Tourism
The area offers a wide range of things to do for historians, sports people, naturalists and families.
Attractions
Bognor Regis Museum
Fontwell Park Racecourse
Bognor Regis Museum – Exhibit of Edwardian parlour, local geology & architecture
Pagham Harbour Local Nature Reserve
Bognor Regis Pier
Barnham Windmill
Transport
Road – The A29 starts in Bognor Regis and leads up to Dorking in Surrey. The A259 passes east to west through the town.
Rail – The station is on a branch line coming from the West Coastway Line at Burnham which runs from Brighton to Southampton
Brief History
Bognor Regis began as a Saxon village. For centuries Bognor remained just a hamlet. The inhabitants made a living from fishing and smuggling. They also grew wheat and barley and raised farm animals. A rich London hatter named Richard Hotham stayed in a farmhouse by the sea in 1784, 1785 and 1786. From that Hotham had an idea and decided to create his own seaside resort at Bognor so he bought 1600 acres of land. He built commercial properties along with domestic dwellings for rent. In the 19th century the town expanded even more with the building of gasworks, the pier, an esplanade and more housing. The population started to really grow with the coming of the railways in 1864. It was in 1960 that Billy Butlin opened one of his famous holiday camps on the edge of the town and made it more appealing for families to spend their holidays.
Famous People
Dante Gabriel Rosetti – Poet and painter
William Blake – Poet
Approximate Population
A population of 22,555 was recorded in the 2001 census
Nearest Tourist Information Centre
Bognor Regis
Belmont Street, Bognor Regis, East Sussex PO21 1BJ
Tel: +44 (0)1243 823 140
Suggested Links
Browse Property for sale in Bognor Regis at Zoopla
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