The Sussex Border Walk - Part Twelve: Littlehampton's Old Port

I am continuing my Sussex Border Walk. Today I am once again in Littlehampton, but this time heading down the harbour side to the footbridge over the Arun. I am interested in the old wharf buildings, the merchant's house and the crossing point. I look for the last remain sign of a hotel, the waterside pubs and the custom's house.
Related video: Littlehampton Harbour walk: • Walks in England: Expl...
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[@andrewnorris1]

Good old Blue Peter!

[@RichardVobes]

Indeed.

[@alancox236]

That was when the BBC used to be good.

[@tallpojjy]

The harbour views are stunning in this one, and I love the music, it really does add to the atmosphere.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much - the mist added to the imagery.

[@gilly-ann]

Very interesting

[@RichardVobes]

Glad you enjoyed it, Gilly.

[@gilly-ann]

@@RichardVobes Definitely! :)

[@johnshandley318]

Just watched this one nearly 18 months after I saw it first time. I still think this is an amazing video. Great photography, music and the incredibly insightful script delivered perfectly. Brilliant

[@RichardVobes]

Wow, thank you!

[@ramibu239]

Wonderful walk Richard! I so appreciated all of the history you shared of Little Hampton's waterfront. I was quite impressed that some architect decided to save the old frontage walls to include into the design of those new flats! Good for them in recognizing that history of an old river port town was worth preserving & respecting in some way. As you mentioned (& as several others already said) I also found the opening scenes of misty river harbor quite atmospheric! Not only made for some great videography, but was just very beautiful!😍 Reminded me a of the many harbors along the Oregon Coast.😊

[@RichardVobes]

I was just lucky with the opening shot really. :)

[@ginaoneil9565]

That was such an interesting walk...I love it when some of the old features are still there to be seen....Thankyou Richard!

[@RichardVobes]

Cheer, Gina. I enjoy searching out the little titbits of history still remaining.

[@martinbeardmore7533]

That was a cold day. Beautiful in the mist but as l remember extremely chilly. Brave bald explorer!

[@barrynash5565]

Great great fun, very atmospheric thanks Richard.

[@RichardVobes]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@michaelwhite8031]

Another great walk with atmospheric music. Impressive architecture and beautiful surroundings.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much, Michael.

[@Stringtrees]

some lovely photography there Richard.

[@RichardVobes]

Many thanks

[@gordonbuss4331]

Your series of Sussex border walks are so interesting and informative. Well done. Gordon and Sue

[@RichardVobes]

So pleased you are enjoying the series.

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

I so admire the Lifeboat people.

[@RichardVobes]

They put their lives at risk. Amazing.

[@paulmetcalfe4824]

I was looking forward to seeing you walking along that great Arun shore !!! fascinating video as always

[@petesimian8764]

I, pete.......give this 2 opposable thumbs up. Much history, beautiful scenery.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks Pete, two times :)

[@ramibu239]

👍🐵👍😂😂😂

[@CharlieCooper3101]

The most and fog at the start, what a great shot, so much in this one Richard I love it, I remember watching a clip of that blue peter appeal about the lifeboats, great big mansion houses that you can still look at and imagine what life was like many many years ago. Great to see that building is still there where the horses were looked after, so much information you gave Richard I do love it because now whenever I decide to go I can say yes I remember mr vobes saying about that. And the facades so historic great it's still there. The bridge the pubs and the old customs house I would never had known any of this without your videos. 3 miles of rope for the victory too.

[@RichardVobes]

Thank you Charlie - you encourage me much - oh it was 31 miles of rope for the Victory, so I read.

[@CharlieCooper3101]

@@RichardVobes ahhh yes sorry forgot to add the 1 haha.

[@denniskavanagh3075]

My parents met in Little Hampton when on a camping holiday in 1933, and when my father died in 1996 my mother and I scattered his ashes into the Arun just south of the foot bridge. So thank you Richard for taking us around that area.

[@RichardVobes]

My pleasure.

[@dedestephens4229]

I hope you continue your walks. They are to me the favorite of all the things you do. I’d miss them so. You have a lot of things going on and these and your My Story are my favorites. I haven’t gotten into your Vobes Show much yet. I guess I mainly like the quiet more intimate videos. I hope all your work gets to be noticed. Have a great evening.

