Is This Sussex's Prettiest Village?

What is the prettiest village in the historic county of Sussex? This is a hard question to answer as there are hundreds of them. According to various online articles though, a few names tend to reoccur, including Bosham, Alfriston and Ditchling. Here, we visit one of the villages often touted as the prettiest in both West Sussex and East Sussex combined.
Further to that, we explore its vast history from the Romans to the Norman Conquest, including the legend of 'holding back the tide', and how people often misinterpret this entirely.
Do you have a favourite village in Sussex, or any other county for that matter? If so, by all means let me know in the comments below.

[@asheland_numismatics]

These videos are always enjoyable!

[@AlexinGreatBritain]

That's kind of you to say, thanks!

[@TheSpiceyHistorian]

Thank you for this video, it was delightful. I lived in Bosham during my teenage years. My step-father had a dental practice in Delling Lane and my parents converted the huge Sussex barn at Crede Farm in Crede Lane into a dwelling. I was resident in the great storm of 1987. In the morning we found a great rubbish skip impaled in the harbour wall. I emigrated to New Zealand in 1990 so it was lovely to see my home village up close after 35 years.

[@AlexinGreatBritain]

Ah, that's very nice to hear, thanks!

[@Southernsweetheartbelle]

With me just finding out my dad's side is from here makes me grateful

[@iambetterksa2566]

What are some of the prettiest cities to visit in the UK for history lovers who haven’t been to the UK before?

[@AlexinGreatBritain]

Good question! A few that stand out for me are: Bath, Winchester, Canterbury, Oxford, Cambridge, York and Edinburgh. There are plenty of others worthy of note, but these would be my starter pack, as it were.

[@chrisrand5185]

It is certainly a pretty village, but it also has an amazing setting. I was unaware of the claim that this was the site of Canute's tide shenanigans. Being from East Anglia I was always led to believe that this took place on the south bank of the River Crouch near where the village of Canewdon now lies and that is where Canewdon gets its name. Canute has quite an affinity with my home town of Bury St Edmunds as he founded the Abbey of St Edmund in 1020, which gave its name to the town.

[@Stoggler]

Unfortunately Canewdon didn’t get its name from Canute, it predates his reign

[@mancroft]

Excellent as usual. Thank you.

[@AlexinGreatBritain]

Thanks for watching!

[@sarahlouise7163]

i do love the coast. anywhere on the coast is better. so, villages on the coast have that unique thing, a beach or harbour, and of course the sea. coastal towns and villages could be an idea for a "review" series ☺

[@J85323]

Another great work of art Alex.

[@AlexinGreatBritain]

Thank you!

[@J85323]

Waiting for the next one Alex, shared to all my family 👍

[@puddinggeek4623]

Excellent video as always. Entertaining and informative, keep up the great work.

[@AlexinGreatBritain]

Thank you very much!

[@sarahlouise7163]

i wish it was pronounced boSHam. sounds better than it's official pronunciation 😁 another chill video! lovely!

[@AlexinGreatBritain]

Thank you!

[@jonescrusher1]

Then it would sound like Cosham, which most definitely isn't a pretty village.

[@diannewheatleygiliotti8513]

Thanks!

[@AlexinGreatBritain]

Thanks, Dianne. Much appreciated! :)

[@philiptaylor7902]

Not knowing Sussex, it looks very pretty to me, so why not?

[@diannewheatleygiliotti8513]

Delightful Alex. A different approach for sure.

[@AlexinGreatBritain]

Thank you. Yeah, I thought I should give the villages some attention.

[@wrestlingsubmissionfan]

The actor Patrick macnee came from Bosham

[@michaelportaloo1981]

No

[@revinhatol]

Remember when the letter "X" was used to represent the "sh" sound?

[@nickbarber2080]

It might be Sussex's prettiest village but it is up against some pretty stiff competition.

[@revinhatol]

This is one way to pick up steam, thanks to Alex!

[@drdoolittle5724]

Oh Dear oh Dear, us locals have never pronounced it other than, Bod-jum!

[@michaelportaloo1981]

Maybe the prettiest but not the best name. Go to Cocking, Balls Cross, Lickfold or….Warninglid for those.

[@michaelportaloo1981]

Or Cuckfield.

[@michaelportaloo1981]

Mustn’t forget the Dickers, all three of them.

[@nickbarber2080]

Fulking...?

[@michaelportaloo1981]

I have to amend the spelling of the D1ckers as youtube don’t seem to like the correct spelling.

[@Stoggler]

Mayfield is a good claimant for prettiest Sussex village, as is Amberley. Ditchling and Alfriston are too choked by traffic these days (esp. Ditchling), detracts from the otherwise lovely village setting. Suffolk is another county rammed full of lovely villages.

[@AlexinGreatBritain]

Yes, I passed Mayfield on the bus to Heathfield. The latter was visually disappointing in comparison!

[@jonescrusher1]

An episode of X-files was filmed in Bosham.