A small attractive village on one of the small inlets of Chichester harbour Bosham (pronounced 'Bozzum') has played its part in our countries history. Before the Norman Invasion Bosham was an important part of the Saxon world, it is one of only five places that appear on the map attached to the 12th century "Saxon Chronicle".

Vespasian, commander of 2nd Legion in Britain (Later to become Emperor) landed here in 42AD he later built a villa in the area. It was also used by the Romans as a port.

Before St Wilfred brought Christianity to Sussex, St Bede wrote of an Irish monk called Dicul who had a small monastic order at Bosham. Dicul established a church in the 7th Century on the remains of the Roman Basilica dedicated to Mithras. By 750 AD the village was being called Bosanhamm, meaning the watermeadow of Bosa.

King Canute had a palace at Bosham. It was here at Bosham that King Canute ordered the tide not to come in. He was continually being told how all powerful he was and he decided that his courtiers needed a practical lesson in his mortality and to demonstrate that he was just a King and nothing more he placed his throne at the edge of the sea and commanded that the waves should stop, obviously they didn't. King Canutes young daughter was buried in the church in 1020, she drowned when she slipped and fell into the millstream. Canute himself died in 1035, Harold I Canute's illegitimate son was then elevated to King by popular demand. His reign was a short one, he came to the throne on 1037 and died in 1040. With the support of Earle Godwine Edward the Confessor became king in 1042. In 1066 Edward became ill and died, Earle Godwine then placed his son Harold II on the throne.

Earle Godwine of Wessex father of King Harold II lived in or near Bosham, as did Harold II himself. Earle Godwine was the real power in the country and he ruthlessly murdered anyone who had claim to the throne. As shown on the Bayeux Tapestry, Harold went to mass at Bosham in 1064 prior to meeting William of Normandy, it was at this meeting that Harold told William he would be claiming the throne of England for himself. Harold was destined to be the last Saxon King of England. Some say Earle Godwine's body was brought back to Bosham after the Battle of Hastings and claim he was buried beneath the chancel arch.

In 1664 the Great Plague was sweeping through the country, when the plague reached nearby Chichester the citizens shut the City gates and sealed themselves in, in an attempt to stop the plague from spreading to people outside the City. The fishermen of Bosham took it upon themselves to help as best they could and left food outside the city gates, this continued until the plague had passed. In recognition of this, the fishermen were allowed to sell their fish in the market without having to pay a fee.

SPOOK SPOT In the year 895 Bosham was raided by Danes. It is said that they stole the bells from the church but the bells were so heavy they overturned the Viking longboats. Local legend has it that when the new church bells are rung, the old bells can be heard beneath the sea.

On the 4th August 1865 the chancel arch was excavated, two coffins were discovered. One contained the bones of an eight year old girl; the coffin itself was typical of coffins used during the reign of Canute. The larger coffin contained the bones of a 60 year old man who suffered from arthritis in one leg. It is known that Earle Godwine had a limp.

At one time an enormous pole was kept in the church, it was said to be the staff of the giant Bevis. It is claimed that he could cross Bosham harbour in one step.

Today the village is one of the counties most popular tourist spots, but despite this still remains unspoilt. Surrounded by nature reserves and harbours, many visitors come to enjoy the scenery and just mess about on boats.

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©1998 NavTech B.V. All rights reserved. Based on Ordnance Survey electronic data; used with permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. ©Crown Copyright 1997.