From Kelly’s Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867
WEST WITTERING is a parish, bounded on the north by Itchenor and Birdham, on the east by East Wittering, on the west by Chichester harbour, and on the south by the British Channel, in the Western division of the county, Manhood hundred, West Hampnett union, Chichester rape, county court district, diocese and archdeaconry, and rural deanery of Boxgrove. The village, which is small, is in the south-western part of the parish, 8 miles south-west from Chichester. The principal landowners are Messrs. Gorham, Ide, Harris, and Aylmore. The prebendal estate, held by the trustees of Oliver Whitby, Esq., for three lives, comprising about 275 statute acres, is in this parish. The church (name not known) is ancient, with wooden belfry, square tower with 3 bells, chancel, nave, south aisle, ancient Norman font, and two very ancient monuments on the north side of the chancel. The register dates from 1622. The living is a vicarage, value £180 per annum, in the gift of the Bishop of Chichester, and held by the Rev. Charles Gaunt, M.A., of Brasenose College, Oxford, rector of Isfield. Here is a neat National school. built by the Whitby trustees, who hold the rectorial tithes. The soil is of rich quality. The population in 1861 was 616; the area is 3,615 acres.
Parish Clark, Alfred Holden.
POST OFFICE.- John Jordan, receiver. Letters arrive from Chichester at 10.30 a.m.; dispatched at 3.40 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Sidlesham
National School, Miss Emma Costin, mistress
CARRIERS TO CHICHESTER.- George Terry & Thomas Robinson, every monday, wednesday & saturday
Francis Mrs
Gorham James, esq. Cackham
Griffin Mr. Henry
Ide John, esq.
Symonds Mrs.
Underwood Rev. Wm. David [curate]
COMMERCIAL.
Aylmore Thomas, farmer & landowner
Bard James, butcher
Carpenter James, bricklayer
Combes Charles, farmer, Rookwood
Evans Jesse, shopkeeper
Farne John, farmer
Francis Thomas, farmer, Hale farm
Goodwin George, Dog & Duck
Harris Thomas, farmer & landowner, Hunt’s land
Hearne James, chief boatman, coast guard station (Cogbush)
Hoare James, carpenter
Hoare Joseph, farmer
Hooker Josephus, chief boatman of coast guard station
Ide George, jun. blacksmith
Jordan John, shopkeeper
Lang George, blacksmith
McCormack Patrick, chief officer of the coast guard station (Chichester harbour)
Marshall Charles, farmer
Miller John, pilot
Napper Henry, blacksmith
Russell George & Thomas, farmers
Souch John, miller
Sparkes Robert, farmer
Stevens William, jun. shopkeeper
Symonds Matthew, farmer
Towne John, chief officer, coast guard station (Cogbush)
Terry George, carrier