West Thorney
West Thorney was a village and civil parish on Thorney Island in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, located nine kilometres west of Chichester south of the A27 road.
The village was demolished after the Air Ministry requisitioned the island during the second world war and was replaced by housing and infrastructure for military families. Just to the south is the smaller Pilsey Island, a haven for birds. The island was a World War II airfield RAF Thorney Island which remained in use until 1976. Since 1982 the base has been used by the Royal Artillery. Only the church and coastal footpath are open to the public. It is necessary to give one's name and address by intercom to be allowed through remotely controlled gates.
The parish has a land area of 1,223 hectares. In the 2001 census 1079 people lived in 217 households, of whom 679 were economically active. At the 2011 Census the population was 1,183.
Getting around West Thorney the local way
- Get inAccess to West Itchenor is also possible from a small pedestrian and cycle ferry from Old Bosham.
- Go nextChichester Selsey West Itchenor for foot ferry to Bosham and harbour boat trips Bognor Regis
From Wikivoyage: Bracklesham Bay, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.