Chichester Canal & Chichester Harbour Excursion Boats

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Chichester

This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of local excursion boats in the Chichester area.

Sections on this Page:-

Chichester Ship Canal

Chichester Harbour

Itchenor Ferry - Chichester Harbour Ferry

Ships on this Page:-

Boxer - Chichester Canal workboat

Egremont - Chichester Canal

Frisky - Chichester Canal Bantam Tog No.6

Itchy Bosom Ferry

Jupiter - Chichester Canal Bantam Tog No.23

Richmond - Chichester Canal

Wingate III - Chichester Harbour

Simplon Sussex Pages
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Sussex Piers - the seaside piers of Sussex

Allchorn Pleasure Boats - Eastbourne-Beachy Head Services - suspended
Bodiam Ferry Company - Newenden Bridge-Bodiam Castle service
Chichester Header Page - This page
Chichester Ship Canal - More images of Chichester Canal Trust vessels
Chichester Harbour Tours - More images of Chichester Harbour Tours
Littlehampton - Ferries, Excursions, Piers and Port of Littlehampton

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References:-

London's Lost Route to the Sea by P.A.L.Vine: David & Charles, 1965, 1986 (4th Edition)

London's Lost Route to Midhurst by P.A.L.Vine: Sutton Publishing, 1995

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Chichester Ship Canal

Images are linked to larger copies

The Chichester Ship Canal was opened in 1822. It formed part of the barge route from Portsmouth to London, via the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal, River Arun Navigation, Wey & Arun Canal, River Wey Navigation and the River Thames.

Until the 19th Century, the carriage of most goods to and from Portsmouth and the South Coast was done by sea - land carriage being twice as expensive. Navigation of the River Thames became possible as far as Oxford in the early 1600s, followed by extensions into Surrey along the River Wey. There were plans to link the Rivers Wey and Arun through Sussex from as early as 1641, providing London with a direct link to the English channel. This avoided the sea passage around Kent, which could be treacherous due to sandbanks and storms all year, plus in times of war liable to attack from French and other privateers. In 1785, the Arun Navigation Company was founded to manage traffic on the navigable part of the river between Littlehampton on the coast and Pulborough. This was the time of "Canal Mania" elsewhere in the country, but most new canals were built as a result of the industrial revolution, to large conurbations with plentiful potential traffic. Sussex was a largely agricultural area, and the economics of building a canal were much lass favourable.

The straight line gap between the navigable Wey and the Arun was only 15 miles, and the war with France provided additional impetus for a new route to the south coast, although the financial crisis the war caused made various canal schemes fail in other parts of the country. In 1794, Lord Egremont (of Petworth House) completed the Rother Navigation linking Midhurst to the River Arun, with a short branch to Petworth. Construction of the Wey & Arun Canal started in 1813, and was completed in 1816. Due to the sparsely-populated, agricultural nature of the country served by the canal, traffic was not substantial, and the best hope of long term success for the Wey & Arun Canal appeared to be in becoming part of a main line to Portsmouth, of which the Chichester Canal would be a part.

Website: www.chichestercanal.org.uk

Map by Roger Sellman of the barge route from Portsmouth to London.

Construction started on the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal in 1818, and it opened in sections. The Chichester Ship Canal section opened in 1822, with engineering works which included two locks and six bridges. Whilst the canal in general was designed to accept 50 ton barges, the Chichester Ship Canal could take sea-going coasters of 100 tons through to the centre of the city.

Map by Roger Sellman of the barge route from Portsmouth to the River Arun.

The Chichester Ship Canal was 6km long from Birdham, at the seaward end, to Southgate Basin in Chichester, via Hunston. Its principal trade was coal for the local gasworks. The section from Hunston to Ford opened in 1823 (Hunston to Chichester Basin was just a branch off the main canal). However, the Hunston to Ford section was abandoned as early as 1847. The through service from Portsmouth had never carried the amount of goods that was envisaged. Chichester City Council took over its ownership in 1892 to ensure Chichester's connection to the sea remained. In 1906 the last commercial cargo of six tons of shingle was carried from Birdham to Chichester Basin. In 1928 Chichester Council abandoned the Canal. West Sussex County Council now owns the rights and ownership of the canal and they lease it to the Chichester Canal Society. Boat trips on the Egremont and Richmond are available, plus other activities such as angling, canoeing and row boat hire.

Map of the Chichester Canal today.

Chichester Canal 2005 brochure front.

Chichester Canal 2005 brochure inside.

