Bosham church

There were times when I felt like turning back on the mile and half Walk from the train station, large puddles hugged the side of the road and walking near some as cars sped through staying water over six foot in the air I thought this could have been a big mistake, but I put my hood up and ploughed on. Just as I turned the corner to the quay the rain eased and I entered the churchyard to a stunning little Saxon church.

This was after all a church that was depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry. Bosham's history is much older than this of course and there are places nearby that the areas Roman history is evident such a Fishbourne with it's palace or Porchester where the walls of the Norman castle are Roman.

Bosham was were a large head of a statue thought for so long to be of Emperor Trajan but more likely Nero. This is now in the Novium museum at Chichester.

The 11th century was a busy time for the church and the town of Bosham. king Canute is believed to have lived in the the area at one point or another. It is reputed that his daughter is buried in the church after she drowned. This is of course highly debatable as is said to be the venue he tried to commanded the tide to halt, although many places also claim this to be the case.

Of course in the years after there is more substantial evidence of the goings on, one of Harold's visits is mentioned on the Bayeux Tapestry. Two years before he met in battle with William he went to visit him in Normandy to discus who become king of England after Edward the Confessor and set sail from Bosham.

While I like to think that my visit was as important as that one it was not, of course this period in time will be visited in future posts, I hope it just highlights how important Sussex is in the story of England as a whole.

There is also a great little booklet that the church produces about the place it's history and construction. Why not visit for yourself or look at their website www.boshamchurch.org.UK