Coordinates: 50°48′34″N 0°32′27″W / 50.80938°N 0.54089°W
| Littlehampton | |
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  Littlehampton shown within West Sussex |
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| Area[1] | 4.4 sq mi (11.35 km²) |
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| Population | 25,593[1] 2001 Census |
| - Density | 2,255/km² (5,840/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 51 miles (82 km) NNE |
| Parish | Littlehampton |
| District | Arun |
| Shire county | West Sussex |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LITTLEHAMPTON |
| Postcode district | BN17 |
| Dialling code | 01903 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Bognor Regis and Littlehampton |
| Website: http://www.littlehampton-tc.gov.uk/ | |
| List of places: UK • England • West Sussex | |
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, located on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies 51.5 miles (83 km) south southwest of London, 17.5 miles (28 km) west of Brighton, and 11 miles (18 km) east of the county town of Chichester.
The parish covers an area of 11.35 km2 (4 sq mi) and has a population of 25,593 persons (2001 census). The conurbation includes other settlements: Wick in the north west; Lyminster to the north; East Preston, Rustington and Angmering to the east. Wick and Toddington became part of the town in 1901. Nearby towns include Bognor Regis west southwest and Worthing to the east. The town is also the Westernmost settlement of the 12th largest urban area in the UK, the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation, a region encompassing some 461,181 people (2001 census).
Littlehampton lies within the constituency of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, the Member of Parliament for which is Conservative Nick Gibb.
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Economy
The headquarters of The Body Shop is located in Littlehampton. Local company, Dando Drilling International Ltd has been exporting drilling rigs from Littlehampton since 1867. Van Heyningen Brothers (VHB) salad growers were a major employer in the town from 1964–2003. Much of the local economy comprises smaller companies with fewer than ten employees, however Sainsbury's are in the town centre and the local authority is actively seeking to promote and expand business opportunities.
Local issues
Littlehampton has received a great deal of publicity [2] as the home of the East Beach Cafe, a building on the seafront designed by Heatherwick Studio.
The building is a fully welded monocoque structure. The building reflects its exposed location with a rough, weathered appearance which Heatherwick describes as being like a piece of weathered flotsam swept up onto the beach. It was built in Littlehampton, with steelwork by Littlehampton Welding Ltd and site work by Langridge Developments, another local firm. The construction of the cafe caused a stir in Littlehampton, with some seeing it as an eyesore and others welcoming it as a world class piece of architecture and a symbol of regeneration.
Transport
Littlehampton is on the A259, though it bypasses most of the town. Littlehampton is connected to the A27 south coast trunk road by the A284, which also provides the main north-south route out of the town and links to the A29.
Stagecoach operate the '700 Coastliner' service in the town, providing four services an hour to Brighton, two services an hour to Arundel and two services an hour to Portsmouth. Stagecoach also serve the town with the number 9 service, running hourly from Littlehampton to the Holmbush Centre via Angmering, Worthing and Shoreham-by-Sea. More recently, Compass Travel have introduced the 'Littlehampton Town Bus'. Officially known as the number 12 service, it provides travel between Littlehampton, Rustington and Wick, replacing the former Stagecoach 702 service that was axed, much to the disapproval of local residents.[3]
Trains services from Littlehampton railway station are provided by Southern, with direct services to London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, East Croydon, Bognor Regis, Chichester and Portsmouth.
Gatwick Airport is an hour away to the north, with the port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel about three hours to the east. Portsmouth Harbour is one hour away to the west.
Churches and cemeteries
St Mary's is the Anglican parish church while St Catherine's is the principal Catholic church. In the cemetery, which is on the northern side of the town, lies the grave of Katherine O'Shea ("Kitty O'Shea") (1845–1921), the wife of Charles Stewart Parnell.
Littlehampton is also home to other churches, including St James the Great and All Saints in Wick.
Arts and culture
The BBC comedy sitcom Open All Hours was based on a shop in Norfolk Road near to where Ronnie Barker lived[4].
Other notable residents include writer Stuart Millard.
The town has appeared on ITV1 with Roy Shepherd (of Littlehampton) presenting the geology of the local area with Charlie Dimmock.
An annual event is the parade and bonfire organised by the Bonfire Society.