[@barryrice4957]

I just remember seeing timber stacked at the Wharf. My uncle used to get timber from there. He said it was absolutely amazing, there were ships coming from all over the world with every type of wood. Apparently it was quite common to see huge butch man running around screaming like girls because of snakes and spiders that had hitched a ride in the timber and weren't very happy about being disturbed.

[@RichardVobes]

Now that is a funny image!

[@MrNas42]

That was most enjoyable. The videography in the misty light was stunning.

[@RichardVobes]

Thank you very much!

[@dwdesignandmusic]

Enjoy watching your videos.

[@RichardVobes]

Glad you like them!

[@shirleylynch4420]

What a glorious morning . A refreshing walk. So much history. Thank you once again. So enjoyable. Ps.hope your eye better.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks, Shirley. The eye seems to be improving.

[@MrGreatplum]

Amazing to think how busy Littlehampton once was as a port - I guess everything comes across in containers and goes to the big container ports in the Thames and Essex now. I think there is some minimal amount of commercial port activity at Littlehampton; I do remember Mr Suggett sharing a video of that swing bridge opening on the group page.

[@Ferda1964]

The opening of this video with the foggy sky looks very cinematic

[@daveevad]

Yes!

[@jym225]

Very professional presentation. Fascinating. Thanks Richard.

[@RichardVobes]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tay7366]

The light is beautiful

[@colinkiley1964]

I agree with the comment about your opening shot. Your videography is always great. PS: My wife loves the Sussex border walk.

[@RichardVobes]

So pleased the Misses enjoys the videos too! :)

[@welshmanjasonpatrick8607]

Very interesting Littlehampton harbour good interested the Steam packet went from. Ilse of man to Liverpool and Llandudno and Fleetwood and back enjoy watching it

[@lindakane4717]

What an opening shot - so atmospheric. Great video. ( there is a Rope Walk in Shoreham- by - Sea which you might see when you're almost back in Worthing !

[@RichardVobes]

What year will that be? 2024?

[@twinsgran]

I've lived in Littlehampton for about 15 years and have learnt more about the area from your videos than I have during the whole time I've been here. Thank you.

[@RichardVobes]

That is awesome!

[@rogerpritchard]

I thoroughly enjoyed that. Thank you. I never knew there was an old cinema 🎥 in littlehampton, I'm from Angmering on Sea! A pleasure to watch and listen to. This is on par with Michael Portillos journey's through the UK, and I suspect he enjoyed a much larger filming budget with a film crew! My old friend was a producer of Blue Peter in the 1990s. Watching from Thailand.

[@RichardVobes]

So pleased you enjoyed it.

[@glenndrewett3735]

Richard, If you visit the Rope Walk in Chatham Historic Dockyard, they do use bicycles on the ropewalk, well worth a visit if you are ever down in Chatham. The rope walk at the museum is a fully working ropewalk, and it is open to visitors

[@RichardVobes]

That sounds wonderful. I must visit sometime.

[@Mikeybike]

Wow, I used to live there in 1969 - 1970. Climping . . Spell check put up a fight.

[@lindagates9150]

Hi Michael I am using closed captions as I do not wear my hearing aides at night ,clomping (I am not up to fighting spell check) was spelled with a K and the river was spelled Aaron. Awsum ! My device allowed me to select my 7 year old granddaughter’s spelling no fight needed! My inner editor often cringes after I hit the send button she often spots bloopers. Have a great day,

[@lindagates9150]

Hi Michael I always appreciate receiving a heart for a comment congratulations 🥳 recognition is a wonderful thing to receive 👍 Inner editor found a comma used for a full stop and we are having an argument about that and about the aides , so many words need an “es” others only require an s. She also says that I should leave a few marks for readers to insert as they see fit. !?,,,.. I have limited sight in one eye but the brain is a wonderful thing as it compensates...oh oh she’s telling me I am wasting your time!

[@stuartchatfield7470]

An amazing achievement to both research and make these films at the quality and rate that you do. Thank you.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much, Stuart, Very much appreciate it.

[@davidmills636]

Gorgeous opening shot matched with the music - excellent - thank you

[@jeanblemings5352]

QF (quite fascinating!) video with some interesting nuggets of historical information. I enjoyed the ostlers office particularly and did not know there had been a chain ferry by footbridge. Great stuff!!

[@RichardVobes]

It is amazing what one can turn up from time to time.

[@pg-rd7ik]

The old green swing bridge brings back so many memories. As a young boy being driven over it in my fathers MK 3 Ford Cortina back in the 70s. As you went over you could feel the bump where the two parts met. I even remember one time my brother and I were allowed to stand on the swing part as it opened (wouldn’t get away with that nowadays!!) Happy days.....

