Langstone Harbour

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Langstone Harbour
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Langstone Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 1077639.jpg
Location Hampshire
Grid reference SU 695 025 [1]
InterestBiological
Area2,085.4 hectares (5,153 acres) [1]
Notification 1985 [1]
Location map Magic Map
Entrance to Langstone Harbour Entrance to Langstone Harbour, Hampshire, England.jpg
Entrance to Langstone Harbour

Langstone Harbour is a 2,085.4-hectare (5,153-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hampshire. It is an inlet of the English Channel in Hampshire, sandwiched between Portsea Island to the south and west, Hayling Island to the south and east, and Langstone to the north. It is part of the Ramsar site of Langstone and Chichester Harbour Special Protection Area and Nature Conservation Review site. Parts are Special Areas of Conservation, or Local Nature Reserves, and some areas by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Contents

Historically, the harbour has been used for salt and sand production, as well as fishing and latterly leisure boating. A ferry across the mouth of the harbour has been in operation for more than 200 years.

Geography

Langstone Harbour is an inlet of the English Channel in Hampshire, sandwiched between Portsea Island to the south and west, Hayling Island to the south and east, and Langstone to the north. It is part of the Ramsar site of Langstone and Chichester Harbour, [2] Special Protection Area [3] and Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. [4] Parts of it are in Solent Maritime and Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons Special Areas of Conservation. [5] [6] Three areas are Local Nature Reserves, Farlington Marshes [7] West Hayling [8] and The Kench, Hayling Island. [9] Two areas are nature reserves managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Farlington Marshes [10] and Southmoor Nature Reserve [11]

West of Portsmouth is Portsmouth Harbour and the three linked harbours are important recreational and conservation areas as well as supporting commercial fishing and shipping. It is administered by the Langstone Harbour Board. [12] The eastern boundary with Chichester Harbour is defined by a historic causeway known as the Wade Way, which was originally the only crossing between Hayling Island and the mainland. It is now impassable, having been cut in two by a deep channel for the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal in the 1820s (for further information see Langstone).

Islands

Langstone Harbour contains a number of islands; Baker's Island ( SU694035 ), North Binness Island ( SU692046 ), South Binness Island ( SU698031 ) and Long Island ( SU701041 ). These are subject to erosion and during the 1990s a seven-year archaeology project took place [13] before their history was lost to the seas. There are two smaller islands: Round Nap Island which is connected to South Binness Island by a tidal causeway [14] and Oyster Island.

History

Langstone Harbour was originally a river valley of one of the tributaries flowing into the then River Solent. With the end of the last ice age sea levels rose until sometime between 4000 and 3500BC the harbour took on the form it would have until the 18th century. [15]

For much of its history the harbour has been an area of salt production. [16] The Domesday Book records three salthouses around the harbour [17] and by the early 17th century a saltern at Copnor was well established. Here a large shallow area of the harbour meant that even without further improvement salt could be extracted from the area after each tide. [16] The Copnor saltern ceased production in 1800 but salt production continued elsewhere in the harbour until 1933. [18]

The artificial lagoon built on the remains of the old oyster beds Langstone salt water lagoon.JPG
The artificial lagoon built on the remains of the old oyster beds

In 1771 Farlington Marshes were reclaimed from the north of the harbour. [19]

Oyster farming began in the harbour around 1820 with winkle and clam cultivation probably starting around much the same time. [20] Production ceased in the 1950s. [21] An attempt at oyster farming in the 1980s soon failed. In 1997 work began to turn the remains into an artificial lagoon. [22] The lagoon which has a small island at the centre has, as planned, become a breeding ground for birds, particularly little terns. [23]

During the Second World War the harbour was used as Starfish decoy site to misdirect German bombers. [24]

The 2,085.4-hectare (5,153-acre) harbour was designated a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1985. [1] [25]

Ferry

A ferry has operated between Portsmouth and Hayling Island across Langstone Harbour for more than 200 years; in 2022-23 it carried more than 47,000 passengers. [26]

Wildlife

The harbour is home to an extensive range of marine and bird life. Fifty species of fish have been found in the harbour. [27] The harbour's bird life is even richer, the harbour hosting a wide range of species some of which are represented by over 10,000 individuals. [28] This is in a large part due to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds acquiring islands and a number of tidal areas in 1978 and turning them into bird sanctuaries. [28] As a result of the number of birds the harbour as become a popular spot for bird watchers. [28]

