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46-539: The Solent ( / ˈ s oʊ l ən t / SOH -lənt ) is a strait between the Isle of Wight and mainland Great Britain ; the major historic ports of Southampton and Portsmouth lie inland of its shores. It is about 20 miles (32 kilometres) long and varies in width between 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 and 5 mi (4 and 8 km), although the Hurst Spit which projects 1 + 1 ⁄ 2  mi (2.4 km) into

92-652: A granite area, probably Dartmoor , flowed into the River Solent. Seabed survey shows that when the sea level was lower in the Ice Age the River Solent continued the line of the eastern Solent ( Spithead ) to a point roughly due east of the east end of the Isle of Wight and due south of a point about 3 kilometres (2 mi) west of Selsey Bill , and then south-south-west for about 30 kilometres (19 mi), and then south for about 14 kilometres (9 mi), and then joined

138-607: A large estuary flowing west to east and into the English Channel at the eastern end of the present Solent. This great estuary ran through a wooded valley and is now referred to as the Solent River. When glaciers covering more northern latitudes melted at the end of the last ice age , two things happened to create the Solent. Firstly, a great amount of flood water ran into the Solent River and its tributaries, carving

184-666: A new theory—that the Solent was originally a lagoon—was reported in the Southern Daily Echo by Garry Momber from the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology . The Isle of Wight was formerly contiguous with the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset— the Needles on Wight and Old Harry Rocks on Purbeck are the last remnant of this connection. Ten thousand years ago a band of relatively resistant chalk rock, part of

230-489: A port, providing a "double high tide" that extends the tidal window during which deep-draught ships can be handled. Spithead , an area off Gilkicker Point near Gosport , is known as the place where the Royal Navy is traditionally reviewed by the monarch of the day . The area is of great ecological and landscape importance, particularly because of the coastal and estuarine habitats along its edge. Much of its coastline

276-587: A relic of the Phoenician traders who sailed to Britain from the Mediterranean as part of the ancient tin trade . Another suggestion is that the name may reflect the number of Northern Gannets (previously known as Solans or the Solan Goose) along the coast. Originally a river valley, the Solent has gradually widened and deepened over many thousands of years. The River Frome was the source of

322-599: Is a comparatively shallow stretch of tidal water. It has an unusual double tide that is both favourable and hazardous to maritime activities with its strong tidal movements and quickly changing sea states. Coupled with the above, the Solent is renowned for its large volume of vessel usage, thus resulting in one of the highest density of declared lifeboat stations in the world. This includes six RNLI (e.g. Calshot and Cowes ) and five independently run stations (e.g. Hamble Lifeboat and Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service ). Remains of human habitation have been found from

368-676: Is a headland into the English Channel on the south coast of England in the county of West Sussex . The southernmost town in Sussex is Selsey which is at the end of the Manhood Peninsula and Selsey Bill is situated on the town's southern coastline. It is the easternmost point of Bracklesham Bay and the westernmost point of the Sussex Coast . Although the place name Selsey has existed since Saxon times , and

414-527: Is an annual cricket match on Bramble Bank during the lowest tide of the year, but games are often cut short by rising tide. According to the BBC, the 1 ⁄ 2  mi (800 m) tide at Ryde gives a major advantage to hovercraft which can travel right up a beach and the Solent is the only place in Western Europe where there is a regular passenger service. The operator, Hovertravel , claims it

460-531: Is derived from the Old English meaning Seal's Island , there is no evidence to suggest that the place name Selsey Bill is particularly old. A 1698 survey of the area included in a report for the Royal Navy, by Dummer and Wiltshaw mentioned Selsey Island but not Selsey Bill. Wee passed by Chichester observing only that there are many small Currents of Fresh Water, and breaking into the low Lands by

506-585: Is designated as a Special Area of Conservation . It is bordered by and forms a part of the character of a number of nationally important protected landscapes including the New Forest National Park, and the Isle of Wight AONB . The word predates Old English , and is first recorded in 731 as Soluente (Bede, H.E. 4, 16). This original spelling suggests a possible derivation from the Brittonic element -uente , which has endured throughout

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552-422: Is possible to believe Diodorus Siculus 's report that in his time men could wade to the Isle of Wight at low tide. In the early 16th century, Henry VIII of England built an extensive set of coastal defences at each end of the Solent, part of his Device Forts , effectively controlling access to east and west. In 1545, a naval battle was fought in the Solent between English and French naval forces. The battle

