Dell Quay Apuldram

the fishbourne reach of chichester harbour, dell quay

in roman times harbour navigable way fishbourne , roman galleys may have sailed right fishbourne palace. sea levels in harbour higher in middle ages , there records of losses of land sea. great flood of apuldram occurred in 1274 , additional sea walls , sluices installed after that. former existence of tide mill on river lavant near apuldram common indication of level of sea @ time @ northern boundary of parish.

the landing place moved down channel due silting of upper reaches , time there access harbour little south of mouth of lavant. here there sunken channel, dry, led centre of medieval apuldram village. there evidence of landing place @ la delle. rent list, dated 1432, records villein duties included cart la delle chichester . exports in 14th , 15th centuries wool , cloth.

the wharf @ dell quay built in 16th century on orders of lord fitzwilliam of cowdray, lord high admiral 1536 1540 , in 1580 written wharf had been longe sythens buylded lord fitzwilliam . quay @ time official landing place port of chichester, in 14th century rated 7th in importance in england.

at time there no warehouses @ dell quay , no inn. citizens of chichester gave reason asking permission dig canal quay town. permission granted condition canal must not cut through lands belonging baron (howard of effingham), , made scheme impractical. instead, picturesque crown & anchor inn built @ end of 16th century , seems have been called dell key house (not confused present dell quay house, incorporates william tipper s post mill built in eighteenth century, subject of paintings richard nibbs , george lambert).

during 17th century channel needed constant attention. ships offloading ballast approached quay added problem. however, after intensive programme of dredging, ships of 40 tons in 1685 once again dock @ quay. in 18th century coal newcastle became major import , outlook graced 3 large coal pounds – on quay, inn , on site of quay cottage. there crane, in 1789 said out of repair, useless , obstructive . amount of goods delivered varied on years. 2128 tons in 1786, 4085 in 1793, 2771 in 1800, 3043 in 1807 , 3602 in 1813. 1908 there steam driven crane, running on rails, later replaced diesel powered crane.

a gale in august 1925 wreaked havoc moored boats. owners struggling refloat craft realised co-operation ease task , led formation of dell quay boat club. name changed dell quay sailing club in 1934. located on quay apuldram fishing , boat club , classroom chichester harbour education centre.

the water @ dell quay navigable dinghies , small cabin cruisers few hours either side of high tide. however, tall ship phoenix of dell quay visited twice during second half of 20th century , tied on end of quay.