Felpham

Coordinates: 50°47′26″N 0°39′14″W / 50.79046°N 0.65394°W / 50.79046; -0.65394

Felpham
The A259/B2132 junction
Felpham Felpham shown within West Sussex
Area	4.26 km2 (1.64 sq mi) [1]
Population	9,611  [1] 2001 Census
- Density	2,256 /km2 (5,840 /sq mi)
OS grid reference	SZ949998
- London	54 miles (87 km) NNE
Parish	Felpham
District	Arun
Shire county	West Sussex
Region	South East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BOGNOR REGIS
Postcode district	PO22
Dialling code	01243
Police	Sussex
Fire	West Sussex
Ambulance	South East Coast
European Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
Website: http://www.felphampc.gov.uk/
List of places: UK • England • West Sussex

Felpham (sometimes pronounced locally as Felf-fm) is a village and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England. Although sometimes considered part of the greater Bognor Regis habitation it is a village and civil parish in its own right, having an area of 4.26 km² with a population of 9611 people and still growing (2001 census).

The A259 Coastal Road passes through the Village, this road runs along the south coast from Havant in Hampshire to Folkstone in Kent.

The 16th century Anglican parish church is dedicated to St Mary. There is also a Methodist church close to the three-way junction of Felpham Way, Flansham Lane and Middleton Road to the east of the village.

History

William Blake lived here for three years, writing his epic poem Milton in Felpham. The poem contains his famous words about "England's green and pleasant land", which were inspired by Blake's "evident pleasure" in the Felpham countryside.^[2] The cottage where he lived is depicted in the illustrations for the poem. It lies within the original village, close to "The Fox" public house. It was in Felpham that Blake had his altercation with the drunken soldier John Scofield, who was trespassing in his garden. This led to Blake's trial for sedition because of Scofield's allegation that he had cursed the king. Blake has a road named after him, Blakes Road, the road on which his former residence is sited.

Blake had been invited to Felpham by local resident William Hayley, also a noted writer. Hayley was so famous in his day that he was offered the position of poet laureate in 1790, but turned it down.

A 1947 Ordnance Survey map, showing Bognor Regis with Felpham to the right

The village has both a village hall, called the Memorial Hall, built in remembrance to the fallen from World War I and a Church hall.

Great expansion of the village took place between 1930 and 1960 when three (nominally) gated housing estates were developed and again in the 1970s when two (public) housing developments took place on farmland between Felpham and its neighbouring village of Middleton-on-Sea. In December 2006 planning permission was granted for further development, this time on farmland to the north ^[3].

Local facilities

Felpham has three primary schools, Bishop Tufnell CE Infant and Bishop Tufnell CE Junior Schools (both Church of England Aided Schools) and Downview Primary (Infant and Junior) School. A third Infant and Junior school is planned to be added as part of the current housing plans.

Felpham Community College, the main school in the area, operates its own Youth Wing. It is situated next door to the Arun Leisure Centre which has extensive playing fields.

Felpham has King George's Field in memorial to King George V.

Sport and leisure

Felpham Colts Football Club (including mixed teams, boys teams and girls teams) is the largest youth football club in West Sussex. The club is completely independent and not attached to any of the large local senior football teams. It has 26 teams competing in local football leagues and has been in existence since 1973. The club's teams can be found training at King George V Field on Saturday mornings and playing at Shrubbs Field in nearby Middleton-on-Sea and King George V Field on Sundays.

Predators Youth and Blue FC. Predators started in 1994 with only a few players and has grown. Predators play and train within the Bognor Regis area.

The Felpham & Middleton Country Dance Club is one of the oldest extant English Country Dance clubs in England.

Felpham Church hall was also the starting point for the 2008 Scout Overland Hike.

Predators Youth Green FC is a small youth football club whose aim to offer football for everyone, regardless of ability. Based in Felpham, they train at Larks field, the Arun Leisure Centre or Bishop Tufnell school, and play their matches at King Georges or Larksfield.

External links

• Home of the tigers
• Felpham Parish Council
• Felpham Colts' website
• Predators Youth Green FC website
• Felpham location map and 1867 Directory notes
• The history of the Dance Club

References