Felpham

Historic coastal village with William Blake's cottage, a medieval church, village pond, and beaches that are quieter than the main Bognor seafront.

Felpham is a historic village to the east of Bognor Regis, absorbed into the wider urban area but retaining a strong separate identity. The poet and artist William Blake lived in a cottage on Blake's Road from 1800 to 1803, producing some of his most celebrated work during his time here and declaring that the village was the gateway to heaven. Blake's Cottage, a Grade II* listed flint building, still stands and is managed by the Blake Society. Felpham has its own High Street with small shops, the Fox Inn, a village pond surrounded by period houses, and the medieval church of St Mary with its flint tower. The character is distinctly village rather than suburban, with flint walls, mature gardens, and a slower pace than the Bognor town centre a mile to the west. Felpham Beach is a mix of sand and shingle, popular with families and generally quieter than the main Bognor seafront. The beach has groynes and, at low tide, a reasonable stretch of sand for paddling and sandcastles. Limmer Lane connects Felpham to the main road network, and the village has its own primary school, post office, and small shops. The housing ranges from historic flint cottages in the village core to inter-war and post-war development spreading north and east. Grassmere Parade provides a small neighbourhood shopping strip with everyday essentials. Felpham feels like a village that happens to be next to a town, and residents tend to identify with Felpham first and Bognor second. Felpham Community College, the secondary school, serves students from across the eastern part of the Bognor area and is well regarded locally.