Old Images of Selsey, West Sussex

 Glimpse history through old images of Selsey, West Sussex, England.

In the 1950s, the sea was encroaching on at least 20 feet of land each year, and a sea wall was required to stop this continuing.

Residents at the seafront were being asked to pay for the new sea wall, which they could pay over 30 years.

The local authority agreed that the costs should be borne by the state, was it wasn't the law, and therefore they had to ask the residents to pay.

Two widowed sisters, Mrs Janet Parsons and Mrs Ella Poynter, lived together in a seafront bungalow. Mrs Parsons bought the property in 1948 for £2,850, and now ten years later being asked to pay the council £2,500 to build the sea wall.

Widows Say Can't Pay (1959) - British Pathé on YouTube

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Donkey Sanctuary 1964

Donkeys were still a common site on British beaches in 1964, when 60 year-old retired coal merchant John Lockwood was filmed at the home he had created for the older, sick and unwanted animals.

In addition to the 50 donkeys, he also had 10 horses and 5 dogs.

It cost £1200 a year to care for these animals, which doesn't sound much now but at the time would have bought a small home.

Old Mokes At Home (1964) - British Pathé on YouTube