West Thorney

West Thorney is a village and civil parish in the Chichester district in West Sussex, England located nine kilometres (5.4 miles) west of Chichester south of the A27 road.

West Thorney

West Thorney Church
West Thorney
Location within West Sussex
Area12.23 km2 (4.72 sq mi) [1]
Population1,183. 2011 Census[2]
• Density88/km2 (230/sq mi)
OS grid referenceSU768023
• London59 miles (95 km) NE
Civil parish
  • West Thorney
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townEMSWORTH
Postcode districtPO10
Dialling code01243
PoliceSussex
FireWest Sussex
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament

West Thorney is a village and civil parish on Thorney Island, the southern part of a peninsula of land between two arms of Chichester Harbour, separated from the mainland by a channel called the Great Deep. Just to the south is the smaller Pilsey Island, a haven for birds. The island was a World War II airfield RAF Thorney Island which remained in use until 1976. Since 1982 the base has been used by the Royal Artillery. Only the church and coastal footpath are open to the public.[3] It is necessary to give one's name and address by intercom to be allowed through remotely controlled gates.[4] The parish has a land area of 1223 hectares (3021 acres). In the 2001 census 1079 people lived in 217 households, of whom 679 were economically active.[1] At the 2011 Census the population was 1,183.[2]

The parish church

The Anglican parish church is dedicated to St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. The original building dates from around 1100 A.D. probably on the orders of Bishop Warlewast.

History

The Manor of Thorney belonged to the chapelry of Bosham at the Norman conquest and was held by the Bishops of Exeter. In 1086 A.D. the Domesday Book recorded that 'Mauger holds of the land of this church 12 hides as one manor; it is called Tornei and pays geld for 8 hides'. It was sold by the Bishop of Exeter in 1548 to Thomas Fisher, who the following year sold it to Henry Bickley.[5]

Landmarks

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.[6]

Pilsey Island
Pilsey Island seen from the Thorney Island sea wall

Pilsey Island is a small island in Chichester Harbour, just off the south eastern tip of Thorney Island. The island is an RSPB nature reserve[7] and a designated Local Nature Reserve.[8][9]

References
  1. "2001 Census: West Sussex – Population by Parish" (PDF). West Sussex County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  2. "Civil parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  3. Walking Britain; walk 2043
  4. "Sussex seashore, Thorney Island, West Sussex". The Guardian. London. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  5. British History Online
  6. "SSSI Citation — Chichester Harbour" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 7 April 2009. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. "About Pilsey Island". RSPB. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  8. "Pilsey Island". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  9. "Map of Pilsey Island". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
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