Littlehampton supports a range of performance groups including Stagedoor Theatre Company, the Musical Comedy Society and Players Operatic Society who perform throughout the year. It also holds a popular 'Last Night of the Proms' concert performed annually by the Littlehampton Concert Band.[5]
Littlehampton is the home town of British Christian rock band Delirious?, who all still live there.
LA Pebbles On The Beach is an annual charity music festival held on Beach Green, Littlehampton. It features local acts that cross the musical spectrum so that there is something for all tastes during the course of the day. A sequence of monthly fund-raising events ae held in the town prior to the festival itself.
Character actor Stanley Holloway (1890–1982), died in a Littlehampton nursing home aged 91.
C4 uses Littlehampton for filming some scenes in drama series, The Inbetweeners.
Attractions
The newest attraction prior to the East Beach Café was the Look and Sea centre which includes the Harbour Lights cafè and an observation tower. As well as this Harbour Park is located at the entrance of the River Arun and is the 18th most popular theme park in the UK. Further along the promenade is Norfolk Gardens a multi-purpose outdoor site owned by Inspire Leisure. The site includes a 9-hole pitch and putt course, 9-hole adventure golf course, tennis and bowls. The site also includes the putting green café. Littlehampton harbour is on the River Arun at the western side of the town, with yacht moorings, and on the west bank of the river are Littlehampton Redoubt and Climping sand dunes. In Mewsbrook Park on the seafront there is the Littlehampton Miniature Railway which runs for 800 yards.
Sport
Rugby Union
Littlehampton Rugby Club plays in the Sussex West 2 League after promotion at the end of the 2006–07 season. Most games are played on Saturday afternoons, either at Littlehampton Community School or in the West Sussex and Surrey area. The Club is also involved in the local community, including the Carnival, Bonfire night, Dragon Boat Racing and other charitable events.
Other sport
- Littlehampton Arunners Running Club
- Littlehampton Hockey Club
- Littlehampton is the home of Littlehampton, Clapham and Patching Cricket Club; there is also a marina and golf club.
- Littlehampton Town FC play in the Sussex County Football League Division Two.
- Littlehampton Swimming & Sports Centre (LSSC), Other facilities include: • 2 storey enhanced Tone Zone Fitness Suite • Meeting room • After school / holiday children’s club room • Multi purpose sports hall.
- Littlehampton Badminton & Squash Club.
- Littlehampton Harbour Board - fishing and diving.
- Arun Yacht Club
- Littlehampton Sailing & Motor Club
- Littlehampton and District Angling Club
- Littlehampton Clapham and Patching Cricket Club fields four Saturday sides, two Sunday sides, a ladies team and colts teams at ages ranging from under 10 to under 16.
Twinning
Littlehampton is twinned with:
Durmersheim, Germany
Chennevières-sur-Marne, France
Dikhil, Djibouti
References
- ^ a b "2001 Census: West Sussex – Population by Parish". West Sussex County Council. http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/communityandliving/census2001/pop_parish_summary.pdf. Retrieved on 1 April 2009.
- ^ "Fresh seafood served here". The Observer. 2007-06-10. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2099357,00.html. Retrieved on 4 January 2008.
- ^ "New Number 12 has been well received.". Littlehampton Gazette. 2007-11-15. http://www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/gazetteletters/The-new-No12-bus-has.3493165.jp. Retrieved on 4 January 2008.
- ^ "History of Littlehampton". Visit Littlehampton. 4 January 2008. http://www.visitlittlehampton.info/history.html. Retrieved on 4 January 2008.
- ^ Littlehampton Concert Band
External links
- Arun District Council
- Littlehampton Town Council website
- Arunners Running Club Littlehampton
- Arundel & Littlehampton District Scouts
- 7th Littlehampton Air Scout Group
- 4th Littlehampton Scout Group
- Littlehampton Rugby Club
- Littlehampton darts
- St Mary's Church, Littlehampton
- Littlehampton Swimming & Sports Centre
- Littlehampton Badminton & Squash Club
- Littlehampton Harbour Board fishing and diving
- Arun Yacht Club
- Littlehampton Sailing & Motor Club
- Littlehampton and District Angling Club
- Littlehampton Clapham & Patching Cricket Club
- Littlehampton Look & Sea Heritage Exhibition
- LA Pebbles On The Beach
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