Do you know our history?
Our pretty campsite takes its name from the Ship & Anchor Inn built in 1664 which quickly became a centre for local smugglers in the 1700’s and 1800’s.
In England smuggling first became a recognised problem in the 13th century, following the creation of a national customs collection system by Edward I in 1275 and became most lucrative for the River Arun’s smuggling gangs after our pub was built and often publicans in those days combined Inn Keeping with smuggling.
Operating under the cover of darkness to bring otherwise heavily taxed luxury goods from France (Spirits, Silks, Tobacco and Tea) and returning to France with un-taxed English wool and hides provided a good living.
Visitors and strangers were unwelcome and viewed with great suspicion before being chased away or worse !
In 1815 the Duke of Norfolk and others completed a plan to construct a canal from the Ship & Anchor at Ford to Portsmouth, approved by Parliament in 1817 initially connecting Arundel to Portsmouth by a safe inland waterway, and part of a larger plan to connect Portsmouth to London.
The Portsmouth to Arundel Canal was constructed in 1823 made up of three sections: two ship canals, one on Portsea Island and one to Chichester, and a barge canal that ran from Ford on the River Arun to Hunston where it joined the Chichester section of the canal but it was never a financial success and was abandoned in 1855; the company was wound up in 1888.
The next major development for our site came in 1965 when plans were approved for the construction of a marina which was completed and opened in 1967.
A serious fire in 1971 destroyed the ancient thatched roof which had been regularly re-thatched for three centuries using reed bundles naturally growing along the River Arun and the roof was replaced with slates.
Today, all visitors are welcome at the Ship & Anchor whether camping, touring in a caravan, camper van, tent, tent box or boat. Everyone is welcome !
Visitors to the pub and restaurant are also welcome and our two chefs take great delight in preparing and presenting delicious freshly cooked meals using good quality locally supplied ingredients.
We are located just 3 miles from historic Arundel with its Castle and Cathedral dating back to the Norman invasion of England in 1066, and later as a famous bastion of Roman Catholicism opposing Henry Tudor’s (Henry viii) time as King of England; 3 miles in the other direction is Littlehampton with its old harbour and its sandy beaches popular particularly in Queen Victoria’s reign. Both places can be reached quickly by road, rail or by walking or cycling along the rural banks of the River Arun.
Come and stay with us or enjoy a real English ale and a delicious meal in the pub or enquire about low priced moorings or caravan storage at very competitive rates.
If you know more about our long history, e.g. Ford Quay or anything else of interest please share it with us.
