Emsworth, Chichester Harbour

Emsworth is another of the small towns on Chichester Harbour, on the northern arm just over the border in Hampshire. It’s a busy and thriving little place, popular for boating and the walks along the seashore are always busy.

Like nearby Bosham, Emsworth began as a small Saxon settlement, becoming a thriving fishing port with good oyster beds. At one time it had as many as 30 pubs. It flourished in the 18th century as a place where well to do people spent the summer, and along with that, boat building and rope making. Nowadays it has very popular markets, and a successful Food Festival which had to be cancelled in 2008 due to complaints of disruption from residents. Shame, it was a great day out. It’s replaced by several smaller events, but not the same atmosphere. Population is still less than 10,000.

Very busy today, with a cold wind on the coastal walks but the best air around.

In Large, you can see the man washing his boat!