West Itchenor lies on the edge of Chichester harbour, around 7 km southwest of the city. The population is less than 400 persons, and it’s thought that around 40% of the properties are second homes. Originally there was an East Itchenor, but this hamlet ceased to exist after the Black Death, and since then West Itchenor has been known as Itchenor. Over the centuries, ship-building has provided employment for the villagers, and during the Napoleonic Wars several battleships were constructed for use by the British Navy.