598-619: Is the world's only commercial passenger hovercraft. It celebrated 50 years of operation in 2015. Strait The terms channel , pass , or passage can be synonymous and used interchangeably with strait , although each is sometimes differentiated with varying senses. In Scotland, firth or Kyle are also sometimes used as synonyms for strait. Many straits are economically important. Straits can be important shipping routes and wars have been fought for control of them. Numerous artificial channels, called canals , have been constructed to connect two oceans or seas over land, such as

644-401: Is typically reserved for much larger, wider features of the marine environment. There are exceptions, with straits being called canals; Pearse Canal , for example. Straits are the converse of isthmuses . That is, while a strait lies between two land masses and connects two large areas of ocean, an isthmus lies between two areas of ocean and connects two large land masses. Some straits have

690-533: The Court of the Admiralty in the manner of wrecks, which meant in effect that any wrecks off Selsey Bill would be the bishop's property. In the 18th century, members of a notorious smuggling gang were captured and tried for the brutal murder of a supposed informant and a customs official, Chater and Galley. Seven were condemned to death at the assizes held at Chichester in 1749 and, after they had been executed at

736-565: The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR). It was designed by the engineer D. E. Marsh in 1905 and its original identifier was H1 No 37 4-4-2 . The locomotive was eventually scrapped by British Railways in the 1950s. In 1944, during World War II, components for the Mulberry harbours were built at many different locations in Britain and transferred to assembly points on

782-643: The River Solent , with four other rivers—the Rivers Avon , Hamble , Itchen and Test —being tributaries of it. Seismic sounding has shown that, when the sea level was lower, the River Solent incised its bed to a depth of at least 46 metres (151 ft) below current Ordnance Datum . The Purbeck Ball Clay contains kaolinite and mica , showing that in the Lutetian stage of the Eocene water from

828-668: The Southern England Chalk Formation , ran from the Isle of Purbeck area of south Dorset to the eastern end of Isle of Wight , parallel to the South Downs . Inland behind the chalk were less resistant sands, clays and gravels. Through these weak soils and rocks ran many rivers, from the Dorset Frome in the west and including the Stour , Beaulieu River , Test , Itchen and Hamble , which created

874-468: The Suez Canal . Although rivers and canals often provide passage between two large lakes, and these seem to suit the formal definition of strait, they are not usually referred to as such. Rivers and often canals, generally have a directional flow tied to changes in elevation, whereas straits often are free flowing in either direction or switch direction, maintaining the same elevation. The term strait

920-620: The 1979 album Setting Sons ), along with " Bracklesham Bay ": "Save up their money for a holiday/To Selsey Bill, or Bracklesham Bay and the Madness song " Driving in My Car ": "I drive up to Muswell Hill, I've even been to Selsey Bill." The references are to Selsey Bill although most of the holiday facilities are the other side of Selsey. There were Pontin's holiday camps at Selsey and Bracklesham Bay, although they are now both closed. The Pontin's at Broadreeds , Selsey, has been redeveloped, and

966-496: The 19th century. These were generally known as Palmerston Forts . The Solent was one of two sites for the sailing events at the 1908 Summer Olympics . The Solent became the departure area of the ill-fated ocean liner, Titanic , in April 1912. A bank in the centre of the Solent, Bramble Bank , is exposed at low water at spring tide . This, combined with the unique tidal patterns in the area, makes navigation challenging. There

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1012-465: The Broyle, Chichester, two of them were subsequently hung in chains at Selsey Bill, a Yeakel and Gardner map has a Gibbet Field marked on it where it is believed the smugglers hung. Since 1861, there has been a lifeboat station to the east of Selsey Bill, and there is a system of beacons that warns sailors of the treacherous Owers and Mixon rocks that are south of Selsey Bill. The Mixon rock

1058-588: The Danish vessels tried to escape, but two were grounded on, it is believed, Selsey Bill. The crews were captured and sent to Winchester where they were hanged by orders of Alfred. And as the army which had beset Exeter again turned homeward, they spoiled they the South-Saxons near Chichester, and the townsmen put them to flight, and slew many hundreds of them, and took some of their ships. Henry VI granted that lands of Chichester Cathedral should be exempt from

