West Wittering

WEST WITTERING is a parish, bounded on the north by Itchenor and Birdham, on the east by East Wittering, on the west by Chichester harbour, and on the south by the British Channel, in the Western division of the county, Manhood hundred, West Hampnett union, Chichester rape, county court district, diocese and archdeaconry, and rural deanery of Boxgrove. The village, which is small, is in the south-western part of the parish, 8 miles south-west from Chichester. The principal landowners are Messrs. Gorham, Ide, Harris, and Aylmore. The prebendal estate, held by the trustees of Oliver Whitby, Esq., for three lives, comprising about 275 statute acres, is in this parish. The church (name not known) is ancient, with wooden belfry, square tower with 3 bells, chancel, nave, south aisle, ancient Norman font, and two very ancient monuments on the north side of the chancel. The register dates from 1622. The living is a vicarage, value £180 per annum, in the gift of the Bishop of Chichester, and held by the Rev. Charles Gaunt, M.A., of Brasenose College, Oxford, rector of Isfield. Here is a neat National school. built by the Whitby trustees, who hold the rectorial tithes. The soil is of rich quality. The population in 1861 was 616; the area is 3,615 acres. [Kelly's Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867.]