Medieval Fishing Village

1250

By the thirteenth century, Emsworth had established itself as a fishing settlement, exploiting the rich waters of Chichester Harbour and the Solent. The tidal harbour provided safe anchorage for small fishing boats, and the daily catch of sole, plaice, mackerel, and shellfish sustained the local population and provided a surplus for sale at inland markets. The harbour also served as a minor port for coastal trade, with small vessels carrying grain, wool, and other goods between the Hampshire and Sussex ports. The church of St James was serving the growing community, and the basic street pattern of the town, centred on the junction of what are now the High Street and Queen Street, was taking shape.