Virtual Field Trips
Dell Quay to Chichester Marina
10. Birdham
Birdham pool was the mill pond for the tidal mill at the edge of the harbour, which was built
about 1768.
The mill was used until 1935 and was
the last tidal mill in Sussex.
Birdham Mill
Birdham Mill
During the Second World War, there was a small shipyard here where boats were built and repaired for the Navy.
Birdham Pool
Birdham Pool
Around 1935 the mill was sold and the pool was enclosed to make a small harbour for boats used for recreation. Lock gates replaced the mill wheels. It became probably the first marina in the country and held about 200 boats. The lock gates were wooden, similar to those on the canal, but they were operated by electricity. This lock could hold one or two small boats at a time. It could only be used two or three hours either side of high tide because the channel was not very deep.
Slipway
Slipway
The repair yard has a slipway with rails linked to a turntable.
Turntable
Turntable
The boats can be pulled up the slipway onto the turntable. They can be moved round on the turntable to connect with other rails that will move them to different parts of the yard.
Birdham Pool, Marina and Shipyard are now owned by Peters plc. The marina can hold 230 boats.
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