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Littlehampton
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Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, located on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester.
The parish covers an area of and has a population of 25,593 persons (2001 census). The conurbation includes other settlements: Wick in the north west; Lyminster to the north; East Preston, Rustington and Angmering to the east.
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Encyclopedia
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, located on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester.
The parish covers an area of and has a population of 25,593 persons (2001 census). The conurbation includes other settlements: Wick in the north west; Lyminster to the north; East Preston, Rustington and Angmering to the east. Wick and Toddington became part of the town in 1901. Nearby towns include Bognor Regis west southwest and Worthing to the east.
Littlehampton lies within the constituency of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, the Member of Parliament for which is Conservative Nick Gibb.
Economy
The headquarters of The Body Shop is located in Littlehampton. Local company, Dando Drilling International Ltd has been exporting drilling rigs from Littlehampton since 1867. Van Heyningen Brothers (VHB) salad growers were a major employer in the town from 1964–2003. Much of the local economy comprises smaller companies with fewer than ten employees, however Sainsbury's are in the town centre and the local authority is actively seeking to promote and expand business opportunities.
Local issues
Littlehampton has received a great deal of publicity as the home of the East Beach Cafe, a building on the seafront designed by Heatherwick Studio.
The building is a fully welded monocoque structure. The building reflects its exposed location with a rough, weathered appearance which Heatherwick describes as being like a piece of weathered flotsam swept up onto the beach. It was built in Littlehampton, with steelwork by Littlehampton Welding Ltd and site work by Langridge Developments, another local firm. The construction of the cafe caused a stir in Littlehampton; some see it as an eyesore and others welcome it as a world class piece of architecture and a symbol of regeneration.
Transport
Littlehampton is on the A259, though it bypasses most of the town. Littlehampton is connected to the A27 south coast trunk road by the A284, which also provides the main north-south route out of the town and links to the A29.
Stagecoach operate the '700 Coastliner' service in the town, providing four services an hour to Brighton, two services an hour to Arundel and two services an hour to Portsmouth. Stagecoach also serve the town with the number 9 service, running hourly from Littlehampton to the Holmbush Centre via Angmering, Worthing and Shoreham-by-Sea. More recently, Compass Travel have introduced the 'Littlehampton Town Bus'. Officially known as the number 12 service, it provides travel between Littlehampton, Rustington and Wick, replacing the former Stagecoach 702 service that was axed, much to the disapproval of local residents.
Trains services from Littlehampton railway station are provided by Southern, with direct services to London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, East Croydon, Bognor Regis, Chichester and Portsmouth.
Gatwick Airport is an hour away to the north, with the port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel about three hours to the east. Portsmouth Harbour is one hour away to the west.
Churches and cemeteries
St Mary's is the Anglican parish church while St Catherine's is the principal Catholic church. In the cemetery, which is on the northern side of the town, lies the grave of Katherine O'Shea ("Kitty O'Shea") (1845–1921), the wife of Charles Stewart Parnell.
Littlehampton is also home to other churches, including St James the Great and All Saints in Wick.
Arts and culture
The BBC comedy sitcom Open All Hours was based on a shop in Norfolk Road near to where Ronnie Barker lived.
Other notable residents include writer Stuart Millard.
The town has appeared on ITV1 with Roy Shepherd (of Littlehampton) presenting the geology of the local area with Charlie Dimmock.
An annual event is the parade and bonfire organised by the Bonfire Society.
Littlehampton supports a range of performance groups including Stagedoor Theatre Company, the Musical Comedy Society and Players Operatic Society who perform throughout the year. It also holds a popular 'Last Night of the Proms' concert performed annually by the Littlehampton Concert Band.
Littlehampton is the home town of British Christian rock band Delirious?, who all still live there.
Attractions
The newest attraction prior to the East Beach Café was the Look and Sea centre which includes the Harbour Lights cafè and an observation tower. As well as this Harbour Park is located at the entrance of the River Arun and is the 18th most popular theme park in the UK. Further along the promenade is Norfolk Gardens a multi-purpose outdoor site owned by Inspire Leisure. The site includes a 9-hole pitch and putt course, 9-hole adventure golf course, tennis and bowls. The site also includes the putting green café. Littlehampton harbour is on the River Arun at the western side of the town, with yacht moorings, and on the west bank of the river are Littlehampton Redoubt and Climping sand dunes.
Sport
Rugby Union
Littlehampton is host to Littlehampton Rugby Club who train every Wednesday from 7.00pm at the Littlehampton Community School adjacent to the Astro-Turf pitch.
The club plays within the Sussex West 2 League after promotion at the end of the 2006–07 season. Most games are played on Saturday afternoons either at Littlehampton Community School or away within the West Sussex/ Surrey area. The Club is also involved within the local community including the Carnival, Bonfire night, Dragon Boat Racing and other charitable events.
Other sport
- Littlehampton Hockey Club
- Littlehampton is the home of Littlehampton, Clapham and Patching Cricket Club; there is also a marina and golf club.
- Littlehampton is home to Littlehampton Town FC, who play in the Sussex County Football League Division Two.
- Littlehampton Swimming & Sports Centre (LSSC), Other facilities include: • 2 storey enhanced Tone Zone Fitness Suite • Meeting room • After school / holiday children’s club room • Multi purpose sports hall.
- Littlehampton Badminton & Squash Club.
- Littlehampton Harbour Board - fishing and diving.
- Arun Yacht Club
- Littlehampton Sailing & Motor Club
- Littlehampton and District Angling Club
- Littlehampton Clapham and Patching Cricket Club fields four Saturday sides, two Sunday sides, a ladies team and colts teams at a range of ages ranging from under 10's to under 16's.
Twinning
Littlehampton is twinned with:
Durmersheim, Germany
Chennevières-sur-Marne, France
Dikhil, Djibouti
External links
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