Selsey and the Manhood Peninsula
Pagham's neighbour at the tip of the peninsula
Selsey lies to the south-east of Pagham, on the eastern side of Pagham Harbour and at the tip of the Manhood Peninsula. The two communities share the harbour between them and have a long historical connection, though they are separate parishes with distinct characters.
Selsey is larger than Pagham, with a population of around 10,000, and has more of a town feel, with a high street, shops, pubs, a medical centre and a lifeboat station. The town sits at the end of the B2145, the road running down the peninsula from Chichester, and its position at the tip of the land gives it an exposed, end-of-the-road character.
The harbour connects Pagham and Selsey geographically and ecologically. The circular walk around the harbour, one of the best coastal walks in West Sussex, passes through both parishes and gives walkers a sense of the harbour as a single, unified landscape. Church Norton, on the Selsey side of the harbour, is a key birdwatching point and the site of the remains of the original Selsey parish church.
Historically, Selsey was the seat of the South Saxon bishops from the late seventh century until the episcopal seat moved to Chichester in 1075. The connection between the bishops and the Manhood Peninsula shaped the landholding and governance of both Selsey and Pagham for centuries. Pagham's manor was held by the Archbishops of Canterbury, while Selsey was closely associated with the Chichester diocese.
Today, the Manhood Peninsula functions as a distinct sub-region within the Arun and Chichester districts. The peninsula's flat terrain, coastal position, agricultural economy and shared challenges of flooding and erosion give its communities common interests. The Manhood Peninsula Partnership, a local organisation, works to coordinate action on sustainability, transport and environmental management across the peninsula.
For Pagham residents, Selsey provides an alternative to Bognor for some services and shopping. The town's fish shops, pubs and lifeboat station are within easy reach, and the drive between the two villages takes around ten minutes along the harbour road.
The shared challenges of living on the Manhood Peninsula bind Pagham and Selsey together. Both communities face the same issues of coastal erosion, flood risk, limited public transport, development pressure and distance from main-line services. The Manhood Peninsula Partnership provides a forum for addressing these issues collectively, bringing together parish councils, community groups and statutory bodies to coordinate action.
The harbour, which sits between the two communities, is a shared asset and a shared responsibility. The conservation of the harbour benefits both Pagham and Selsey, and the management of visitor access, footpath maintenance and environmental monitoring involves cooperation across the parish boundaries. The harbour circular walk, which passes through both parishes, is a physical expression of the connection between the two communities, linking them in a loop of footpaths that follows the water's edge.
The lifeboat station at Selsey is a source of local pride and a reminder of the sea's power. The RNLI volunteers who crew the Selsey lifeboat provide a service that benefits the entire Manhood Peninsula coast, including Pagham. The lifeboat has been called out to incidents off Pagham Beach and in the harbour entrance, and the knowledge that the station is manned and the boat ready is a comfort to those who live and work on the coast.