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Bracklesham Bay
Bracklesham Bay photos
Displaying the first of 2 old photos of Bracklesham Bay. View all Bracklesham Bay photos
Bracklesham Bay maps
Historic maps of Bracklesham Bay and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Bracklesham Bay maps
Bracklesham Bay area books
Displaying 1 of 19 books about Bracklesham Bay and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Bracklesham Bay
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Bracklesham Bay.
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Pontin's Holiday Camp
I had a holiday job for 8 weeks at Pontin's in the summer of 1967 before going up to Oxford University. I worked in the staff canteen with Philipe, a young Frenchman; and then also part-time as a barman. The camp deputy manager (Mr. Brown?) was reputed to have been Prince Charles' protection officer until the cherry brandy incident led to his resignation. Some of the chalet maids came over each summer from Dublin, including the enchanting and high-spirited Helen Maher, whom I have never forgotten.
Bracklesham Lane, Bracklesham Bay
I lived and worked in the area for 20 years from 1966 and this was a time of slow change starting for Bracklesham. The lane is now called Sea Lane, the flowing tamarisk bushes have gone and both side of the road are lined with housing or shops with a pay car park on the seafront. In the early days there was a Pontins holiday camp in Farm Road (now a large housing estate) and Gibson's holiday camp half a mile back from the sea in Bracklesham Lane. Gibsons had the old fashioned wooden family chalets until it was burned down in a massive fire in the late 60's and was rebuilt as South Downs Holiday Village.
Holidaying at Gibsons
I was 14 when our family spent a rather wet week at Gibsons Holiday Camp in the summer of 1966. However, despite the weather, there was much to do. We arrived on World Cup Final day, - the TV was in the bar, but my Dad was allowed to bring me in to watch the match. It was strictly 'men only' which rather annoyed my sister! I remember my parents entering me in the Junior Talent Show, - I played piano, giving a performance of "A Walk In The Black Forest". I came 2nd to a pair of pint-sized ballroom dancers, who apparently went up and down the country winning these events! I do remember that the camp's host was called Reg, the same as my Dad. Happy days, - despite the downpours!
The 1950s
I well remember what seemed like an age, the summer holidays of the early 1950s. My brother and I would spend all day on the beach or after the harvest playing stage coaches with the bales of hay in the field in Stocks Lane. In 1953 Queen Elizabeth II had her coronation and all the village turned out to celebrate. My farther was the man from the Pru at that time but his part time job was a special constable and he did his bit controlling the traffic and the like, there was bunting every were. Because not everyone had a TV back then we joined our neighbours to watch the ceremony on there's. Needless to say, like everything, looking back we had a lot more fun in a more innocent time. I still feel privileged to have been brought up in Bracklesham Bay.
The Perfect Holiday
In the late 1950s we had a couple of holidays in Bracklesham bay, which was then a tiny, but growing village. I had never seen shops which were the equivalent of wooden shacks mounted on bricks. There were some modern bits; the post office/newsagent had recently opened, and new shops were being completed across the street. My Uncle George ran one of Henleys(?) shops; the one with the hardware and souvenirs, with racks of li-los displyed outside. I think the other was a grocer's. There was a cafe run by a man called Ruby! I was astounded, but I think his name was Ruben. Uncle lived in Garden Avenue. I came from the coaly north east and this village was the most amazing place I had ever seen. They say you should never go back, and Bracklesham is now just a housing estate for Chichester, but the memories will live with me forever.
West Sussex memories
Church Road Corner, East Wittering
I moved to East Wittering in 1966 and worked in the area for the next 20 years. The two cottages on the left were originally the village post office but have long since been demolished although a local resident acquired the front porch for a garden feature. The large building in the centre is the Royal Oak Public House which in the 1960's had a fish and chip shop beside it and beside that was the Royal Oak Garage run by a Mr Wiggington. This chip shop and garage have now gone. East Wittering is no longer a village, having to my mind been ruined by large areas of modern housing. Still, photographs and fond memories remain.
West Wittering in The 1940s And 50s
My first memories are of playing on the huge expanse of sand at West Wittering and the bombing tower which used to be there after the war. We stayed on the beach till late and were put to bed in the back of the car. Usually we travelled in convoy with two other families. We loved to paddle in the deep water of East Head. One summer my mother nearly drowned being pulled out by a 'rip.'
We had a sailing dinghy which we pulled across the mud and sea lavender at Roman Landing and sailed across to East Head. My family had a caravan on a farm in (I think) Elm Lane with the same families returning every year. We stayed for 6 weeks and cycled on the quiet roads into the 'Cherries' for provisions. Happy memories of cockeling with the Lee family (from Peaslake) and flying kites, hiding in the straw bales on the farm and the sheer fun and freedom of those days. I remember when the... Read more
