This view, published by White of Littlehampton around 1900, looks south from Town bridge. The ship in the photograph could be Ebenezer, owned by Joseph Robinson, which carried cargoes of coal from NE England.

This card, with a view looking towards Arundel from Southwoods, was posted in Littlehampton on September 1st 1908 and headlined Lansdowne (publisher unknown). Lansdowne was a well known guest house, often identified by senders and shown on postcards.

The card was sent to Miss Margretson, Aldgate, London. The text mentions that "the weather is rather rough and the lifeboat was called out during the night just off Selsea Bill."

Research into press reports revealed that the incident in question was the Paddle Steamer, Queen, returning from Brighton to Southampton, which spent the night disabled off the Bill. The Selsey lifeboat was launched to rescue the women and children, and landing them on the beach or at Littlehampton. The remainder of the passengers remained aboard as the vessel was towed back to safety. For the full story of the incident, click here.

One of the Arun trip boats known to carry Lansdowne guests was the May Queen. She is shown here moored to the bank of the Arun with Amberley chalk pits in the distance. At the tiller is Harry Healey her owner, brother of Arthur Healey who operated trip boats in Littlehampton including “Norfolk” (see Vessel Incidents section).