[@RichardVobes]

Oh blimey - health and safety would have a heart attack!

[@PortsladeBySea]

Lovely shots of Littlehampton Harbour, especially through the winter mist. The South East Development Agency did a fantastic job redeveloping the harbour area of the town that had sadly fallen in economic decline.Their architects and the town council planning committee worked together to kept the best of the old and make the new buildings look within keeping of the area. It is now a very popular place to live, work and visit. That development, and the modernisation of Butlins, helped save the town from near economic ruin. Lovely film Richard 👍

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much, Mike.

[@Mikeybike]

Over 50 years ago, I remember the beach at Climping was sometimes used as a set for Australia for film and TV production (Monty Python?). The old swing bridge they said was sinking and something about the military had worked on it during WW2. The Arun View Pub I went to maybe once a week, I could only afford one drink and one or two tunes on the jukebox (Heros and Villains by the Beach Boys). I had a crush on the barmaid so I made one beer last a long time. Caught the train to Arundel and then on to London every day and night after I got a job in the City. I cannot remember how long I lived there, it was a very short time. The old train commute to London was a great memory and used to be packed, sometimes had to stand. If I missed the train home I had to sleep at the Station. (London Bridge I think) but sleeping at Victoria Station was more luxurious, They better quality of empty trains. I think I sometimes made my way back to Littlehampton using Victoria but cannot remember where I changed trains. Wish I had pictures but so short of money back then, my next meal was a struggle. I moved to London and then Australia after a couple years. I was self-supporting and so sorry that cameras were out of my reach as was food and shoes at times. So much devastation of our towns and cities has been done in the name of development and progress. It looks like Sussex has a heart in it.

[@RichardVobes]

Fabulous memories there Michael. Thanks for sharing - how did the crush on the barmaid end?

[@Mikeybike]

@@RichardVobes So many crushes back then, never went anywhere, I had very no courage at times when it came to girls.

[@meijiturtle3814]

Most interesting. I had not realised that Littlehampton had been such a busy port. Presumably it was eclipsed in later years by Shoreham.

[@RichardVobes]

Yes, I imagine it must, especially as traffic declined from Arundel.

[@MartinMayhewCRO-ENGtranslator]

I spent my childhood in LA in the 70s and 80s. Miss the river and beaches.

[@chrismccartney8668]

Very enjoyable and informative video.

[@RichardVobes]

Thank you!

[@nagram503917]

I remember the Arun view pub and swing bridge good pub and fine beer and the bridge looked like a giant meccano kit. Thanks for the film

[@RichardVobes]

So pleased you enjoyed it.

[@grimpeursdusud1533]

Excellent videos BE! I remember the swing bridge in the 70s, I think we used to drive over the wooden one in Shoreham on the way to Climping. I thought there was a pub there called the Labour in Vain with a very un-PC sign! although that appears to be on the A29 near Bognor so it must have been on the way to Butlins for the day Looking forward to the rest of this series especially up near the NW corner! well done for a bit of local history

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much.

[@kurtsteiner8384]

The packets were a form of (ship) mostly used for delivery of mail. They could be steam or sail or both. Hence the falmouth steam packet company, there were many of these all round britain. If you are ever in hmnb portsmouth try and go i the ropeloft its quite amasing. There is also one at chatham in kent.

[@dcarbs2979]

1:06 would make a great painting

[@merietgenealogy]

Additionally to the quantity of rope required for HMS Victory - the canvas sails were made from flax grown at Merriott Somersetshire.

[@RichardVobes]

Oh how interesting. Thanks for the extra info.

[@juniajosh3858]

Beautiful shots. You're doing so much. Patrons don't expect any more.. I wasn't aware of the podcast, so it was an unexpected bonus! Very interesting and sad video. So much life lost..real life I believe

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much Josh.

[@paulliebenberg3410]

Such synchronicity! As I've mentioned before I like to find and follow your travels in Google Earth, I was previously following another's vlog over in Australia and they were at a something harbor so I quickly replaced the "something" in the GE search bar with "little hampton" when you mentioned your location. (Hadn't noticed yet in the title it being one word) The first thing that came up in the search results was the Harbour Lights Cafe so after selecting that GE spun around from Australia to England and then zoomed in to Littlehampton and there you were, vlogging in front of the Harbour Lights Cafe!