1104-880: The Flux of the Sea between it and Portsmouth in and about the Islands of Selsea and Hailing, But all Passages into the same from the Seaward being Covered by the East Burroughs the dangerous Rocks called the Oares, and the Sands of the Horse; There is no Room among them for any improvement for the Navy nor did there appear to be any Place fitting to Build a Shipp of the 4th. Rate within any of

1150-453: The Havens of those mentioned Islands upon the enquiry which was made thereof about 4 Years since by your own Directions. The place name does not appear to have been used before the early 18th century when it started appearing on maps; for example Philip Overton's 1740 map of Sussex and Richard Budgen's map of 1724. It is possible that the idea was taken from Portland Bill , another headland, on

1196-506: The Solent narrows the sea crossing between Hurst Castle and Colwell Bay to just over 1 mi (1.6 km). The Solent is a major shipping lane for passenger, freight and military vessels. It is also an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting , hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually. It is sheltered by the Isle of Wight and has a complex tidal pattern, which has benefited Southampton's success as

1242-515: The Solent. The estuary of the Solent River was gradually flooded, and eventually the Isle of Wight became separated from the mainland as the chalk ridge between The Needles on the island and Old Harry Rocks on the mainland was eroded. This is thought to have happened about 7,500 years ago. The process of coastal change is still continuing, with the soft cliffs on some parts of the Solent, such as Fort Victoria , constantly eroding, whilst other parts, such as Ryde Sands , are accreting. The Solent

1288-578: The coastal waters. Selsey Bill is a boundary for two areas of the Met Office's inshore water forecast. The area to the west extends to Lyme Regis and to the East to North Foreland . Selsey Bill is in sea area Wight . In the 19th and early 20th century the local fishermen jointly owned a longboat, operated by 22 oarsmen. If any vessel was stranded off the Bill, after any rescue work had been completed,

1334-678: The estuary deeper. Secondly, post-glacial rebound after the removal of the weight of ice over Scotland caused the island of Great Britain to tilt about an east–west axis, because isostatic rebound in Scotland and Scandinavia is pulling mantle rock out from under the Netherlands and south England : this is forebulge sinking . Over thousands of years, the land sank in the south (a process still continuing) to submerge many valleys creating today's characteristic rias , such as Southampton Water and Poole Harbour , as well as submerging

1380-536: The history of Hampshire, as in the Roman city of Venta Belgarum (Latinised as Venta ), the post-Roman kingdom of Y Went, and the modern name of Winchester . It later appears in Anglo-Saxon records as Solentan . A pre-Celtic and supposedly Semitic root meaning "free-standing rock" has also been suggested as a possible description of the cliffs marking western approach of the strait. This Semitic origin may be

1426-560: The hull and a large number of artefacts can be seen in the Mary Rose Museum located in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard . In 1685, King James II narrowly escaped shipwreck while sailing in the Solent. Musician Henry Purcell wrote "They that go down to the sea in ships" to be sung by the extraordinary voice of John Gostling in commemoration of this event. More forts were built on land and at sea in

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1472-709: The main river flowing down the dry bed of the English Channel . During the Ice Age, meanders of the Solent's tributaries became incised: for example, an incised meander of the River Test is buried under reclaimed land under the Westquay shopping centre, near Southampton docks; Since the retreat of the most recent glaciation, the South East of England , like the Netherlands , has been steadily slowly sinking through historic time due to forebulge sinking . In 2008

1518-483: The malt owers and the sea owers the last covered with two fathoms of water at the ebb. The place name Selsey Bill has become synonymous with the town of Selsey, for example Edward Heron-Allen wrote about The Parish Church of St Peter on Selsey Bill Sussex even though the church is situated in Selsey High Street. Popular references to Selsey Bill include the song "Saturday's Kids" by The Jam (from

1564-613: The pilot of the longboat would then negotiate with the skipper of the damaged vessel a price to assist them to safe harbour. In modern times the "Channel Pilot for the South Coast of England and the North Coast of France" cautions sailors that Selsey Bill is difficult to locate in poor visibility. However, in clear weather, when the wind is moderate, a shortcut can be afforded by using the Looe Channel that passes through

