Littlehampton
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224440335
2008-07-08T21:13:39Z
Charlesdrakew
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tidy new contribution
{{infobox UK place|
|country = England
|official_name= Littlehampton
|population = 25,593
|shire_district= [[Arun]]
|shire_county = [[West Sussex]]
|region= South East England
|constituency_westminster= [[Bognor Regis and Littlehampton]]
|post_town= LITTLEHAMPTON
|postcode_district= BN17
|postcode_area= BN
|dial_code= 01903
|os_grid_reference= TQ029020
|latitude= 50.80938
|longitude= -0.54089
|static_image=[[Image:Littlehampton Harbour, West Sussex.jpg|240px]]
|static_image_caption=<small>Littlehampton Harbour</small>
|london_distance=
|area_sqmi=
}}
'''Littlehampton''' is a [[seaside resort]] town and [[civil parish]] in the [[Arun]] District of [[West Sussex]], [[England]]. The parish covers an area of {{convert|11.35|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} and has a population of 25,593 persons (2001 census). It is located on the east bank at the mouth of the [[River Arun]].
The conurbation includes other settlements: [[Wick, West Sussex|Wick]] in the north west; [[Lyminster]] to the north; [[East Preston, West Sussex|East Preston]], [[Rustington]] and [[Angmering]] to the east. Wick and Toddington became part of the town in 1901.
Littlehampton lies within the [[constituency]] of [[Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (UK Parliament constituency)|Bognor Regis and Littlehampton]], the [[Member of Parliament]] for which is [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Nick Gibb]].
The local town newspaper is the ''Littlehampton Gazette''.
==Economy==
The headquarters of [[The Body Shop]] is located in Littlehampton. Local company, [[Dando Drilling|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 ==
[[Image:East beach.jpg|thumb|left|East Beach Cafe from the side]]Littlehampton has received a great deal of publicity <ref>{{cite web|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2099357,00.html | title=Fresh seafood served here|work=The Observer|date=2007-06-10|accessdate=2008-01-04}}</ref> 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==
[[Image:Littlehamptonmap 1946.jpg|thumb|250px|A map of Littlehampton from 1946]]
Littlehampton is on the [[A259 road|A259]], close to the main [[A27 road|A27]] south coast trunk road, as well as the two main north-south roads, the [[A24 road (Great Britain)|A24]] and [[A29 road|A29]].
[[Stagecoach Group|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 meanwhile, 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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/gazetteletters/The-new-No12-bus-has.3493165.jp | title=New Number 12 has been well received.|work=Littlehampton Gazette|date=2007-11-15|accessdate=2008-01-04}}</ref>
Trains services from [[Littlehampton railway station]] are provided by [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]], with direct services to [[London Victoria]], [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick Airport]], [[East Croydon railway station|East Croydon]], [[Bognor Regis railway station|Bognor Regis]], [[Chichester railway station|Chichester]] and [[Portsmouth and Southsea railway station|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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitlittlehampton.info/history.html | title=History of Littlehampton|work=Visit Littlehampton|date=2008-01-04|accessdate=2008-01-04}}</ref>.
[[Image:Littlehampton3.jpg|thumb|220px|left|The Oyster Pond]]
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 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 <ref>[http://www.littlehampton-concertband.co.uk/ Littlehampton Concert Band]</ref>.
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 Cafe was the Look and Sea centre which includes the Harbour Lights cafe 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 [http://inspireleisure.co.uk/index.php?page_id=85§ion_id=7 Norfolk Gardens] a multi purpose outdoor site owned by [http://www.inspireleisure.co.uk Inspire Leisure]. The site includes a 9 holde pitch and putt course, 9 hole adventure golf course, tennis and bowls. The site also includes (March- September) the putting green cafe and the Littlehampton Miniature Railway which links with Mewsbrook Park which has won the Green Flag award for the past two years.
== Sport ==
===Rugby Union===
Littlehampton is host to Littlehampton Rugby Club [http://www.rfu.com/clubs/littlehampton] 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 2006-2007 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 is the home of Littlehampton, Clapham and Patching Cricket Club, there is also a marina and golf club.
*Littlehampton is also home to [[Littlehampton Town F.C.|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
== Twinning ==
Littlehampton is twinned with:
* {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Durmersheim]], Germany
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Chennevières-sur-Marne]], [[France]]
* {{flagicon|Djibouti}} [[Dikhil]], [[Djibouti]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.arun.gov.uk/ Arun District Council]
*[http://www.littlehampton-tc.gov.uk/ Littlehampton Town Council website]
*[http://www.al-scouts.org.uk Arundel & Littlehampton District Scouts]
*[http://www.7thlittlehamptonairscouts.org.uk 7th Littlehampton Air Scout Group]
*[http://www.4thlittlehampton.org.uk 4th Littlehampton Scout Group]
*[http://www.rfu.com/clubs/littlehampton Littlehampton Rugby Club]
*[http://www.littlehamptondarts.org Littlehampton darts]
*[http://www.stmaryslittlehampton.co.uk/ St Mary's Church Littlehampton]
*[http://www.inspireleisure.co.uk/index.php?page_id=82§ion_id=4 Littlehampton Swimming & Sports Centre]
*[http://www.lbsc.org.uk/ Littlehampton Badminton & Squash Club]
*[http://www.littlehampton.org.uk/Default.aspx?pg=fishing_and_diving Littlehampton Harbour Board fishing and diving]
*[http://www.arunyc.co.uk/default.htm Arun Yacht Club]
*[http://www.lsmc.co.uk/ Littlehampton Sailing & Motor Club]
*[http://www.ldac.co.uk/ Littlehampton and District Angling Club]
{{Arun}}
[[Category:Seaside resorts in England]]
[[Category:Towns in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Arun]]
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