Sidlesham


Sidlesham is a small village and civil parish, on the Manhood Peninsula, five kilometres south of Chichester in the Chichester District of West Sussex, England. It has a small primary school. The area has had a prebendary since medieval times. The 13th-century church of St Mary Our Lady is built of stone rubble, not the usual flint of the area.
The parish has a land area of 1753 hectares. In the 2001 census 1139 people lived in 448 households, of whom 579 were economically active. At the 2011 Census the population had increased to 1,171.
The parish has fertile soils on the flat Chichester plain and there are many glasshouses around the village.

Governance

An electoral list in the same name exists. This ward stretches North to Hunston with a total ward population at the 2011 Census of 2,428.

Sport and leisure

The first definite mention of cricket in Sussex relates to ecclesiastical court records in 1611 which state that two parishioners of Sidlesham failed to attend church on Easter Sunday because they were playing cricket. They were fined 12d each and made to do penance.
Sidlesham has a Non-League football club Sidlesham F.C. who play at The Memorial Recreation Ground.

Landmarks

The Site of Special Scientific Interest known as Pagham Harbour falls partly within the parish. The harbour and surrounding land is of national importance for both flora and fauna. The shingle spit is also of geological interest.