Chichester - c. 1200-1500: Medieval Fishing Settlement - 1536-1540: Dissolution of the Monasteries Affects Selsey - c. 1700-1900: Centuries of Coastal Erosion at Selsey - 1861: RNLI Lifeboat Station Established at Selsey - 1897: The Hundred of Manhood and Selsey Tramway Opens - 1914-1918: Selsey During the First World War - 1935: The Selsey Tramway Closes - 1939-1945: Second World War Coastal Defences - 1943-1944: Mulberry Harbour Components Tested off Selsey - 1950s-1960s: Holiday Park Development on the Western Coast - 2013: Medmerry Managed Realignment Scheme Opens - 2017: New RNLI Lifeboat Station Completed ## Streets - High Street - Hillfield Road - East Street - Manor Road - Park Road - Grafton Road - Beach Road - Lewis Road - Seal Road - Bill Lane - East Beach Road - Albion Road - Kingsway - Marine Drive - West Street - Warners Lane - Church Norton Lane - Norton Road - School Lane - Selsey Road (Sidlesham) - Mill Lane - Coxes Road - First Avenue - Paddock Lane - Green Lane ## Places - RNLI Selsey Lifeboat Station (Historic Site) - St Peter's Church (Church) - Church Norton Chapel (Historic Site) - Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve (Nature) - RSPB Medmerry Reserve (Nature) - Selsey Pavilion (Community) - The Fisherman's Joy (Pub) - The Seal (Pub) - East Beach Fishing Fleet (Beach) - Selsey Medical Centre (Healthcare) - Selsey Library (Library) - Selsey Academy (School) - Selsey Country Club (Sport) - West Beach (Beach) - Crab and Lobster (Restaurant) - Selsey Town Hall (Community)