Coordinates: 50°49′12″N 0°36′40″W / 50.81999°N 0.61121°W
| Yapton | |
  Yapton
Yapton shown within West Sussex |
|
| Area | 7.91 km2 (3.05 sq mi) [1] |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,522 [1] 2001 Census |
| - Density | 445 /km2 (1,150 /sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | |
| - London | 52 miles (84 km) NNE |
| Parish | Yapton |
| District | Arun |
| Shire county | West Sussex |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ARUNDEL |
| Postcode district | BN18 |
| Dialling code | 01243 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Bognor Regis and Littlehampton |
| Website | http://www.yaptonpc.gov.uk/ |
| List of places: UK • England • West Sussex | |
Yapton is a village and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England. It is three miles (4.8 km) to the north-west of Bognor Regis at the intersection of the B2132 and B2233 roads. The civil parish covers an area of 791 hectares (1,950 acres) and has a population of 3522 persons (2001 census).
The parish of Yapton lies on the coastal plain south west of Arundel, between the South Downs and the sea. St Mary the Virgin parish church, 13th century or earlier in origin[2], is in the centre of the village. It houses a twelfth century font. The village includes Yapton C of E Primary School.
Other settlements in the parish include Bilsham and Flansham.
The disused Portsmouth and Arundel Canal which linked the River Arun to Chichester Harbour, runs through the village. This was built as part of a safe inland shipping route between London and Portsmouth avoiding the then considerable hazards of coastal waters and attack by the French.
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Were you born in Yapton?
There is a well-known joke in Sussex: "Were you born in Yapton?" This question is asked when someone has forgotten to close a door. It is believed to refer to the eighteenth-century practice of leaving doors open or unlocked so that smugglers could hide their goods in the nearest house when they were being chased by excise men. The village of Yapton was noted as a centre of smuggling[citation needed], especially of wines and spirits from France. Since these were heavily taxed, the profits could be very considerable. Read backwards, Yapton spells "NotPay" allegedly a hint to the smugglers tax evasion!! [3]
Notable residents
Duncan Goodhew, the Olympic swimming maestro was brought up in Yapton. Rumour amongst Yapton locals is that he lost his hair after falling from a tree.[citation needed] There is a residential road, Goodhew Close, named after him.
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 1 April 2009.
- ^ British History Online; Yapton
- ^ West Sussex County Council
External links
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