Seals occasionally appear in the harbour in winter. [28] American hard-shelled clams have been found in the harbour spreading from an initial release site on the lower River Test. [29] The harbour is also home to a population of Sand smelt. [30]

On 31 July 2008 a 26-foot (8-metre), 7-tonne northern bottlenose whale was beached on a mudflat in Langstone Harbour. A rescue operation was carried out to try to save the whale off the south coast of England and managed to free the whale from mudflats using a special lifting pontoon but it remained in shallow water. A decision was made to give the whale a lethal injection as a blood test revealed that it was suffering from kidney failure. If the whale swam into deeper water it could take up to two days to die naturally from renal failure. The whale ended up about 3,000 miles (4,800 km) off course due to its illness. [31] [32] [33]

Water quality

The quality of water in the harbour was called into question when samples taken in 2022 were found to contain traces of numerous chemical compounds including prescribed medicines. The harbour has outflow from a water treatment plant. [34]

Economy

In most years since 2011, the harbour made a loss. About a third of its income comes from dredged sand, which is reliant upon a single dredger. In 2023 a government grant of £233,000 would be spent on upgrading facilities for local fishing and leisure boating. [35]

Wrecks

The Phoenix breakwater wreck Langstone Harbour Phoenix breakwater 2013.JPG
The Phoenix breakwater wreck

There are several boat wrecks in the harbour. [36] One of these is a tug dating from 8 May 1941. [36] [37] The tug named the Irishman was sunk by a magnetic mine and now rests partially submerged at low tide. [36] A slightly older wreck dating from 1926 is a Bucket dredger named the Withern. [36] Of unrecorded age is the wreck of the Excelsior, an 80-foot-long barge. [36] The harbour also contains a wrecked landing craft that rests with its bows almost permanently above the surface. [38]

Close to the entrance of the harbour, there is a wrecked Phoenix breakwater type C. [38] It was originally constructed to form part of a World War 2 Mulberry Harbour. [38]

Various artefacts have been found from the prison hulks that were kept in the harbour during the Napoleonic wars. [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langstone, Hampshire</span> Human settlement in England

Langstone is a village near Havant, Hampshire in the south east of England in Portsmouth. It has good railway connections to London, Southampton, Portsmouth and Brighton, from the nearby Havant railway station. There are many large gated detached houses on the main road, "Langstone Road" and on the roads surrounding this. It has a sailing club, several architecturally unusual buildings, and several historically significant buildings, including a converted (water) millhouse and a converted 18th century windmill, the latter of which is a local landmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chichester Harbour</span> Harbour & Site of Special Scientific Interest in Chichester, West Sussex

Chichester Harbour is a large natural harbour in West Sussex and Hampshire. It is situated to the south-west of the city of Chichester and to the north of the Solent. The harbour and surrounding land has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and a biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The area is also part of the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation, Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site, Special Protection Area and Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. Part of it is a Geological Conservation Review site and two areas are Local Nature Reserves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilsey Island</span>

Pilsey Island is a 17.8-hectare (44-acre) Local Nature Reserve in Chichester Harbour in West Sussex. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It is part of the Chichester Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest and Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I*, the Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, and the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust</span> Wildlife and nature charity in the UK

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is a Wildlife Trust with 27,000 members across the counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayling Island branch line</span> Disused branch line in Hampshire, England

The Hayling Island branch was a short railway branch line in Hampshire, England, that connected a station on Hayling Island with the main line network at Havant. It was built by the Hayling Railway; at first the company planned to run it along a new embankment built along tidal mudflats, but this proved impractical. The line was opened along firm ground in 1867.