[@RichardVobes]

Brilliant!

[@mikesaunders4775]

From the Turneresque opening shot to the final sequence at Climping an illuminating guide to Littlehampton's mercantile heritage. I have visited Littlehampton a few times ,mainly as a holidaymaker, but knew nothing of the port area, still less the magnificent swing bridge. On a slightly diversionary note Richard (and bearing in mind your already vast schedule), have you ever considered a walk following the course of the Arun from source to sea?

[@RichardVobes]

Hi Mike, I did hope to do that walk along the Arun and other rivers in due course. So much to do. :)

[@wattck]

Another fascinating and enjoyable video. Informative and interesting. Well made too. Must be hard to make that quality on your own with the various shots recorded by walking towards or away from a fixed Camera. It looks highly professional and it is, also hard work I reckon because the quality shines through. Well Done. It was a cold day, yet someone (two people I believe) were standing by an open picture window on the 3rd? floor of a block that you passed. Smoking no doubt and breaking rules to do it, I suspect. Filthy Habit! ^-) Just pondering that nobody builds a house with walls made of Cement, yet a cement wall filled with something like Flint between lots of cement or mortar makes a strong wall that lasts and lasts.

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks Dan. The two people were watching me as I stalked the streets with my camera. :)

[@steveroperfilms]

I agree about the opening shot. In the early 60's was there a small passenger ferry or is my memory playing tricks.? Cheers.

[@RichardVobes]

I think there is a small ferry that operates a bit further up during the holiday season.

[@AndyJarman]

Hobart in Tasmania has suburbs built at the same time. The similarities in Architecture are striking. Have a look around Battery Point using Google Street View 36 Hampden Rd maps.app.goo.gl/TLrNcDA7tT9sLkhr9 Remember, these two places are on opposite sides of the planet. They must have been very homesick. Runnymede St maps.app.goo.gl/KXFu5skWXYTwkudR8

[@kezzaba1]

That was interesting, I know something of ropemaking, Hailsham was known as string town, had several rope walks around town and the only remnant now is some of the road names - string walk, rope walk etc.

[@RichardVobes]

I didn't know that about Hailsham. Thanks, Kerry.

[@SidBonkers51]

There is a working Ropewalk at Chatham Historic Boatyard which I visited a couple of years ago, It has been making rope for over 400 yaers and made the ropes for the Victory which was laid down at Chatham and they do daily demonstrations as its still used to make ropes today. I dont know its opening times now due to the Covid 19 restrictions but its a fascinating place to visit when open. thedockyard.co.uk/explore/the-victorian-ropery/

[@moviebod]

Very Interesting as usual. I never visited Littlehampton when I lived in Sussex. I don't think those fascades work in front of the modern buliding. It must drive them nuts.

[@RichardVobes]

I don't think integration was done very well, I agree.

[@johnbyrne2756]

ON THE BORDER (verse 13 of ???) Lost net from distant trawlers with cuttlefish entwined And remnants of a milkman's crate serve to perplex the mind Our careless contribution by wind and water worn For but a passing moment will the timeless sea adorn. JB20

[@RichardVobes]

Golly - you are so fast with the poetry - I love it.

[@johnbyrne2756]

A line per week? a line per minute? Your inspirational videos dictate the speed!

[@johnbyrne2756]

It's not until looking at the street map of West Sussex that the enormity of a border walk fully registers properly and that's just half of it !!!

[@barneyrubble4536]

The town planner need dragging upto the courts with what they have done to destroy the town.

[@RichardVobes]

I agree - it's the same with most towns isn't it?

[@barneyrubble4536]

@@RichardVobes Unfortunately true matey, when I used to live in Worthing near to where I worked in the hospital there are some stunning Victorian villas and slowly they were either demolished to make way for horrible modern flat with no soul or turned into multi occupied properties where the residents did not care about the property or the area. I was born in the wrong century the modern world is not a nice time to live.

[@ajaypujara382]

Can y visit Canterbury ground cricket for us, love from india

[@RichardVobes]

Its a bit far from where I live at the moment.

[@ajaypujara382]

Yes sir but keep coming with new video of eng small town

[@Alwayssometimesnever]

Hi Richard, your website is down? 😔

[@RichardVobes]

Yes, I noticed this morning. I am trying to get it fixed. Thanks for letting me know also.

[@LCculater]

Nice but if you don’t react the government will take it away from you