Located at the sheltered, northern tip of a winding creek of tidal mudflats within Chichester Harbour, Bosham is entirely transformed at low tide as the whole channel dries out, leaving delightful little creeks with meandering curves, and boats lying about in all directions in the mud.
When this photograph was made in 1890, Bosham's oyster fishery was booming, and with so many large oyster smacks (fishing boats) using the Quay and rowing boats kept on chains along the foreshore, it made for a fun area for children to explore and play, once the tide had gone out. Bosham's south-facing foreshore is protected from heavy seas by the Isle of Wight to the southwest and is relatively mild in winter, as it is protected from cold northerly winds by the village itself.
Beyond the children playing in puddles with a model sailboat on the foreshore, can be seen the Raptackle, the old barn where oysters were sorted and packed, with trading schooners alongside and smaller oyster boats surrounding the Quay. In 1890, when this photograph was made, it was a view of Bosham which had remained unchanged for centuries.
© Luke Whitaker