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Bosham, West Sussex

Bosham Church

Bosham, pronounced Bozzam, is an ancient port on the coast of West Sussex near Portsmouth. There was a Roman presence here very soon after the invasion in 43AD. Parts of Bosham Church show evidence of a Roman palace which was built on this site. In the church look at the feet of the two arch columns, which have stones surviving from the old Roman building. Information leaflets in Bosham talk of "tradition telling us" that the Roman emperor Vespasian who ruled from 69 to 79 AD had a residence here. Tradition could be wrong, but it is likely that Vespasian had a link with this area. The archeologist Barry Cunliffe who led the excavation of nearby Fishbourne Roman Palace suggests that the probable owner of Fishbourne, powerful British king Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus, lent his support to Vespasian, the eventual victor of a four way struggle for the position of emperor in AD69. If Vespasian was going to have a residence in England it was likely to be in an area where support for him was strong.

After the Romans left around 410AD Anglo Saxon tribes invaded. Bosham may then have been involved in the reintroduction of Christianity into Anglo Saxon Britain. When St Wilfrid came to convert the South Saxons to Christianity in 681, he found an irish monk named Dicul and a few followers based at a little missionary monastery at Bosham. Britain's first historian the Venerable Bede mentions Dicul at "Boshanham." The present crypt may have been the building Dicul used. Later during the Saxon period when the Viking invasions began the church tower was built, originally perhaps as a watch tower, and a fortification where the women and children would retreat for safety. Places representing physical and spiritual security have been linked throughout human history, castle and church architecture having many similarities. This link is illustrated clearly in Bosham Church's dual purpose tower .

Bosham Quay

The church was then thought to have been a royal chapel connected with King Canute. It is difficult to be certain how strong the connection is with Canute. Once again "tradition" is sometimes used as the basis for claims. "Traditionally" Bosham became the location for Canute's famous demonstration of the limit of royal power. It is here that he is supposed to have tried to hold back the tide. There is no evidence that this is true, but even so Bosham would have been a good place for his demonstration. There is a huge tidal range at Bosham. Sea levels have fallen quite considerably since the eleventh century, but tides on this long inlet might still have been impressive. At low tide the town fronts a vast open area of tidal flats. The sea advances in spectacular fashion, and Canute can be at least imagined sitting safely near the church perhaps looking out over the advancing tide, issuing his futile orders for the waves to retreat. Canute's daughter is also "traditionally" buried at the church near a commemorative tablet. In 1865 a coffin was found here which contained the bones of an eight year old child.

Canute's most trusted aide was Earl Godwine. When Canute died in 1035 Godwine found himself in charge of large areas of southern England. Bosham was the main port for the Godwine estate. Godwine's son Harold is famous for his brief rule as King of England, and his death in battle with William the Conqueror in 1066. Harold is shown on the Bayeux Tapestry entering Bosham Church before sailing to Normandy in 1064.

In 1095, later in the Norman period, Pope Urban preached his sermon calling on men to crusade in the Holy Land. Many responded. On their return it was the custom for crusaders on leaving their ships to go to the nearest church and blunt their sword points in a dedication to peace. The marks made by swords being blunted are still visible on the doorway of the inner porch.

Maps of walks around the town are available at the shop in Bosham Walk, close to the car park.

Directions: Bosham is off the A259 a few miles east of Portsmouth in West Sussex. Click here for an interactive map centred on Bosham.