Notice board
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

CHICHESTER CANAL - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

Tugs Frisky & Jupiter, workboat Boxer and passenger boats Richmond & Egremont in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

Egremont

Egremont is a 12-passenger narrowboat used on the Chichester Canal. George O'Brien Wyndham (1751-1837) was the 3rd Earl of Egremont, and was involved with promotion and financing the county's canals. A steam tug used by the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal to tow barges was also called the Egremont. She began running cruises on the canal in 1992. In 2011 she ran public trips at 10:30, 12:00, 13:45 and 15:30.

Photograph of Egremont. Photo: © John Cooper.

Postcard of Egremont. Photo: © A.Bonthrone.

Narrow boat Egremont in Chichester basin in previous light green colours
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

EGREMONT - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

Egremont and Richmond in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

Narrow boat Egremont in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

Narrow boat Egremont ashore at Chichester basin, now repainted dark green
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 16th March 2007

EGREMONT - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: � Ian Boyle, 16th March 2007

Narrow boat Egremont at Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

EGREMONT - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

Narrow boat Egremont leaving Chichester basin on a public sailing
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

Richmond

Richmond is a 50-passenger wide beam boat used on the Chichester Canal. She was commissioned by the Chichester Chichester Canal Trading Company in 2004, beginning cruises in 2005.

Photograph of Richmond.

Photograph of Richmond.

Richmond at Chichester basin
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st April 2006

Egremont and Richmond in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

RICHMOND & EGREMONT - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

Richmond in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

RICHMOND - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

Richmond in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

Richmond ashore at Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 18th March 2007

RICHMOND - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: � Ian Boyle, 18th March 2007

Passenger boat Richmond in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

RICHMOND - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

Passenger boat Richmond in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

Jupiter

Jupiter is a 23ft Bantam tug (no.23) built in 1952 and fitted with a Lister JP3 engine with electric start. She is used to propel barges to and from work sites on the canal. Although the engine was partially overhauled a few years ago, it remains difficult to start, particularly in cold weather, despite having a second battery to aid starting. The gearbox is also temperamental, but an overhaul of both engine and gearbox is planned for 2011.

Photograph of the Chichester Canal basin with Bantam tug Jupiter Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1st April 2006

Bantam tug Jupiter at Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 18th March 2007

Bantam tug Jupiter in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

JUPITER - Bantam tug - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: � Ian Boyle, 28th June 2011

Bantam tug Jupiter in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

Frisky

Frisky is a 20ft Bantam tug (no.6) built in 1950, and she was fitted with a Lister JP2. This was fitted with a hand crank and was difficult to start, so she received little use. It was decided not to overhaul the engine and a new JD3 engine has been fitted.

Bantam tug Frisky in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

Bantam tug Frisky in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

FRISKY - Bantam tug - www.simplonpc.co.uk - Photo: � Ian Boyle, 28th June 2011

Bantam tug Frisky in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 29th June 2011

Boxer

Boxer is a 28ft workboat donated to the Canal Society in 1997. The engine has been rebuilt and the hold covered over and Boxer is now the principal work boat on the canal.

Workboat Boxer in Chichester basin. The hold has subsequently been covered over
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

Workboat Boxer in Chichester basin
Photo: � Ian Boyle, 8th September 2006

Chichester Harbour

More images of Chichester Harbour Tours

Chichester Harbour Water Tours 2005 brochure front.

Chichester Harbour Water Tours 2005 brochure back.

Chichester Harbour Water Tours 2004 brochure front.

Chichester Harbour Water Tours 2004 brochure back.

Wingate III

Photograph of Wingate III

Photograph of Wingate III

Photograph of Wingate III

Itchenor Ferry

A ferry runs from Itchenor jetty to Smugglers Lane, Bosham linking public footpaths. Trips can also be made to and from moorings from Deep End to Birdham. Enlarging the images shows that the ferry is called the Itchy Bosom Ferry.

Smugglers Lane Ferry Hard is the site of a ferry crossing which dates back to the 17th Century. For generations foot passengers have made their way across the channel between Itchenor and Bosham saving them a journey of 13 miles around the harbour edge. Over the years fewer people needed to go back and forth to Bosham. In 1964 the ferryman applied to the House of Lords to discontinue the ferry service, which until then had been operated 24 hours a day. In 1976 the ferry service was brought back into service by Chichester Harbour Conservancy to join the footpath network and to provide a taxi service for yachtsmen. Today the seasonal ferry takes passengers and bikes between Smugglers Hard and Itchenor Jetty, linking the public footpaths and allowing for a circular walk via Bosham and Fishbourne.

Running times: 0900-1800. Daily 16 May - 30 September. Weekends and bank holidays only 25 March - 11 May and 1 October - 31 October.

For more information see the website:- www.itchenorferry.co.uk - Phone 07970 378350

The Itchy Bosom Ferry at Itchenor