Baker's Island is an island in Langstone Harbour, Hampshire, England. It is 400 m (1,300 ft) long and up to 300 m (980 ft) wide but only rises to a little over 2 m (7 ft) above Ordnance Datum. Mesolithic and Neolithic flintwork has been found on the island along with Bronze Age and Romano-British pottery. There are a number of structures on the island including the remains of a flint walled building and five 5 by 1.5 m brick shelters believed to be part of a World War Two starfish decoy site. In 1978 the island along with the other islands in Langstone Harbour was acquired by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds who turned it into a bird sanctuary. Since that time unauthorised landings have been forbidden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Binness Island</span>

North Binness Island is an island in Langstone Harbour It is 900 metres (980 yd) long and up to 250 metres (270 yd) wide but only rises to 2.5 metres (8 ft) above Ordnance Datum The island was originally part of Binner's Island. The island has been uninhabited in recent times but there is evidence of historical occupation. A 100-metre (110 yd) long earthwork on the island has been suggested to date from the 18th century. There is also archaeological evidence that suggests the island was occupied during the Bronze Age and the Roman period. Finds from the Bronze Age include evidence of a salt works. The Island and has also produced finds dating back to the Mesolithic period prior to the formation of Langstone Harbour and the island.

South Binness Island is an island in Langstone Harbour. It is 600 metres (660 yd) long and up to 240 metres (260 yd) wide but only rises to 2 metres (7 ft) above Ordnance Datum. Archaeological finds include Bronze Age pottery and an unfinished Plano-convex knife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayling Billy</span>

Hayling Billy is a 42-hectare (100-acre) Local Nature Reserve on Hayling Island in Hampshire. It is owned by Hampshire County Council and managed by Hampshire Countryside Service. It is part of Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation and Langstone Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farlington, Hampshire</span> Suburb of Portsmouth, England

Farlington is a primarily residential district of the city of Portsmouth in the county of Hampshire, England. It is located in the extreme north east of the city on the mainland and is not on Portsea Island unlike most of the other areas of Portsmouth. Farlington was incorporated into the city in 1932 and now forms a continuous development with Cosham and Drayton. To the north of Farlington is the suburb of Widley and to the east is the town of Havant. To the west is the suburb of Drayton, and to the south is Langstone Harbour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portsbridge Creek</span> Tidal waterway of Hampshire, England

Portsbridge Creek, known officially as Portsea Creek and informally as Ports Creek, Port Creek, Portcreek and Canal Creek,, is a tidal waterway just off the southern coast of England that runs between Portsea Island and the mainland from Langstone Harbour to Tipner Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farlington Marshes</span>

Farlington Marshes is a 119.7-hectare (296-acre) Local Nature Reserve in Portsmouth in Hampshire. It is owned by Portsmouth City Council and managed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. It is part of Langstone Harbour, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. It is also part of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation and of Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site and Special Protection Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Island (Hampshire)</span>

Long Island is an island in Langstone Harbour in Hampshire, England. It is 750 metres (820 yd) long and up to 250 metres (270 yd) wide. Three Bronze Age pots have been found on the island as has Mesolithic and late neolithic flint-work. Bronze Age pottery along with smaller amounts of Romano-British pottery have been found on the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nutborne Marshes</span>

Nutborne Marshes is a 386.9-hectare (956-acre) Local Nature Reserve east of Thorney Island in West Sussex. It is owned and managed by Chichester Harbour Conservancy. It is part of the Chichester Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest and Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I*, the Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, and the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gutner Point</span>

Gutner Point is a 69-hectare (170-acre) Local Nature Reserve on Hayling Island in Hampshire. It is owned by Hampshire County Council and managed by Hampshire Countryside Service. It is part of Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation, and of Chichester Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Kench, Hayling Island</span>

The Kench, Hayling Island is a 6-hectare (15-acre) Local Nature Reserve on Hayling Island in Hampshire. It is owned by Hampshire County Council and managed by Hampshire Countryside Service. It is part of Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation and Langstone Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Hayling</span>

West Hayling is a 76.2-hectare (188-acre) Local Nature Reserve on Hayling Island in Hampshire. It is owned by Havant Borough Council and managed by the council and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It is part of Langstone Harbour, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is also part of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation and of Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site and Special Protection Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southmoor Nature Reserve</span> Nature reserve in England

