Chichester Harbour ― England's Coastal Gem

Chichester harbor is an area of outstanding natural beauty and a special place of tranquility in the crowded south of England. It is recognized nationally and internationally and is appreciated by many hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. This book, which includes previously unpublished memoirs and features famous figures from King Canute to P.G. Wodehouse, draws together the myriad threads that have given the harbor and its surroundings their unique character, telling an engrossing story that stretches far into the past, present, and future. It encompasses topics as varied as geological and historical tumult, the harbor’s vital importance as a refuge for threatened wildlife, the change from commercial port to center for leisure pursuits, the impact of war, and the threat from climate change. Liz Sagues brings to life the people who have contributed so much to Chichester harbor, from the saintly Saxon cleric whose practical fishing skills ended a village famine to environmentally committed twenty-first-century farmers, and from a king’s favorite mistress to Olympic medal-winning sailors. The book is for those who already love the harbor—and for the many more who, as they read on, will join them.

Liz Sagues has written for Country Life, the Independent, and the Sunday Express, but the majority of her journalistic career was spent as features editor and then assistant editor of the acclaimed Hampstead & Highgate Express. Twice-winner of a major international wine-writing award, Liz has sailed on Chichester Harbour for many years and since 1996 has lived close to its boundary, becoming much involved in harbor life.