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Places
Looking back in time
Finding the Evidence
Virtual Field Trips
Panoramic Views
Image Gallery
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Places
Dell Quay
Dell Quay and the Downs
Down at Dell Quay
What a wonderful place to have a classroom! Converted from an old boat shed, it now has everything you need to go exploring. This is the centre for many of our field trips. The walks are on public footpaths, but children should bring an adult with them particularly for activities on the shoreline or at the lock!
Use our webcams to check out the view north and south from the quay.
Go on a mud hunt to find out which creatures live here.
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View south from Dell Quay
Walk towards the Marina
The Romans used to make tiles for Fishbourne Palace near here. Explore the shore and see if you can you find the red clay they used.
The paths round Salterns Copse are good place for a minibeast hunt. Look further down the page to find out why.
Chichester Marina holds over 1000 boats. Come and see them go through the lock gates.
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View North to Fishbourne
Walk towards Fishbourne
From where the River Lavant flows into Chichester Harbour you can see the white building called Mill House standing where the mill used to be.
Fishbourne meadows are wonderful for exploring life in the stream and grassland. Walking through the reedbeds is a magical experience!
Dell Quay Road
Dell Quay
The road to Dell Quay looks like any other country road with farmland and then a small group of houses and a pub making up the village.
As you go round the corner past the Crown and Anchor, the view changes dramatically! In front of you is the quay with a group of buildings above the water. Either side is the shoreline with wonderful views looking south, of the channel fringed with oak woodland, and stunning views northwards up to Fishbourne and the Downs.
Turning the Corner
The quay was probably built in 1536 as a port for Chichester. All goods travelling by sea came in and out through Dell Quay and these included wool, grain and coal. At one time Dell Quay was the 7th most important port in the country.
Inside Dell Quay classroom
The buildings on the quay include Dell Quay Sailing Club and some boat sheds. One of these boat sheds has been converted into a state-of-the-art classroom for schools to use as a base when visiting the harbour for field trips.
Opposite the classroom is the Grain Store that was built in the 19th century and has recently been restored. It still has on display the original winding gear for unloading sacks of grain from the boats.
Dell Quay from the Water
The quay itself ends next to the deep water channel allowing boats to moor alongside when the tide is high. Although there is plenty of space on the quay, visitors need to be aware that there is a long drop off the edge.
Crab and Shrimps
The area around the quay provides a wonderfully sheltered habitat for various sea creatures such as crabs and shrimps. The shore is mud mixed with shingle here so it is safe to walk on with care.
Exploring the shore reveals many interesting creatures that live in the mud. In the classroom they can be looked at with the camera microscope.