Southmoor Nature Reserve is a 11-hectare (27-acre) nature reserve in Havant in Hampshire. It is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. It is part of Langstone Harbour, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I. It is also part of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation and of Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site and Special Protection Area.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Designated Sites View: Langstone Harbour". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  2. ↑ "Designated Sites View: Chichester and Langstone Harbours". Ramsar Site. Natural England. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  3. ↑ "Designated Sites View: Chichester and Langstone Harbours". Special Protection Areas. Natural England. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  4. ↑ Ratcliffe, Derek, ed. (1977). A Nature Conservation Review. Vol. 2. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 3–4. ISBN   0521 21403 3.
  5. ↑ "Designated Sites View: Solent Maritime". Special Areas of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Designated Sites View: Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons". Special Areas of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "Designated Sites View: Farlington Marshes". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Designated Sites View: West Hayling". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "Designated Sites View: The Kench, Hayling Island". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  10. ↑ "Farlington Marshes". Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "Southmoor". Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  12. ↑ Harbour Board
  13. ↑ Summary of archaeology
  14. ↑ Adam, Neil J; Momber, Gary (2000). "South Binness Island". In Allen, Michael J; Gardiner, Julie (eds.). Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire. York: Council for British Archaeology. pp. 104–5. ISBN   1-902771-14-1.
  15. ↑ Tweed, Ronald (2000). A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire. Dido Publications. pp. 16–17. ISBN   0-9533312-1-0.
  16. 1 2 Tweed, Ronald (2000). A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire. Dido Publications. pp. 28–29. ISBN   0-9533312-1-0.
  17. ↑ "Open Domesday: Havant" . Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  18. ↑ Tweed, Ronald (2000). A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire. Dido Publications. p. 34. ISBN   0-9533312-1-0.
  19. ↑ Fontana, Val; Fontana, Dominic (2000). "A brief historical survey". In Allen, Michael J; Gardiner, Julie (eds.). Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire. York: Council for British Archaeology. p. 82. ISBN   1-902771-14-1.
  20. ↑ Tweed, Ronald (2000). A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire. Dido Publications. p. 50. ISBN   0-9533312-1-0.
  21. ↑ Tweed, Ronald (2000). A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire. Dido Publications. p. 59. ISBN   0-9533312-1-0.
  22. ↑ Tweed, Ronald (2000). A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire. Dido Publications. p. 54. ISBN   0-9533312-1-0.
  23. ↑ Tweed, Ronald (2000). A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire. Dido Publications. pp. 160–161. ISBN   0-9533312-1-0.
  24. ↑ Fontana, Val; Fontana, Dominic (2000). "A brief historical survey". In Allen, Michael J; Gardiner, Julie (eds.). Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire. York: Council for British Archaeology. p. 87. ISBN   1-902771-14-1.
  25. ↑ "Map of Langstone Harbour". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  26. ↑ "Hayling Ferry agrees financial deal 'to save service'". BBC News. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  27. ↑ Tweed, Ronald (2000). A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire. Dido Publications. p. 155. ISBN   0-9533312-1-0.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Tweed, Ronald (2000). A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire. Dido Publications. pp. 157–161. ISBN   0-9533312-1-0.
  29. ↑ "Mercenaria mercenaria". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 25 April 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  30. ↑ Tubbs, Colin (1999). The Ecology, Conservation and History of the Solent. Packard Publishing. p. 40. ISBN   1853411167.
  31. ↑ "Stranded sick whale put to sleep". BBC News. 1 August 2008.
  32. ↑ "Aerial footage of beached whale". BBC News. 1 August 2008.
  33. ↑ "Beached whale 'will not survive'". BBC News. 1 August 2008.
  34. ↑ Fisher, Jonah; Cozens, Jo (9 June 2023). "Drugs, pesticides and medicine found in south coast seawater". BBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  35. ↑ "Loss-making Langstone Harbour targets fishing and yacht trade". BBC News. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 Momber, Gary (2000). "Wrecks". In Allen, Michael J; Gardiner, Julie (eds.). Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire. York: Council for British Archaeology. pp. 124–127. ISBN   1-902771-14-1.
  37. ↑ Family History
  38. 1 2 3 Hughes, Michael; Momber, Gary (2000). "The Mulberry Harbour Remains". In Allen, Michael J; Gardiner, Julie (eds.). Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire. York: Council for British Archaeology. pp. 127–128. ISBN   1-902771-14-1.
  39. ↑ Pritchard, Martin; McDonald, Kendall (1987). Dive Wight and Hampshire. Underwater World Publications. p. 82. ISBN   0-946020-15-9.

50°49′05″N01°00′30″W / 50.81806°N 1.00833°W / 50.81806; -1.00833

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