Old Fishbourne

Historic village core with period buildings, conservation area, narrow lanes, and proximity to the harbour.

Old Fishbourne is the historic core of the village, lying south of the A259 between the main road and the harbour. This is where Fishbourne began, and the settlement retains a more rural, village character than the newer development to the north. The church of St Peter and St Mary stands here, as does a cluster of period houses and cottages that give this part of the village its distinctive feel. The lanes are narrow, the scale is intimate, and the proximity to the water is felt even when the harbour itself is not visible. The conservation area covers much of Old Fishbourne, protecting the character of the buildings and the streetscape from inappropriate alteration. Properties here are sought after, with the combination of historic character, quiet lanes, and harbour proximity commanding a premium. The area includes some of the oldest surviving buildings in Fishbourne, with origins in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Footpaths from Old Fishbourne lead south towards Dell Quay and the harbour shore, connecting the village to the wider network of harbour-edge walks. The lane past the church drops towards the tidal creek, and the transition from village to harbour-side countryside is remarkably quick. Old Fishbourne feels genuinely old, a place where the layers of village history are visible in the fabric of the buildings and the layout of the lanes.