1610-472: The potential to generate significant tidal power using tidal stream turbines . Tides are more predictable than wave power or wind power . The Pentland Firth (a strait) may be capable of generating 10  GW . Cook Strait in New Zealand may be capable of generating 5.6 GW even though the total energy available in the flow is 15 GW. Straits used for international navigation through

1656-422: The prehistoric, Roman , and Saxon eras, showing that humans retreated towards progressively higher ground over these periods. Offshore from Bouldnor , Isle of Wight, divers have found at 11 metres (36 ft) depth the submerged remains of a wooden building that was built there on land around 6000 BC when the sea level was lower and the land was higher. There is an early Norman period report that much land on

1702-454: The rocks and ledges south of the Bill , which is marked by buoys. The pilot requires a large-scale chart, and proceeding with caution is recommended. The sea area around Selsey Bill was designated the "Selsey Bill and Hounds" Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) in 2019. Marine Conservation Zones are a type of marine nature reserve established under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) with

1748-491: The south coast, before being towed to France. There was an assembly point near Selsey Bill. The Meteorological Office (Met Office) issues Shipping Forecasts and they are read out on BBC Radio 4 , four times a day. It gives a summary of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and area forecasts for specified sea areas around the UK. In addition, some bulletins include a forecast for all UK inshore waters , as distinct from

1794-488: The south of Hayling Island was lost to sea flood. South of Hayling Island in the Solent is a deposit of stones, which scuba divers found to be the remains of a stone building, probably a church. There is an old report that this church was formerly in the middle of Hayling Island. If similar amounts of land have been lost on other parts of the Solent shore, the Solent was likely to have been much narrower in Roman times, and it

1840-423: The territorial sea between one part of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone and another part of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone are subject to the legal regime of transit passage ( Strait of Gibraltar , Dover Strait , Strait of Hormuz ). The regime of innocent passage applies in straits used for international navigation (1) that connect a part of high seas or an exclusive economic zone with

1886-606: The territorial sea of a coastal nation ( Straits of Tiran , Strait of Juan de Fuca , Strait of Baltiysk ) and (2) in straits formed by an island of a state bordering the strait and its mainland if there exists seaward of the island a route through the high seas or through an exclusive economic zone of similar convenience with respect to navigational and hydrographical characteristics ( Strait of Messina , Pentland Firth ). There may be no suspension of innocent passage through such straits. [REDACTED] Media related to Straits at Wikimedia Commons Selsey Bill Selsey Bill

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1932-498: The western side of the Solent . Thomas Pennant described the location of Selsey Bill, or "Selsey-bill" as he writes it in his book, "A Journey between London and the Isle of Wight" published in 1801. The isle more properly peninsula of Selsey projects far to the south and gives protection to the vessels from the westerly winds its extremity is named Selsey-bill before it are two or three sand banks some mixed with black and called

1978-537: The years; probably one of the first recorded was Saint Wilfrid who when appointed Archbishop of York went to Compiègne in France , to be consecrated. On his journey back home, in c. 666, he was shipwrecked off Selsey Bill and was nearly killed by the heathen inhabitants. The annals record a sea and beach battle, involving a fleet of Viking ships against those of Alfred the Great 's newly founded navy. Three of

2024-596: Was formerly quarried, initially during the Roman occupation and then was to become an important building stone in the late Saxon period. Its quarrying continued after the Norman conquest and was still being used until the early 19th century. The quarrying finally ceased after an Admiralty prohibition order in 1827. In 1926 the Southern Railway Company named one of their steam locomotives "Selsey Bill". The locomotive had been inherited from its predecessor,

2070-532: Was inconclusive with no significant losses other than Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose , which foundered and sank while making a sharp turn. From a total crew of over 400 (some estimates have suggested as many as 700), fewer than 35 survived the sinking. The remains of the Mary Rose were discovered at the bottom of the Solent by a salvage project in 1971 and were successfully salvaged in 1982. The remains of

2116-497: Was the only site that was near to the Bill . However both the modern Admiralty Chart and also the Ordnance Survey map of the area confirm that Selsey Bill is a headland (mostly covered by sea at high tide) whereas Selsey is part of the mainland. Although the name Selsey Bill is not particularly old, the area has been well known to sailors from the earliest times. There have been many wrecks off Selsey Bill over

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