Thorney Island, Sussex
| Thorney Island | |
 The Great Deep, Thorney Island | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
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| |
| Location: | 50°49’2"N, -0°55’13"W |
| Grid reference: | SU760028 |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,079 (2001) |
Thorney Island is a lowlying island in Chichester Harbour, in Sussex, parting it into two halves. The island is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel called the Great Deep, but is now in effect a peninsula, as sea walls cross the Great Deep at each end, albeit without barring the flow of the tide. The flat peninsula north of the Great Deep is often recokoned part of the island too for convenience, though contiguous with the mainland of Sussex.
Geography
The village of West Thorney sits on the east coast of the island and has been incorporated into an army base which occupies the island proper, south of Great Deep. A coastal public footpath, part of the Sussex Border Path encircles the island, but public access to the south of the island is limited to the footpath and the church of St Nicholas at West Thorney. Walkers using the footpath may be asked by intercom to provide their contact details (name, address and mobile phone number) at the security gates to access the southern part of the island. Walkers must keep to the footpath marked with the yellow posts.[1] During the winter months, fortnightly shoots are held on Thorney for partridge, pheasant and snipe.
To the south of the island is Pilsey Island, now joined to Thorney Island by a sandbank, and which is an RSPB nature reserve.[2]
The 2001 census showed the island to have a resident population of 1,079.
RAF Thorney Island and Baker Barracks
In 1938, the Royal Airforce built an airbase on the island, RAF Thorney Island.[3] Subsequently the Royal Navy expressed an interest in using the base.
From 1977, Thorney Island became home to the territorial army base of 63 SAS Signal Squadron (V) (D Troop) who are known presently as 18 UKSF Signal Squadron (V).[4]
In 1980 West Thorney became host to many hundreds of Vietnamese refugee families, accepted by for settlement in the United Kingdom.
1984 saw the base renamed Baker Barracks to house a Royal Artillery unit - 26th Field Regiment Royal Artillery, armed with the FH70. Royal Artillery 26th Field Regiment Royal Artillery, were replaced on the island by unit - 47th Regiment Royal Artillery, armed with the Starstreak HVM.[5] In January 2008, 12th Regiment Royal Artillery moved to the island on their return from Germany.[6] 47 Regiment subsequently relocated from Thorney Island to Larkhill, Wiltshire under restructuring of the Army as part of the Army 2020 programme.
In 1985, a series of experiments referred to as the "Thorney Island Heavy Gas Dispersion Trials" investigating atmospheric dispersion of gases was carried out on the island.[7]
In 2009, the airfield was used as a test track for a British-built steam car hoping to smash the longest standing land speed record. The British Steam Car Challenge team included test driver Don Wales, nephew of the late Donald Campbell and grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell.[8]
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Thorney Island, Sussex) |
- National Monuments Record: No. 1430956 – Thorney Island Airfield
References
- ↑ 'Sussex seashore, Thorney Island': The Guardian Travel section 12 June 2009
- ↑ Pilsey Island - RSPB
- ↑ Thorney Airbase History - Daveg - Tripod
- ↑ SAS Signal Squadron – on 'Special Forces ROAH
- ↑ 47 Regt RA - Ministry of Defence
- ↑ "12 Regt RA". Ministry of Defence - British Army. http://www.army.mod.uk/artillery/units/12_regt_ra/. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ↑ J. McQuaid; B. Roebuck; D. G. Wilde (1985). "Large-Scale Field Trials on Dense Vapour Dispersion". Safety of Thermal Water Reactors: Proceedings of a Seminar on the Results of the European Communities’ Indirect Action Research Programme on Safety of Thermal Water Reactors, Held in Brussels, 1–3 October 1984. Springer Netherlands. ISBN 978-94-010-8701-8. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-009-4972-0_18.
- ↑ "British-built steam car unveiled". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7472662.stm. Retrieved 16 April 2012.