Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for HAMPTON (LITTLE)

HAMPTON (LITTLE), a seaport town, a parish, and a sub-district in Worthing district, Sussex. The town stands at the month of the river Arun, and at the terminus of a short branch of the South Coast railway, 3½ miles S by E of Arundel. A battle was fought here, or in the near neighbourhood, in 837, between Wulfherd and certain Danish pirates; and the empress Matilda landed here, in 1139, on her way to Arundel Castle. Little Hampton was anciently the haven of Arundel; and it recently was made the head port of Arundel, and the seat of the custom house. Its trade, as a port, is considerable; and its inland navigation communicates, through the Wey and Arun canal, with the Thames at Weybridge. Its harbour has a pier and jetties; and, though dry at low water, has a depth of 8 feet or more at high water. A lighthouse was erected at the entrance, in 1848; and has a fixed light, 30 feet high. A fort, on the most approved principles, mounting five 68-pounders, besides mortars, was recently constructed on the W side. The ground there also was appropriated as encamping ground for rifle practice; and huts suitable for it were erected in 1862. A weekly market is held on Thursday; and a pleasure fair, on 26 May. A regatta and races are held annually, and attract a large concourse of spectators. The town has recently come into favour also as a watering place; and it possesses good advantages of retirement, salubrity, mild climate, rural environs, and a fine beach, -the last merging into sands, dry at loW water, and so firm that carriages may travel on them to Worthing. The town has a post office‡ under Arundel, a railway station with telegraph, two banking offices, a good hotel, assembly rooms, a parish church, two dissenting chapels, a Roman Catholic chapel, and a national school. The assembly rooms are used, not only for their own proper purpose, but also for lectures and exhibitions. The parish church was rebuilt in 1825, at a cost of £3, 000; is in the pointed style; and contains 1, 200 sittings. The Wesleyan chapel was built in 1825. The Independent chapel was built in 1 861; and is in the early decorated English style. The Roman Catholic chapel was built in 1863, at the expense of the Duchess of Norfolk; includes church and presbytery; and is in the decorated English style. The parish comprises 1, 102 acres of land and 120 of water; and is regarded as conterminate with the town. Real property, £10, 805; of which £85 are in gas works. Pop., 2, 350. Houses, 497. The living is a vicarage in tb e diocese of Chichester. Value, £150. Patron, the Bishop of Chichester.—The sub-district contains also eleven other parishes and part of another. Acres, 19, 882. Pop., 6, 737. Houses, 1, 369.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a seaport town, a parish, and a sub-district"   (ADL Feature Type: "cities")
Administrative units: East Preston RegD/PLU/Inc       Sussex AncC
Place names: HAMPTON     |     HAMPTON LITTLE     |     LITTLE HAMPTON
Place: Littlehampton

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