The White Swan
Bosham Pub & Restaurant
Station Road,
Bosham,
Nr CHICHESTER
West Sussex
PO18 8NG
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History
The White Swan was formerly known as 'The Bosham Pound Inn' until approximately 1839. The Bosham Pound was a large nearby reservoir which was used (as it's name suggests) as a keep water for fish and to feed Bosham Mill (now Bosham Sailing Club). There has probably been a pub or inn on the site for nearly 300 years given the fact it sits on the main East-West Brighton to Portsmouth road. There is certainly evidence it was run as a coaching inn. Sometime after 1839, certainly by 1875 , it became 'The Swan Inn' (it is shown on the Ordnance Survey Map as such in 1875) , and was used by the carters who transported extracted gravel from the 'Winner Bank' at the mouth of Chichester Harbour. The gravel was sent to the railway goods yard at what is now Arnold Way. At one time the pub also had a bakery attached, and one of the ovens can still be seen in the restaurant today.
In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Bosham like this:
BOSHAM, a village, a parish, and a hundred in the SW of Sussex. The village stands on Chichester harbour, 1 mile S of the South Coast railway, and 3½ W by S of Chichester; and it has a station on the railway, and a post office, of the name of Bosham-Pound, under Chichester. It was known to the Saxons as Bosenham; and it possessed importance for ages as a landing-place; but is now inhabited chiefly by fishermen. A monastic establishment was founded at it, in the 7th century, by a Scot named Dicul; and a collegiate church, in 1129, by Bishop Warlwast. It belonged early to the see of Canterbury; was obtained, through guile, by Earl Godwin; had a seat of Harold, from whence he sailed on his fatal visit to Duke William in Normandy; was given, at the Conquest, to the Anchors; and passed, first to Bishop Warlwast, then to the Dean and Chapter of Chichester.
Tithe Map, Bosham Parish, 1839
Access the original website with details about the re-opening of the White Swan
The White Swan pub and restaurant is conveniently located on the coast road between Chichester and Emsworth at the gateway to Bosham, one of the south coast's most picturesque, intriguing and historic villages.
The old village of Bosham basks with it's feet in the sea at the head of Chichester Harbour. The Harbour is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and lies at the foot of The South Downs National Park.
Whether you are here to sample our array of award winning local ales or to eat in our restaurant, from the moment you walk through the doors of this restored 18th century Bosham Coaching Inn, you'll find a warm, friendly, buzzing and yet relaxed environment in which to pass the time. Pub dining at 'off the beaten track' prices
We aim to keep things simple and let you relax.
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