Earnley
| Earnley | |
| Sussex | |
|---|---|
 Earnley | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SZ815969 |
| Location: | 50°45’58"N, -0°50’43"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 459 (2011) |
| Post town: | Chichester |
| Postcode: | PO20 |
| Dialling code: | 01243 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Chichester |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Chichester |
| Website: | http://earnleypc.org/ |
Earnley is a tiny village in the south-west Sussex, on the Manhood Peninsula, projecting inot the English Channel. The village is by the coast, narrowly inland of East Wittering and four miles south-west of Chichester. The wider parish runs to the sea shore and includes such hamlets as Almodington and Batchmere.
Part of the Bracklesham Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest runs along the coastline of the parish.[1]
Parish church
Earnley Church together with its small graveyard is contained within retaining stone walls of an interesting boat shaped island of land. The nave is of 13th-century origin. A century later the chancel was added; an aumbry fitted with a carved door dates back to the 14th century. The first recorded rector was in office in 1365; parish registers survive from 1562, but there is no record of a dedication. It has always simply been "Earnley Church".
The church is a Grade II* listed building.[2] and
History
An Anglo-Saxon charter of AD 780 names a piece of land as 'Earnaleach and Tielesora' that was given to the church of St Paul.[3] Then in a charter, dated AD930, King Æthelstan granted to Bishop Beornheah of Selsey,
The Domesday Book does not include Earnley, but it is possible that at that time it was included in Wittering.[3] The mediæval lords of the manor here belonged to the Ernle, Ernley, or Erneley family, and derived their surname from a manor they held in this parish. The land being given to Luke de Ernele by his nephew, William de Lancing as part of a Knight's fee, in 1166.[3]
Society
In June every year since 2016 the Parish Council holds an annual fete.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Earnley) |
References
- ↑ SSSI listing and designation for Bracklesham Bay
- ↑ National Heritage List 1026360: The Parish Church, Earnley (Grade II* listing)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A History of the County of Sussex - Volume 4 pp 201-203: Earnley (Victoria County History)