Felpham is ancient site where Bronze and Mesolithic has been discovered at a "burnt mound" north-west of the Church. A Roman settlement is thought to have existed at the west end of Limmer Lane and Roman pottery has been found at Outerwicke Farmhouse.
King Alfred (d.899) devised an estate at FELPHAM to Osferth, a relative. By 1066 the land had passed to Shaftesbury Abbey. St Mary’s church was there in 1086 and with the Manor also belonged to the Abbey. The Abbey had a prison at Felpham in 1248. In 1574 the Crown granted the Manor to Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester. Who sold it to Henry Goring in 1594. The Gorings had it until 1620 when it was sold to Nicholas Thompson to pay off debts. The estate was divided among his heirs until both parts were exchanged and conveyed into the Duke of Richmond’s estate in 1867 and 1827.
Two coastal beacons had been erected south-east of the Church by 1587 in connection with defence against the Spanish Armada.
In the 16th and 18th centuries there were more animals than people; with sheep (312), cattle (102), poultry and pigs being kept. Now the only animals are pets although there is still a poultry farm.
By 1791 Sir Richard Hotham had started a Lime Kiln at the sea end of Limmer Lane to serve his building operations in Bognor.
William Blake lived in Felpham with his wife Catherine. He had to appear at the Chichester Crown Court charged with sedition following an incident with a Drunken Soldier in the Fox Inn. All the villagers rallied around and spoke up for him in court. Hayley and Seagrove helped him out with bail. The charges proved flimsy and Blake was cleared.
Until the mid 18th century Felpham’s economy was based on Agriculture and Maritime Activity. In the late 18th century there were 25 to 30 dwellings in Felpham not aligned to the roads with much open land between them. By 1871 Felpham had grown considerably with a population of over 600 living in 121 dwellings. It also contained three pubs, two blacksmiths, two millers, two crockers, one tailor, a coal-merchant, a butcher, a baker and a boot-maker. The nucleus was around the Church, Vicarge Lane, Waterloo Road and the end of Limmer Lane.
From then it became popular for bathing and sailing and this success albeit small may have encouraged Hotham to choose Bognor for his grander vision. After that it remained quiet and informal compared to Bognor’s hotel, library and visitor’s facilities but taking the overflow from Bognor. In 1922 an 18 hole golf-course replaced the 9 hole links course provided in 1906. Tennis courts were in existence in Blakes Road by 1914. A sailing club was founded in 1958 replacing the boating club.
Until the 20th century the village Until the 20th century the village was separated from the sea by fields, so that houses on its southern edge had uninterrupted coastal views.Building materials used in older buildings in the Parish include timber-framing, brick, flint, sometimes squared and sometimes as cobbles,“Bognor rock” sandstone rubble, and thatch.
The oldest surving secular building is Pear-Tree cottage in Vicarage Lane, an early 16th-century timber-framed house of three bays with a queen-post roof.
Blake’s cottage in Blake’s Road is 17th Century with later alterations.
The fox existed by 1799 and was rebuilt after a fire in 1946. The George existed as the George and Dragon by 1832. The Brewer’s Arms which existed by 1839 is now the Southdown’s hotel.
A Roman Catholic children’s home existed in Limmer Lane in the 1880s.
St Mary’s Anglo-catholic tradition began under Donald Manners vicar 1934-74. He introduced the first midnight mass in the area in 1937. The nave was built in the 11th or 12th Century and the aisles added in the 13th; the north aisle arcade was cut through the existing North Wall, but the South Wall was rebuilt. The Marble font is late 12th Century square bowl and rests on five pillars. The chest is 13th Century.
In 1934 a former school building was opened as a chapel and dedicated to St. Peregrin. This has now closed. A Methodist Sunday School was started in 1909 and a red-brick building to seat 200 was built in 1939. In 2000 Bognor vineyard started to meet at Felpham Community College.
Several new houses were built after 1910 chiefly at the west-end. By the mid 20th Century it was known for its seclusion and rural aspect. Although the rapidity of its development was often commented upon and matched by large increases in its population. Much of the development was piecemeal by road or sometimes estate many of which are private.
The trades in the village increased in the 19th and 20th century in step with Felpham’s growth: Grocer (at least one), cabinet maker, maltster, laundress, sea-defence contractor, florist (1895), greengrocer (1899), stationer (1903), fishmonger (1915), newsagent (1922), hairdresser (1927). A chemist by 1922, music seller, and two wine merchants.
Now in the village are a wide range of general shops including: several restaurants, cafes and tea-shops. A photographic studio, music shop, beauty saloon, hairdressers, estate agents, general stores and and a post-office, gift shops, a boutique, a butchers, an off-licence, a book-makers, a health shop, a chemist two garages and a filling station.
Main sources:
William Blake and Felpham By Norah Owens, Bognor Regis Local History Society.
British History On line – The Victoria History of the Counties of England, Felpham
Felpham Village Project – William Searle
Now Felpham is completely different from Bognor Regis, for a start here is a much slower pace of life, Felpham is a small village which can trace its roots back the doomsday book. With thatch cottages, a Church dating from Norman times, William Blake’s cottage, welcoming pubs, cafes and restaurants, friendly local people and much more. The lovely sandy beach is quiet and unspoilt, with rock pools to explore, has its own yacht club, two lovely cafes right on the seafront, gaily painted beach huts, it’s own weather system (the sun always shines). Felpham is the beach the locals use. We at Stannings are a short 5 minute walk from the sea front which has a beautiful flat promenade that you can walk into Bognor and beyond.
We are also close to the Market city of Chichester. This lovely roman walled city has history built in to it. With its 900 year old Cathedral, medieval market cross and roman walls. Also Chichester is great place to shop all the major shops have a presence in the city, but also there are many independent traders. Market day is Wednesday.
Arundel is also very close offering its Castle and many Antique shops and in the summer boat trips on the river Arun which runs through the town.
