Bognor Regis History Timeline

The Anglo Saxons arrived on the Selsey Peninsula.

First known reference to Bognor was as Bucgan ora, ora was a landing place (beach) settled by Bucga a female Saxon Chieftain. Bognor was thought to be a wide inlet with Selsey and possibly Felpham islands surrounded by seawater.

The Domesday Book references Chichester, Felpham held by the Abbey of Shaftsbury, Pagham and Selsey. Bersted is referenced as being part of St Wilfred Ecclesiastical estate on the Selsey peninsula which was endowed by a king of the South Saxons and worked by a force of  250 slaves located in the hamlets of Bersted, North Bersted, the Mundhams and Shrimpney in the Seventh Century

Map by John Speed identifies the Bognor Rocks

Yeakell and Gardners survey of Sussex refers to Little Bognor (today Upper Bognor) and Great Bognor as a cluster of buildings at the east end of the High Street

Sir Richard Hotham first visits Bognor

The foundation stone of a Public Bathing place laid by Sir Richard Hotham, he builds a hotel, library, theatre and hot and cold water baths

Hothamton was the intended name of Sir Richard’s new resort. His show case development was Hothamton Crescent in Upper Bognor Road consisting three buildings each divided into 3 houses, The central mansion Dome House (now part of Chichester University Bognor Regis Campus) was built for royalty and is today Bognor’s only Grade 1 listed Building.

Sir Richard Hotham moves to his second home Chapel House (now Hotham Park House) which included a farm and a brick built Ice House which still survives today in London Road and considered to be one of the best examples of its kind in Sussex.

The clock tower is added  to Chapel House

Sir Richard Hotham the founder of modern Bognor dies

A coaching Inn the New Inn was built in the High Street, later renamed the Sussex Hotel and in 1975 renamed The William Hardwicke

Following the fire of Sir Richard Hotham’s Hotel,  a new hotel is built further inland now known as the Royal Norfolk Hotel.

The railway line was extended from Worthing to Chichester

John Fletcher bought Chapel House. It passed to his eldest son William Fletcher who renamed it Aldwick Manor and developed the gardens we know today as Hotham Park.

The Branch railway line from Barnham to Bognor was completed

Bognor’s Pier  designed by Sir Charles Fox and J W Wilson was  opened by the Hon Claude Bowes- Lyon (Later Lord Strathmore) on 5th May at a cost of £5,000

The White Tower, Aldwick Road was designed and built by John Hawes

Work starts on the Pavillion at the end of the town’s 1,000ft ( c 300meters) pier

New railway station and the Arcade on the High Street built

Mixed bathing machines arrive on the seafront

Two new theatres with the Kursaal (later the Rex) built

King George V convalescence at Craigweil House Aldwick

On July 26th,  King George V grants the title of Regis to the town becoming Bognor Regis

The Town Hall was opened on 6th October

W E Butlin establishes an Amusement Arcade on the seafront

HMS St Barbara was commissioned on Bognor Regis Pier as an anti-aircraft range and gunnery training school. 

Hotham park gardens opened to the public

New Butlin’s resort established at Brooklands between Bognor and Felpham at a cost of £2.5 million

The Pavillion end of the pier was severed from the main structure after a storm

The Pier’s sea end pavillion destroyed by a storm

The Rex Theatre, Ballroom and shops demolished and the Regis Centre built

The Birdman competition moved from Selsey to Bognor Pier

Hotham Park Heritage Trust was formed in 1998 to safeguard and improve Hotham Park in Bognor Regis

Bognor Pier awarded Grade 11 listed status

Butlins opens its £40 million water complex in Bognor Regis

Visit by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Bognor Regis