Village History

Yapton is known as the village that “never closes its doors” – thought to refer to the days when smugglers making their way from the sandy beaches of nearby Clymping with their contraband found plenty of open doors in Yapton to help them escape the pursuing excise men.

The name Yapton is thought to derive from “Eppa’s ton” – Eppa being one of two priests left in Sussex about AD 681 by the Bishop St Wilfrid, who brought Christianity to Sussex, to continue the work of converting and baptising local people.

The village incorporates the hamlets of Bilsham and Flansham. Bilsham is a single street settlement, which includes Bilsham Chapel; a 13th century deconsecrated former chapel now used as a residential dwelling. The hamlet of Flansham, situated southwest of the village centre, is notable for its quiet seclusion and rural aspect despite close proximity to the edge of the Bognor Regis built-up area. Of historic importance to the initial growth of the village was the former Chichester and Arundel Canal, a remnant of which together with a canal bridge (Listed Grade II Building) survives in Yapton.

Area: 791 ha Population: 3,522 Council Tax Precept 2024/25: £98,550 (equates to £47.46 per annum for a Band D property - an increase of 0.0% over 2023/24)

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Page Updated 7th February 2024